Patient: Simon, a 10-year-old male neutered cat.
History: Simon is an indoor-outdoor cat. For two weeks his
owner noticed his hair thinning near his neck, which progressed
to form a bald spot on the back of his neck. Simon’s owner
took him to his veterinarian.
The Doctor Visit: Simon was examined and found to have
some crusts and hair loss on his neck. The hairs surrounding
the bald area could be pulled out easily. The doctor did several
tests to determine the cause of Simon’s skin problem.
A skin scrape was performed, which is where the doctor examines hair and skin under
the microscope for mites; it was negative. A fungal culture (a sample of hair and skin
cells obtained by removing a few hairs and rubbing a sterile tooth brush along the hair)
was submitted to the lab to check for a common fungus called ringworm. This test takes
several weeks. Simon also had blood tests to check his liver, kidneys, thyroid, blood
sugar and blood cell counts which were normal.
The veterinarian suspected ringworm so he began treatment while the fungal culture
was pending. He shaved the hair surrounding the affected area on his neck and
prescribed a topical medicine to treat fungus to be applied daily.
Simon’s owner was instructed to keep him isolated in one room and to wear gloves
when handling him because ringworm can be transmitted to people.
Result: In three weeks the preliminary fungal culture result was positive for microsporum
canis, the most common fungus that causes ringworm in pets. The topical treatment
was continued and Simon’s veterinarian prescribed a pill to be taken daily to also
eliminate the fungus.
Outcome: Approximately six weeks after Simon started treatment his hair began to grow
back, a second fungal culture was done which was negative. His medicines were
continued another month when a second fungal culture was done, which also turned out
to be negative. After two fungal cultures taken two weeks apart are negative the patient is
considered to be cured. Blood tests were monitored throughout his treatment to be sure
the medicine he was taking had no ill effects on his liver.
Discussion: Ringworm is a misnomer because it is not caused by a worm, but rather a
fungus. Ringworm affects the skin and has a variety of appearances. Ringworm can
cause the hair to fall out with no redness, or there can be redness or crusts. Ringworm
can be difficult to resolve and take several months to go away. Some cats with ringworm
need to have their entire body shaved and receive special baths weekly along with the
oral medication. Ringworm can be transmitted to people therefore special precautions
have to be taken with a ringworm positive cat in the house. Gloves should be used to
handle the cat, the environment and cat’s bedding need to be cleaned frequently to
remove any infective material and the cat should be isolated to prevent the spread of the
fungus.
Ask the Vet is not intended to be a substitute for the regular veterinary care a licensed veterinarian
provides through routine physical exams, and should only be used for personal, educational and
informational purposes only. Responses do not establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship,
and are not intended as veterinary medical advice.
History: Simon is an indoor-outdoor cat. For two weeks his
owner noticed his hair thinning near his neck, which progressed
to form a bald spot on the back of his neck. Simon’s owner
took him to his veterinarian.
The Doctor Visit: Simon was examined and found to have
some crusts and hair loss on his neck. The hairs surrounding
the bald area could be pulled out easily. The doctor did several
tests to determine the cause of Simon’s skin problem.
A skin scrape was performed, which is where the doctor examines hair and skin under
the microscope for mites; it was negative. A fungal culture (a sample of hair and skin
cells obtained by removing a few hairs and rubbing a sterile tooth brush along the hair)
was submitted to the lab to check for a common fungus called ringworm. This test takes
several weeks. Simon also had blood tests to check his liver, kidneys, thyroid, blood
sugar and blood cell counts which were normal.
The veterinarian suspected ringworm so he began treatment while the fungal culture
was pending. He shaved the hair surrounding the affected area on his neck and
prescribed a topical medicine to treat fungus to be applied daily.
Simon’s owner was instructed to keep him isolated in one room and to wear gloves
when handling him because ringworm can be transmitted to people.
Result: In three weeks the preliminary fungal culture result was positive for microsporum
canis, the most common fungus that causes ringworm in pets. The topical treatment
was continued and Simon’s veterinarian prescribed a pill to be taken daily to also
eliminate the fungus.
Outcome: Approximately six weeks after Simon started treatment his hair began to grow
back, a second fungal culture was done which was negative. His medicines were
continued another month when a second fungal culture was done, which also turned out
to be negative. After two fungal cultures taken two weeks apart are negative the patient is
considered to be cured. Blood tests were monitored throughout his treatment to be sure
the medicine he was taking had no ill effects on his liver.
Discussion: Ringworm is a misnomer because it is not caused by a worm, but rather a
fungus. Ringworm affects the skin and has a variety of appearances. Ringworm can
cause the hair to fall out with no redness, or there can be redness or crusts. Ringworm
can be difficult to resolve and take several months to go away. Some cats with ringworm
need to have their entire body shaved and receive special baths weekly along with the
oral medication. Ringworm can be transmitted to people therefore special precautions
have to be taken with a ringworm positive cat in the house. Gloves should be used to
handle the cat, the environment and cat’s bedding need to be cleaned frequently to
remove any infective material and the cat should be isolated to prevent the spread of the
fungus.
Ask the Vet is not intended to be a substitute for the regular veterinary care a licensed veterinarian
provides through routine physical exams, and should only be used for personal, educational and
informational purposes only. Responses do not establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship,
and are not intended as veterinary medical advice.
| Case Study - My Cat Has A Difficult Skin Problem |
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| Dr. Karen Zelinski works at Animal General Veterinary Hospital at 725 River Road, Edgewater, N.J. She graduated from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993; she has two Dalmatians and three cats. |