An over the counter treatment for ringworm in cats is best administered after conducting a vet check. Ringworm is a contagious infection that’s caused by fungi known as Microsporum canis and Microsprum gypseum. This fungal infection generally manifests itself on the cat’s skin, nails and hair. Since ringworm is highly contagious and can pose a threat to pet owners, the condition should be treated at the earliest.
Transmission of Ringworm in Cats
The fungi that cause ringworm thrive in humid temperatures. If your pet suffers from the infection he can shed ringworm spores in the environment. The cat’s brushes, bedding and mats can serve as carriers of this infection. Even if your pet recovers from ringworm, he may become a carrier of this infection for life. Such pets don’t exhibit the symptoms of ringworm but they can shed the infection and pass it on to other pets.
In some pets the symptoms of ringworm subside without the administration of any medications. However, animal to human transmission of the ringworm infection is possible. Pet owners should therefore diagnose and treat this fungal infection as soon as the symptoms arise.
Symptoms of Ringworm in Cats
Symptoms of ringworm include:
- Tiny lesions on the skin
- The presence of pustules in skin lesions
- Scaly skin
- Loss of hair
- Malformation of the nails
- Itchy ears
Over the Counter Medications for Ringworm
If the vet has determined that your cat is suffering from ringworm infection, your pet may be prescribed certain anti-fungal medications like Ketoconazole. While this medication needs to be administered exactly according to the vet’s instructions there are a few other over the counter drugs that you can use to help your cat. One of the most commonly used medications to treat ringworm in cats is known as Clotrimazole.
Although it’s safe to use Clotrimazole on your pet’s skin, you must discuss the same with the vet as certain over the counter medicines cause drug interactions when they’re paired with other prescription drugs.
Clotrimazole for Cats
Clotrimazole is a medicated cream that has anti-fungal properties. It contains the active ingredient Clotrimazole and a combination of several inactive ingredients like cetostearyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol and octyldodecanol. This cream is safe for use on both cats and kittens. You will have to apply a small amount of medication to the affected areas on the pet’s body.
Make sure the product doesn’t come in contact with the cat’s:
- nose
- mouth
- eyes
- ears
You should also avoid using the product on the pet for a period of more than 14 days. While some pets show signs of improvement soon after the medication has been applied, others don’t respond to the medication. If this happens, you must take the pet back to the vet for treatment.
Tips for Pet Owners
If you’re applying products like Clotrimazole on your pet, you should take precautions and wash your hands thoroughly after you touch the product. You could also wear gloves while applying the medication on your cat as ringworm infections are easily transmitted from cats to humans. You should take the cat to the vet to get a skin culture test done, to find out if your pet has become a carrier of ringworm for life.
Since ringworm infections cause your pet a lot of discomfort, they should be treated as soon as possible. You should also take other preventive measures to prevent your cat from contracting such fungal infections in the future.