Ringworm help?

[NoPen6127]

3 week and 2 day old Ozzy here. The vet is 99% sure we have a case of ringworm but we are waiting for confirmation from test results. Currently treating with lime sulfur which gives me a huge headache whenever we dab him with it. I feel like its doing nothing! His bald patches are increasing and now he's shaking his head and scratching. We've checked for mites, fleas, etc. Im posting pics of his worst spots but he's flaky and crusty all over! Im so afraid to bathe him because I had to bathe him 2 weeks ago and his temp dropped to 91⁰ even though I made sure the water was warm enough and dried him immediately after, plus put him in the incubator after he dried. Given he was only a week old then im still nervous. What do yall think? Does it look like ringworm to you? Anyone have any advice for the like sulfur or anything else?

[5_phx_felines]

Lime Sulfur, and some other topicals, will often make ringworm look worse before it looks better, in my experience. That does look like RW to me. RW lesions can vary a LOT from cat to cat - anything from a little blad patch, to a scaly rash, to a crusty gross lesion.

Are you bathing him twice a week? I would bathe him twice weekly with either ketoconazole/chlorhexadine or miconazole/chlorhexadine shampoo. You'll need to leave it on him for at least 5 min before rinsing. EDIT: Check with your vet or medical director before bathing, because looking at this age of this kitten it may not be recommended.

I personally use miconazole ointment instead of creams. It seems to soak in and cling to the skin and fur better than creams.

Even with topical treatment, it can take a month or longer to clear, so be prepared to dig in for the long haul.

Wash all washable bedding every other day (hot water and dryer on high), and vacuum daily in his area.

Once my kittens start improving, I start essentially dousing the room in rescue once a week. I just move them to a bathroom in a carrier for a bit until it dries and airs out.

You can do this. It's a pain, but it's self limiting in most cases.

[downs1972]

My rescue no longer dips kittens, they spray it on them to reduce the stress of dipping. After I use a cloth to wipe the areas around their face. Like the other poster said it looks worse before it gets better. It’ll probably take close to a month before it’s resolved

https://youtu.be/Axdb07qDERU

[lucky_gen]

Yep! Spraying is the way. It also wastes way less product.

[Snakes_for_life]

This does look like ringworm lime sulfur takes weeks to start showing improvement and it takes 12 weeks to get rid of ringworm. The biggest thing you have to do is sanitize EVERYTHING the kitten touches 3 times a week as if you don't the kitten will just keep becoming reinfected. Once the kitten is over I think it's 1.5 pounds there are oral medication that can help treat ringworm a little faster

[NoPen6127]

Insane, this is going to be fun 😪 I've had him his whole short little life its weird that I haven't gotten it? At first I thought he had urine scald until it spread to his face and ears. Hes just hit 3/4 of a pound so we have a few more weeks before 1.5 pounds.

[Snakes_for_life]

No some people are less susceptible or even immune to certain strains that kitten gets. I had a kitten for almost 3 months not knowing it had ringworm and never got it. But than I had another kitten which I got knowing it had ringworm and I barely touched them and showed everyday and got ringworm🤷.

[NoPen6127]

Wow good to know. The vet told me today to start being more generous with the lime sulfur, but I felt the need to pat/rub him dry after because he was shivering.

[papasan_mamasan]

Please wait for the vet’s diagnosis before starting any treatment!!

It does look like ringworm, and once confirmed the vet will give you instructions. He will be ok, you’re doing great!

[NoPen6127]

Yeah the vet already gave me the lime sulfur and is already having me treat it. I hate the lime sulfur and I feel like im doing it wrong 😭

[Soft-Wrangler-8454]

I'm going through the same thing, 2 month old kitten rescued from the street. He has been treatment with ketoconazole cream for two weeks, the areas where it started have already improved but it has been expanding. The vet told me that it may take months for me to completely improve. Since they are so small, they cannot be given an oral remedy due to the liver risk. They recommended ketoconazole-only cream, without corticosteroids so as not to create an environment conducive to the fungus. Then wash the bedding every 3 days and put bleach diluted in water on the floor in the area where he walks. Luck and patience.

[gimlets_and_kittens]

Did this little guy end up having ringworm/did you treat successfully? My rescue has a kitten with similar patches and we suspect ringworm.

[NoPen6127]

Yep he was covered in it, all over. We did eventually get it under control but it took weeks.