Ringworm outbreak: Is my kitten safe after vet spay procedure?

Poor kitty. I would not recommend tying a rope to your kitten. Ringworm is typically only contagious in immune compromised people or the really young (children) or really old (senior). If you still have concerns about transmission then wear gloves when handling kitty and perhaps place kitty in a spare room until the skin lesions resolve. As far as the injection goes, I can't comment on whether it is ok to give again or not, because I don't know what the injection was. I honestly have only prescribed oral (by mouth) anti-fungal medication and topicals to treat ringworm. Please repost with the name of the injection that your kitty received and we can give you more information on whether it is safe or not. You may find the name of the medication on your invoice.

Congratulations on your upcoming adoption of Daisy! Since you have no other pets and she has not already contaminated your apartment, keeping her contained to a small and easily cleaned area - such as a bathroom - would be ideal. It is recommended to use a diluted bleach solution to clean the infected room 1-2 times per week to prevent reinfection. Treatment for ringworm can last several months and should be continued until she has had three negative fungal cultures. It sounds as though Daisy has been well cared for with respect to her treatment, and it may just take a bit of tough love on your part to keep her confined to the bathroom for at least the next few weeks. Here is a bit of additional reading regarding ringworm: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=559 I hope this helps and that all goes well! Enjoy your new kitten! :-)

While ringworm is potentially contagious to people, the reality is that by the time your cat is diagnosed with ringworm, you have already been exposed to it for a long period of time and have not had any problems with it. Most people do not contact ringworm from cats (or other animals), but from other people. I am attaching a handout with more information about ringworm in cats below. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951439 If you develop any abnormal skin lesions, I would certainly recommend having your doctor evaluate them, but I do think what you read was certainly exaggerated. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about your kittens. The answer to your question is no but the mother is probably the source of the ringworm. Adult cats can carry ringworm (fungus) and not show any clinical signs. The fungal organisms are on the hair and skin so direct contact and even contact with shed hairs can be a source of infection to the kittens. I would advise you getting the kittens to your veterinarian. They can get a history and do a physical exam and then they can advise a diagnostic plan. A Woods lamp exam, fungal culture or other skin tests may be needed to diagnose this. Once a presumed diagnosis is made, treatment can be started while awaiting test results if needed. Your vet may advise topical treatment of the lesions and/or oral anti fungal meds to treat this condition. The worst part of this is that ringworm is very contagious to all pets in the household and all family members (Zoonotic Disease) so it's very important to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. Good luck.

I've found that if you wash your hands after handling Sierra and do not have any open wounds it is uncommon to catch this from her. Since you've treated her and are giving the medicated baths she should be even less likely to spread Ringworm. Follow your veterinarian's advice on treatment but if she's been treated now for two weeks or more she should be safe to handle. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Sierra.

Personal preference, but it may be because the vet does not want to house a contagious cat. Ringworm is a very hardy fungus, and it can live on surfaces for an incredible amount of time. A kennel where they keep a cat before and after surgery would be contaminated with the fungus and could possibly spread it to the next patients to use it, even after a thorough cleaning and disinfectant. Also, some infections can delay healing of the skin. Since neutering isn't a medically necessary procedure, your vet likely would prefer him to be in tip-top shape before undergoing anesthesia and surgery.

I would guess that it's a little more likely that the kitten acquired ringworm at the shelter. Some cats can be asymptomatic carriers, and can be diagnosed by getting a sample for fungal culture using a brush technique - you can make an appointment with your veterinarian. If your cat tests positive she should be treated, and some veterinarians choose to treat all cats in the home regardless of testing because of the difficulty in controlling ringworm in the environment.