Cats are strong, long-lived and independent animals, but just like humans, they are also susceptible to contracting multiple pathologies, some of them caused by microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria or fungi.
Despite the independent nature of felines, as owners we must monitor their he alth status in order to act when our pet shows any alteration. Paying attention to the symptoms that it may express or regularly checking its legs will be a good way to detect them.
In order for you to learn more about the diseases that can affect your cat, in this AnimalWised article we talk about the symptoms and treatment of fungi in cats.
Fungus in cats
There are several types of fungi that can infest your cat and in any case they will cause a topical condition,since the fungi that cause the infection colonize and reproduce in the superficial and dead layers of hair, skin and nails, causing a variety of symptoms, as we will show below.
If it is true that in 90% of cases ringworm in cats is caused by the fungus Microsporum Canis. It is a very contagious situation, not only for the animals that surround the cat, but also for humans, hence the importance of knowing the symptoms of the fungal infestation, also known as dermatophytosis or ringworm.
Feline dermatophytosis symptoms
If your cat's body is being attacked by fungi, you will soon begin to notice the following symptoms and manifestations of this disease in your pet:
- Circular lesions on head, ears and legs
- Hairless areas in areas where an injury has occurred
- The skin is peeling and shows symptoms of inflammation
- The cat may have nail lesions
- The itch is constant
Diagnosis of yeast in cats
If you notice any of the symptoms we have mentioned above in your cat, you should go to the vet immediately since the first step The next step is to confirm the diagnosis, since the characteristic symptoms of ringworm in cats can also be due to other pathologies.
In addition to performing a complete physical examination, the veterinarian may look at damaged hair under a microscope, use an ultraviolet light lamp, or perform a fungal culturenot only to confirm the presence of fungi, but to determine which fungal strain is causing the condition.
Treatment of fungus in cats
The veterinarian is the only person qualified to prescribe a pharmacological treatment for your cat. In the case of fungal infections, antifungal active ingredients will be used, such as ketoconazole, which can be administered through different ways:
- Topical treatment: Generally used whenever there is feline dermatophytosis, topical treatment is not only carried out by applying lotions or ointments, but also the veterinarian can indicate a body hygiene product with antifungal components to periodically bathe the cat with.
- Oral treatment: Antifungal drugs can have various adverse reactions, therefore oral treatment will only be used in those more severe cases or when there is no therapeutic response to topical treatment.
Antifungal treatments require a prolonged application time to completely eradicate the condition, so it is of great importance that the owner commits to make a adequate therapeutic compliance.
