Cat Fungal Infection Skin Treatment

The first case of fungal infections in felines was reported in the early 1950s.

Cat fungal infection skin treatment.

Yeast infections respond well to treatment with antifungal medicine but be sure to get a diagnosis from a veterinarian before using anything on your cat. A common skin yeast known as malassezia is found in small quantities on the skin of nearly all cats in north america and usually causes no problems. There is no known prevention other than decreasing your pet s exposure to desert soil and dust as much as possible in areas where the fungus occurs. The prognosis is guarded but cats with skin infections may respond to treatment.

It s only when common yeasts multiply too rapidly and colonize that infection results. While viruses and bacterial infections most likely come to mind when pet owners consider their cats becoming sick there are types of fungi that can also cause many unpleasant symptoms in cats. Feline yeast infections especially if recurring can be signs of an underlying disease or compromised immune system. Treatment for a bacterial or fungal cat skin infection primarily involves the use of prescription and over the counter topical treatments as described below.

The current damage to the cat its age overall health if there is risk of contagion and the state of. Most types of fungal yeast infections in cats affect the skin but some can affect other parts of the body such as the respiratory tract. The ear is one of the most common spots for a yeast infection. You ve got yeast on your skin and so does your cat.

Sporothrix the fungus that causes sporotrichosis lives in the environment in soil and on plant matter such as sphagnum moss rose bushes hay or wood. In cats with underlying conditions such as allergies infection hereditary skin disease or other skin disease malassezia can overgrow more rapidly causing an infection. Symptoms may include a black or yellow discharge redness of the ear flap and persistent scratching of the ear. The microscopic fungus can enter the skin through small cuts or scrapes.

Fungal infections of the skin are very common. Fungal infections can affect cats as well as humans and though there is a wide variety of fungi that exist in the environment not all of them can affect your cat rsquo s health. The treatment of dermatophytosis is complex many factors must be taken into account before treating it. In that case the skin infection must be treated but the underlying cause of the itching must also be determined and treated as well.

In rare cases breathing in the fungus can cause a pulmonary lung infection. Treatment involves longterm antifungal medications. Fungal infections of the skin are more common in felines than generalized infections.