Q: We adopted a cat from a shelter and were told that she had just been cured of ringworm. Well, not so. We have two other cats that have contracted ringworm. Do you know of any holistic treatment for this? We’re considering picking up a very expensive liquid tomorrow that will cost us a thousand dollars to cure these three cats. We have five other cats that as yet are free of it. Help!
A: Frankly, I’m not a big believer in holistic medicine, so I’m probably not the best person to ask about that type of remedy. Ringworm is a fungus and, though it is not deadly, it can be a real nuisance to treat, especially in a multi-cat household.
I have found the most effective way to treat ringworm is to use a combination of oral and topical therapy. The oral drug I’ve had the most success with is itraconazole. It is an expensive drug, especially if you have a multi-cat household, because you’ll need to treat all the cats in the household. All of the cats should be shampooed twice a week with an antifungal shampoo. Treatment lasts for six weeks. Longhaired cats should have their fur trimmed to maximize the success of the shampoo treatment. Environmental decontamination is also an important part of the treatment.
You’ll have to seek out a veterinarian who specializes in or has a personal interest in holistic medicine for more information on potential holistic treatments for ringworm.
Regards,
Arnold Plotnick, DVM