Cat Skin Fungal Infection: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention Measures
Cat Skin Fungal Infection: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention Measures
Skin diseases in dogs and cats are common problems encountered by pet owners, and among them, skin diseases caused by fungal infections account for a considerable proportion, especially during the hot and humid summer months. Fungal skin diseases are complex in etiology, difficult to diagnose, have a long treatment cycle, and are prone to recurrence, bringing a lot of trouble to pet owners. So, how much do you know about cat skin fungal infection?
I. Causes of Cat Skin Fungal Infection
Skin fungal infection, also known as superficial mycosis, is a chronic contact transmissible disease caused by fungi parasitic on the surface of the animal body that invade the epidermis and hair, toes and other keratinized tissues. When cats suffer from skin fungal infection, they usually show symptoms such as itching, dandruff, hair loss, which seriously affect the appearance and health of the cat.
1. Sources of infection:
Environment: Fungi are widely present in the environment, including soil, air, plants, etc. Cats can easily contact fungi and become infected while playing outdoors.
Other animals: Cats may also become infected by contacting other animals with skin fungal infection, such as infected dogs, cats, or other animals.
Self: Cats may carry fungi themselves, but when their immunity declines, the fungi will multiply and cause infection.
2. Pathogenic fungi:
Microsporum canis: The main pathogenic fungus for cat skin fungal infection, accounting for 98%.
Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum gypseum: Each accounts for 1%.
Others: Some scholars have suggested that Microsporum audouinii and Microsporum distortum may also cause cat skin fungal infection, but they are not common.
3. Triggering factors:
Low immunity: The decline of cat's immunity, weakening the ability to resist fungi, makes them more susceptible to infection.
Malnutrition: Lack of nutrition, especially protein and vitamins, will weaken the cat's immunity and make it more susceptible to fungal infection.
Environmental factors: A humid and hot environment is conducive to the growth and reproduction of fungi, increasing the risk of infection.
Stress: Moving, changing food, illness and other stressful factors can lower cat's immunity and increase the risk of infection.
II. Symptoms of Cat Skin Fungal Infection
The main symptoms of cat skin fungal infection are:
Hair loss: This is the most common symptom. In the early stage, round bald patches will form on the skin, covered with different degrees of scales, or raised in a reddish plaque. As the condition progresses, the hairless area will expand outwards, the center will begin to heal, and may form different degrees of ashy peeling.
Itching: Cats will constantly scratch and bite the affected area, leading to skin redness, damage, and even bacterial infection.
Dandruff: The affected area will have a lot of dandruff, which will accumulate into clumps in severe cases.
Crusting: Due to the inflammatory response caused by fungal infection, the affected area will form crusts.
Erythema: The skin in the affected area will become red and swollen, with obvious erythema.
Alopecia: Hair will fall off in the affected area, and even bare skin will appear.
Ulcer: In severe cases, ulcers may occur in the affected area, and even pus may drain.
The affected areas of cat skin fungal infection are often on the face, back, neck, abdomen, inguinal region, ears and toes. Its appearance varies, generally presenting different degrees of dandruff, hair loss, crusting and itching.
III. Diagnosis of Cat Skin Fungal Infection
Because the symptoms of cat skin fungal infection are similar to those of other skin diseases, diagnosis needs to be combined with clinical symptoms, fungal culture, dermatoscope examination, hair microscopy and other methods.
Clinical symptoms: The doctor will make a preliminary diagnosis based on the cat's symptoms and affected area.
Fungal culture: Collect skin or hair from the affected area for fungal culture to confirm the type of fungi based on the culture results.
Dermatoscope examination: Use a dermatoscope to observe the skin in the affected area, which can help the doctor determine the extent of the fungal infection.
Hair microscopy: Observe the hair in the affected area, and you can find characteristic manifestations such as fungal spores.
IV. Treatment of Cat Skin Fungal Infection
The treatment methods for cat skin fungal infection mainly include:
1. Topical treatment:
Antifungal cream: Commonly used antifungal creams include clotrimazole, miconazole, terbinafine, etc.
Antifungal spray: Commonly used antifungal sprays include Baoyu spray, etc.
Antifungal lotion: Commonly used antifungal lotions include selenium sulfide lotion, ketoconazole lotion, etc.
2. Systemic treatment:
Oral antifungal drugs: Commonly used oral antifungal drugs include itraconazole, fluconazole, terbinafine, etc.
3. Other treatments:
Immune enhancers: Can enhance the cat's immunity to help fight fungal infections.
Vitamin supplements: Can supplement the cat's nutrition and enhance resistance.
Antibiotics: If bacterial infection occurs, antibiotics need to be used for treatment.
4. Treatment precautions:
Adhere to treatment: The treatment cycle of skin fungal infection is relatively long, and it is necessary to adhere to treatment to achieve complete cure.
Regular checkups: Regular checkups are needed during treatment to adjust the treatment plan in time.
Environmental disinfection: The cat's living environment needs to be disinfected to prevent fungal reinfection.
5. Treatment suggestions:
Mild infection: Topical antifungal creams or sprays can be used for treatment.
Severe infection: Systemic treatment is needed, combined with topical treatment.
Recurrent infection: Immune enhancement treatment is needed, and environmental disinfection should be paid attention to.
V. Prevention of Cat Skin Fungal Infection
To prevent cat skin fungal infection, the following points need to be done:
Regular deworming: Regular deworming can prevent cats from being infected with parasites, reducing the risk of fungal infection.
Pay attention to hygiene: Keep the cat's living environment clean and hygienic, regularly disinfect the cat's living supplies, and can reduce the risk of fungal infection.
Reasonable diet: Provide cats with nutritionally balanced food, which can enhance their immunity and reduce the risk of fungal infection.
Avoid contact with sick animals: Avoid contact between cats and animals with skin fungal infection, which can reduce the risk of infection.
Enhance cat's immunity: Improving the cat's immunity can reduce the risk of fungal infection.
VI. Summary of experience
Cat skin fungal infection is a common disease, although it is troublesome to treat, as long as it is discovered in time, treated actively, and preventive measures are taken, it can be effectively controlled and prevented.
Here are a few personal experiences:
Early diagnosis and timely treatment: Once you find your cat has symptoms suggestive of skin fungal infection, take it to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment immediately.
Adhere to treatment and do not interrupt: Adhere to treatment during treatment and do not interrupt, otherwise it is easy to lead to recurrent disease.
Pay attention to environmental disinfection: The cat's living environment needs to be disinfected regularly to prevent fungal reinfection.
Enhance cat's immunity: Improving the cat's immunity can reduce the risk of fungal infection.
Prevention is the best cure, be proactive: Taking preventive measures can effectively reduce the risk of cats developing skin fungal infections.
Skin diseases in dogs and cats are common problems encountered by pet owners, and among them, skin diseases caused by fungal infections account for a considerable proportion, especially during the hot and humid summer months. Fungal skin diseases are complex in etiology, difficult to diagnose, have a long treatment cycle, and are prone to recurrence, bringing a lot of trouble to pet owners. So, how much do you know about cat skin fungal infection?
I. Causes of Cat Skin Fungal Infection
Skin fungal infection, also known as superficial mycosis, is a chronic contact transmissible disease caused by fungi parasitic on the surface of the animal body that invade the epidermis and hair, toes and other keratinized tissues. When cats suffer from skin fungal infection, they usually show symptoms such as itching, dandruff, hair loss, which seriously affect the appearance and health of the cat.
1. Sources of infection:
Environment: Fungi are widely present in the environment, including soil, air, plants, etc. Cats can easily contact fungi and become infected while playing outdoors.
Other animals: Cats may also become infected by contacting other animals with skin fungal infection, such as infected dogs, cats, or other animals.
Self: Cats may carry fungi themselves, but when their immunity declines, the fungi will multiply and cause infection.
2. Pathogenic fungi:
Microsporum canis: The main pathogenic fungus for cat skin fungal infection, accounting for 98%.
Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum gypseum: Each accounts for 1%.
Others: Some scholars have suggested that Microsporum audouinii and Microsporum distortum may also cause cat skin fungal infection, but they are not common.
3. Triggering factors:
Low immunity: The decline of cat's immunity, weakening the ability to resist fungi, makes them more susceptible to infection.
Malnutrition: Lack of nutrition, especially protein and vitamins, will weaken the cat's immunity and make it more susceptible to fungal infection.
Environmental factors: A humid and hot environment is conducive to the growth and reproduction of fungi, increasing the risk of infection.
Stress: Moving, changing food, illness and other stressful factors can lower cat's immunity and increase the risk of infection.
II. Symptoms of Cat Skin Fungal Infection
The main symptoms of cat skin fungal infection are:
Hair loss: This is the most common symptom. In the early stage, round bald patches will form on the skin, covered with different degrees of scales, or raised in a reddish plaque. As the condition progresses, the hairless area will expand outwards, the center will begin to heal, and may form different degrees of ashy peeling.
Itching: Cats will constantly scratch and bite the affected area, leading to skin redness, damage, and even bacterial infection.
Dandruff: The affected area will have a lot of dandruff, which will accumulate into clumps in severe cases.
Crusting: Due to the inflammatory response caused by fungal infection, the affected area will form crusts.
Erythema: The skin in the affected area will become red and swollen, with obvious erythema.
Alopecia: Hair will fall off in the affected area, and even bare skin will appear.
Ulcer: In severe cases, ulcers may occur in the affected area, and even pus may drain.
The affected areas of cat skin fungal infection are often on the face, back, neck, abdomen, inguinal region, ears and toes. Its appearance varies, generally presenting different degrees of dandruff, hair loss, crusting and itching.
III. Diagnosis of Cat Skin Fungal Infection
Because the symptoms of cat skin fungal infection are similar to those of other skin diseases, diagnosis needs to be combined with clinical symptoms, fungal culture, dermatoscope examination, hair microscopy and other methods.
Clinical symptoms: The doctor will make a preliminary diagnosis based on the cat's symptoms and affected area.
Fungal culture: Collect skin or hair from the affected area for fungal culture to confirm the type of fungi based on the culture results.
Dermatoscope examination: Use a dermatoscope to observe the skin in the affected area, which can help the doctor determine the extent of the fungal infection.
Hair microscopy: Observe the hair in the affected area, and you can find characteristic manifestations such as fungal spores.
IV. Treatment of Cat Skin Fungal Infection
The treatment methods for cat skin fungal infection mainly include:
1. Topical treatment:
Antifungal cream: Commonly used antifungal creams include clotrimazole, miconazole, terbinafine, etc.
Antifungal spray: Commonly used antifungal sprays include Baoyu spray, etc.
Antifungal lotion: Commonly used antifungal lotions include selenium sulfide lotion, ketoconazole lotion, etc.
2. Systemic treatment:
Oral antifungal drugs: Commonly used oral antifungal drugs include itraconazole, fluconazole, terbinafine, etc.
3. Other treatments:
Immune enhancers: Can enhance the cat's immunity to help fight fungal infections.
Vitamin supplements: Can supplement the cat's nutrition and enhance resistance.
Antibiotics: If bacterial infection occurs, antibiotics need to be used for treatment.
4. Treatment precautions:
Adhere to treatment: The treatment cycle of skin fungal infection is relatively long, and it is necessary to adhere to treatment to achieve complete cure.
Regular checkups: Regular checkups are needed during treatment to adjust the treatment plan in time.
Environmental disinfection: The cat's living environment needs to be disinfected to prevent fungal reinfection.
5. Treatment suggestions:
Mild infection: Topical antifungal creams or sprays can be used for treatment.
Severe infection: Systemic treatment is needed, combined with topical treatment.
Recurrent infection: Immune enhancement treatment is needed, and environmental disinfection should be paid attention to.
V. Prevention of Cat Skin Fungal Infection
To prevent cat skin fungal infection, the following points need to be done:
Regular deworming: Regular deworming can prevent cats from being infected with parasites, reducing the risk of fungal infection.
Pay attention to hygiene: Keep the cat's living environment clean and hygienic, regularly disinfect the cat's living supplies, and can reduce the risk of fungal infection.
Reasonable diet: Provide cats with nutritionally balanced food, which can enhance their immunity and reduce the risk of fungal infection.
Avoid contact with sick animals: Avoid contact between cats and animals with skin fungal infection, which can reduce the risk of infection.
Enhance cat's immunity: Improving the cat's immunity can reduce the risk of fungal infection.
VI. Summary of experience
Cat skin fungal infection is a common disease, although it is troublesome to treat, as long as it is discovered in time, treated actively, and preventive measures are taken, it can be effectively controlled and prevented.
Here are a few personal experiences:
Early diagnosis and timely treatment: Once you find your cat has symptoms suggestive of skin fungal infection, take it to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment immediately.
Adhere to treatment and do not interrupt: Adhere to treatment during treatment and do not interrupt, otherwise it is easy to lead to recurrent disease.
Pay attention to environmental disinfection: The cat's living environment needs to be disinfected regularly to prevent fungal reinfection.
Enhance cat's immunity: Improving the cat's immunity can reduce the risk of fungal infection.
Prevention is the best cure, be proactive: Taking preventive measures can effectively reduce the risk of cats developing skin fungal infections.
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