Holistic Approach to Ringworm

QUESTION: Hello,
I have a 2 month old persian kitten. Yesterday she was diagnosed with ringworm and cat flu. As per Vet's advice we have shaved her completely and are giving her medicines. Vet also advised us to keep her in small area like toilet which is easy to clean. We tried to keep her in bathroom but she was meowing and crying so we had to give up. Yesterday we kept her out of our bedroom but she was crying and meowing alot. I understand that she is not well and needs me near her but I dont want ringworm. Please advise..

ANSWER: Hello,

Would you please tell me how the vet diagnosed it? Did he use a woods lamp or do a DTM culture? The woods lamp has 40% accuracy and glows for things other than ringworm. The DTM culture takes up to two weeks. and is the only definitive diagnosis. Are you using a topical? Just avoid touching the area where she has it.

Please dont panic, many kittens get upper respiratory infection and due to not having a very strong immune system also ringworm. It is a self limiting fungus that is highly contagious. I have treated it with apple cider vinegar applications applies directly to avoid further break down of the kitty's immune system. It's not that big of a deal, the only thing is its contagious. Some people get it, some don't.
Some are immune to ringworm. There are ringworm spores that become ambient so a good cleaning is required. Toni's Kitty Rescue ran a ringworm ward in San Francisco and there were many volunteers. We wore gloves and protective gear. Wash with soap and water thoroughly after handling and out clothes in hot wash cycle. You can wear latex gloves when handling her as well,if you like as well. But try not to panic.
If you decide to keep her in bathroom, you are going to have to try to be strong and leave her in there. She will of course cry and meow if she is lonely. Every time she cries and you open the door she is getting the understanding that crying opens the door and you appear. It is only for a short time.
Try keeping an outer layer of protective clothes/gown/robe in there so that every time you enter you put them over the clothes you have and remove afterward. Keep lots of toys to entertain her and fluffy stuffed animals in there for her that you can discard or put in hot laundry cycle later.
Ringworm has spores and is ambient but all that would happen would be a circular fungal rash.
I would add collostrum found at your health food store to her diet to help build her immune system. You can open capsules and put powder over the food. I would also do the same with Probiotics because I imagine the vet has given you antibiotics.
What did he give you to treat the ringworm? There are very liver toxic drugs that vets use. She has a cold so I would not recommend the lime sulphur dips at this point.
Again, i was able to get rid of it with one cat with topical apple cider vinegar compresses applied directly to areas affected, I also gave immune building food and supplements.
Apple cider vinegar is an ANTI-FUNGAL and contrary to what some think it is ALKALINE. It will not burn kitty's skin.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello,

Thanks for the quick reply. Vet checked her with UV light and detected 3 areas where she has ringworm. Vet gave us following medicines for her.

For ringworm
-itrafungol (oral 0.25 twice a day)
-Miconaz cream (apply twice a day)
-Medicated shampoo (use every 3rd day)

For URI
- Alfasan Eye Ointment (twice a day for her eyes)
- Antiboitic oral
Also I am cleaning the area around her everday and washing the clothes she is using everyday in hot water and Dettol.
For my protection, I am holding her with the cloth only and talking bath with dettol once daily. Currently, I am feeding her Royal Canin's Babycat Instictive 10 and Lara fitness's biscuits (soften in hot water).
Please advise if I have to do anything extra to protect her.

Thanks,
Hemali

Answer: Hi Hemali!

Thank you for all the details! You are a very caring person and your kitty is very lucky!
One thing i would recommend is ask for a DTM culture to confirm if it is indeed ringworm. That lamp only has a 40% accuracy rate. The ears are a pretty common place for it though.

I also do not like itrafungol, I am not a vet but it is so extremely TOXIC and potentially damaging to the kitty's liver. I wouldn't use it ever. Ringworm is not life threatening, why treat it with life endangering drugs? It also may NOT work on the ringworm. It is way too risky. Consider stopping or finding a holistic vet.

Are you washing every third day? Be careful as she is sick already, you dont want her to get pneumonia. Every three days is a lot. Keep her warm and dry immediately after shampoo. If you are comfortable with washing and drying quickly, i recommend a lime/sulpur dip, its stinky but not toxic. It will also temporarily yellow her fur. But I would be extremely careful with a sick cat or a cold climate or drafty home.
Use probiotics on her foods, add collostrum, brewer's yeast, lecithin and cod liver oil and if you are interested in cooking for her to help her immune system I would suggest reading
Dr Pitcairn's Natural Health for Dogs and Cats.
There are great recipes in there and proper dosages for all the supplements I suggested.
I am not a huge fan of Royal Canin I think there are much better formulas. If you need to feed commercial brands then here are a few names: Avoderm, Wellness, BFF, Petguard, Wysong, Instinct. I am not sure who supplies to your country, but they are not loaded with byproducts and fillers. I would also look online for these names. Some cats thrive on raw and each cat is specific. If we were to determine with Chinese medicine principles that she is excellent for raw food, then Primal is a good brand, but I cannot determine this without complete intake.

If it were me I would use alkaline apple cider vinegar (its an antifungal) topical 2-3x's daily compresses with q-tips or cotton pads. I would use lime/sulphur dip once every 5-7days. And give her the supplements I mentioned. Again, I am not a vet, but i would never compromise a cat's already stressed growing immune system with toxic potentially lethal, liver damaging drugs.
If she is excessive with green or yellow mucous then antibiotics will help. if it is a virus they are useless. Antibiotics are so overused and i do not agree with how often they are administered, however, kittens can decline very rapidly with upper respiratory infection. Please make sure she is eating. Make sure to keep an eye on her activity level as well. Please monitor her very closely especially if you continue Itrafungol - if lethargy starts, or she stops eating, or she starts to develop yellow skin noticeable around her ears, she needs urgent care. I would highly recommend you stop Itrafungol immediately.
Please feel free to keep me updated on her progress.


Best of luck,
Shanti