Deprive Cats And Cats (shearing And Other Species): What It Looks Like, Signs, Treatment Of Kittens And Adult Animals At Home, Photo

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

Deprive from a cat: scary, but curable

"Don't touch the cat, it's lichen!" - probably everyone had to hear this cry of an alarmed mother, who saw her baby pulling his hand towards the yard cat. In fact, it is lichen that is one of the main reasons why we are afraid of contact with stray animals, especially if we see problem areas on their skin. Is this disease really as terrible as we are accustomed to believe, is it possible to visually distinguish lichen from "combat losses" of a tailed bandit who has been in a serious fight, is this disease dangerous for people and are there ways to reliably protect against it - all this is worth understanding.

Content

• 1 The nature of lichen and the risk group for contracting it

  1.1 Photo gallery: cats at risk for shingles

• 2 Types of lichen

  • 2.1 Table: types of lichen, their pathogens and routes of infection
  • 2.2 Video: veterinarian on cat lichen

• 3 Typical symptoms of different types of lichen

  • 3.1 Ringworm

    • 3.1.1 Table: distinctive features of trichophytosis and microsporia
    • 3.1.2 Photo Gallery: Ringworm in Cats and Humans
    • 3.1.3 Video: microsporia in cats
  • 3.2 Pink lichen

  • 3.3 Pityriasis versicolor

    3.3.1 Video: General information about pityriasis versicolor

  • 3.4 Lichen planus

    3.4.1 Video: what is lichen planus

  • 3.5 Weeping lichen

    3.5.1 Video: Eczema in Pets

• 4 Diagnostic methods

  • 4.1 Table: methods of diagnosing lichen in cats
  • 4.2 Photo gallery: methods for diagnosing lichen

• 5 Treatment

  • 5.1 Video: An example of misappropriation of lichen

  • 5.2 Antifungal therapy

    • 5.2.1 Table: Overview of topical lichen medications
    • 5.2.2 Photo Gallery: Topical Antifungal Drugs
    • 5.2.3 Treatment and precautions
    • 5.2.4 Use of oral medications
    • 5.2.5 Table: Overview of lichen tablets
    • 5.2.6 Photo gallery: oral medications against lichen
  • 5.3 General strengthening therapy

• 6 Prevention of lichen in cats

  • 6.1 Vaccination
  • 6.2 Reviews of lichen vaccination

The nature of lichen and the risk group for infection with it

The main thing to understand is that lichen is not a diagnosis. This term refers to several skin diseases, conditionally similar in symptoms, but completely different in terms of the causes, methods of treatment, its duration and complexity. More to the point, not all lichen types are contagious.

Not all types of shingles in animals are infectious to humans

The factor that unites various diseases under the general name "lichen" is the main symptom - rashes or spots on the skin, accompanied by flaking and itching.

In cats, this usually manifests itself in:

• the appearance of bald spots, usually starting from the head and, as a rule, with clear boundaries;
• redness of the skin in bare areas and the appearance of scratching on it (evidence of severe itching);
• the presence of inflammation, abscesses, vesicles with liquid, peeling on the skin;
• deformation of the claws.

However, such a clinical picture can be caused by the action of various pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi), or it can have a neurological and even allergic nature. It is clear that in the last two cases, the disease is not dangerous for others.

However, there is one more common feature in all types of lichen. This disease in any of its manifestations always affects an organism with a weakened immune system, and this rule applies equally to both animals and humans. A toddler is much more likely to catch lichen from a sick cat than his parents.

In babies, the risk of infection with deprivation is always higher than in adults, due to the not yet strengthened immunity

If we talk about cats, then lichen most often affects:

• pregnant cats;
• nursing mothers;
• kittens;
• elderly animals;
• cats that have had a serious illness;
• hungry and weakened beasts.

Photo gallery: cats at risk for shingles

Pregnancy is stressful for the cat's body, immunity is weakened during this period

For a lactating cat, the risk of contracting lichen increases.

In old age, the cat's body loses its ability to resist infection

Past illness or surgery also weaken the immune system

A stray animal weakened by hunger is more susceptible to infection with shingles

Many cats live around our summer cottage, and all of them sometimes come to us for a treat. Somehow after winter, we found in one of these cats, in addition to her usual pregnancy, obvious symptoms of lichen. The condition of the animal worsened every day, the disease progressed. But here's what is interesting: several other cats in direct contact with the infected animal remained completely healthy. In the end, with joint efforts, we managed to defeat the disease, but none of the other animals ever became infected.

In people, in addition to childhood or old age, pregnancy and previous diseases, the risk group can be supplemented by such factors as:

• experienced stress;
• great physical activity, in particular, accompanied by profuse sweating;
• predisposition to allergies;
• individual characteristics of the organism (hereditary factor);
• violation of personal hygiene rules;
• the use of certain medications;
• certain diseases (chickenpox, candidiasis, problems with the endocrine system, dysbiosis, autoimmune, infectious diseases, etc.);
• alcoholism.

The appearance of lichen can be triggered even by banal stress

Thus, contact with a sick cat is not the most common and far from the only way to get acquainted with such an ailment as lichen.

Types of lichen

There are at least nine types of lichen that can affect humans. For general information, we will mention all of them, although we immediately note that, by and large, only one of these diseases can be infected from a cat (some types of lichen in cats practically do not occur, others are either not infectious, or the probability of such infection is negligible) …

There are several types of lichen, but not everyone can get a cat

Table: types of lichen, their pathogens and routes of infection

Name of the disease	Danger to the cat	Causative agent	Transfer form
Ringworm	Yes	Dermatophytes (fungi): Trichophyton; Microsporum; Epidermophyton.	Contact-household (the disease is very contagious)
Pink (lichen of Gibert)	Yes	Presumably the herpes virus, according to another version, the disease is a form of allergy	Presumably not contagious
Pityriasis (multicolored, white solar) versicolor	Yes	Yeast fungus Pityrosporum Orbiculare, also called Malassezia Furfur	Not contagious
Lichen planus	Yes	Not established (most likely neurological or allergic disease)	Not contagious
Shingles	No	Herpes zoster - herpes virus type III, it is also the causative agent of chickenpox, measles and rubella	It is transmitted by airborne droplets, but when transmitted, it causes chickenpox, after which it remains in the body forever
Herpes	No	Herpes Labialis - herpes virus type I (everyone knows the fever on the lips)	The virus is in the body of most people, it is activated when immunity is weakened
Weeping lichen	Yes	Not established (most likely, the skin loses its protective functions due to weakened immunity)	Not contagious
Scaly lichen (psoriasis)	No	Not established (presumably - hereditary tendency)	Not contagious
Lichen nodosum (Piedra)	No	Molds: Trichosporon spp.; Trichosporon asahii; Trichosporon mucoides.	Transmitted by contact and household

Thus, having found the symptoms of deprivation in a pet, it is necessary not to panic and not try to isolate the animal, but immediately contact the veterinary clinic, determine the diagnosis and only after that decide whether to hide children from the sick cat, or the treatment can take place, so to speak, "in a close family circle."

Video: veterinarian on cat lichen

Typical symptoms of different types of lichen

It is quite difficult to independently distinguish one type of skin lesion from another without being a specialist, but if “in the field” it is necessary to exclude the likelihood of the most dangerous and infectious ringworm, it is still possible to try to diagnose the affected cat.

For safety reasons, you have to make a preliminary diagnosis yourself

Ringworm

There are two types of this disease - trichophytosis and microsporia.

The difference between them is in the form of the pathogen:

• the first variant of the disease is caused by fungi of the genus Trichphyton, it is considered the most dangerous;
• the second - fungi of the genus Microcporum, this form with a high probability ends with a complete recovery even without special therapy.

Ringworm is a very contagious disease for both other cats and humans.

Table: distinctive features of trichophytosis and microsporia

Characteristic signs	Trichophytosis	Microsporia
Incubation period	From week to month	One to nine months
Onset of the disease	Hair loss in specific areas of the body, starting from the head and then throughout the body	Small area without hair
Itching	More often absent	Present
Localization of affected areas	Ring shape	Round areas with well-defined edges
The nature of hair loss	Break off at the root	There remain small "hemp" 2-3 mm long
Skin condition	Coated with gray scales	Severe redness, plaque

Photo Gallery: Ringworm in Cats and Humans

Trichophytosis is considered a more dangerous disease

In humans, trichophytosis develops in the form of an expanding ring on the skin.

With microsporia, bald spots are usually round.

Microsporia usually starts as a small speck

Video: microsporia in cats

Lichen pink

Sometimes this disease is identified with shingles, but most experts agree that we are talking about two different pathologies, although there is a version that pink lichen is caused by the herpes virus. One way or another, pink lichen cannot be infected. However, there is an assumption that the carriers of this disease are various skin parasites, including fleas, bugs and lice, so you should always carefully monitor the hygiene of your pet.

There is an assumption that fleas are carriers of pink lichen

A characteristic feature of lichen pink is the rapid development of the disease. Small, no more than 2 cm in diameter, pink spots of a round or oval shape with clear boundaries appear on the skin. The skin at the site of the bald patches is slightly lifted and covered with folds, as if pulled together, peeling and itchy. There are no scales at the edges of the spot, the skin is light pink.

Pityriasis rosea begins as a small oval speck on the skin

Another distinguishing feature of pink lichen is that at the onset of the disease, only one, "maternal" speck often appears, which after about a week begins to overgrow with bald patches of a smaller size.

In humans, lichen pink looks the same as in a cat.

With pink lichen, the cat's immunity is able to cope on its own. After about a month and a half, the symptoms of the disease disappear without a trace.

Pityriasis versicolor

Yeast fungi that cause this type of disease are always present in the body of animals and humans. However, like the herpes virus, these microorganisms begin to develop actively under favorable circumstances. It is noticed that oily skin contributes to the activation of the pathogen of pityriasis versicolor. That is why, by the way, the disease occurs in people with prolonged exposure to the sun or in conditions of high humidity.

For cats suffering from seborrhea (manifested as dandruff), the threat of developing this type of lichen also increases.

Pityriasis versicolor often affects cats with seborrhea

Actively multiplying, yeast fungi create a very acidic environment on the skin (lower the pH level of the skin), as a result of which pale pink or brown spots begin to appear on it, hence the alternative name of the disease - versicolor versicolor. Peeling may not occur on the affected areas.

Two distinguishing features of the disease:

• lack of discomfort in the form of itching;
• decrease in symptoms with the onset of drier and colder weather.

Despite the fact that pityriasis versicolor affects not only cats, but also people, the disease is not transmitted by contact.

Video: general information about pityriasis versicolor

Lichen planus

This disease is characterized by the appearance of many red blisters that can be observed on the skin and in the mouth of the cat, sometimes in the form of whole foci, merged into a single ring. There is liquid inside the bubbles, and in the center you can see a tiny depression. The disease is accompanied by severe itching. As the plaques rupture, liquid flows out of them, and dark spots with traces of combs remain on the affected area.

Lichen planus often appears on the face and mouth of the animal

A characteristic feature of this type of lichen is its localization. The disease primarily affects the abdomen, groin, and the folds of the limbs and the area around the mouth.

Video: what is lichen planus

Weeping lichen

Better known is another name for this disease - eczema.

Eczema is very similar in appearance to lichen planus

Both the nature and the external manifestations of this disease are similar to lichen planus, so only a doctor can differentiate them.

Eczema is also common in humans.

Video: eczema in pets

Diagnostic methods

The visual differences between the external manifestations of different types of lichen are so blurred that it would be very self-confident to talk about the possibility of establishing an accurate diagnosis on your own. Therefore, if the presence of bald spots, redness, inflamed and flaky skin areas is observed in a yard cat, you should stay away from it, but when it comes to a pet, it must be urgently shown to a specialist.

There are three main ways to diagnose lichen in pets (more serious research can be carried out in relation to humans, but in veterinary clinics they are usually limited to the ones below).

Table: methods for diagnosing lichen in cats

Diagnostic method	Research essence	disadvantages
Wood lamp transmission	The cat is illuminated with a special ultraviolet lamp. The presence of a light green glow in the thickness of the coat presumably indicates the presence of pathogenic fungi.	The probability of a correct diagnosis is 50-60%. Some species of the pathogen, including part of Microsporum canis and all Trichophyton mentagrophytes, do not cause luminescence, while other substances and microorganisms on the skin of the cat sometimes give a similar glow.
Microscopic examination (dermatoscopy)	Biological material is scraped off the affected skin area, which is then examined under a microscope	Reliability from 40 to 70%
Sowing a fungal culture on a nutrient medium	The scraping taken in the manner described above is placed in a special nutrient substrate (Sabouraud agar, ascites agar, etc.), which makes it possible to identify spores of specific fungi	Long waiting time for results (up to 21 days)

Photo gallery: methods for diagnosing lichen

Sowing a fungal culture in a nutrient medium allows you to make the diagnosis absolutely accurately

Microscopic examination allows to determine lichen with a probability of 40-70%

Some lichen pathogens have a specific glow in ultraviolet rays.

Shining with a Wood lamp is one of the ways to diagnose lichen

Treatment

There are no incurable types of lichen, but this is not a reason to relax.

We often hear people with a serious air talk about amazing ways to get rid of lichen, which their grandmothers have successfully used. As a person who has faced a problem personally, I can confidently say that such an attitude towards the disease is simply unacceptable.

Video: a sample of the wrong attitude towards lichen

In the distant Soviet times, when it was impossible to buy anything but green stuff, prednisolone and analgin in the pharmacy, no one took pets to veterinarians (unless, of course, we were talking about an expensive purebred dog). A problem like shingles seemed to be something very embarrassing, which cannot be said out loud. Our domestic cat, by the way, soon after giving birth somehow managed to catch this disease. After a while, a small spot appeared on my dad's leg and began to grow rapidly in the form of a ring. Apparently, it was the same trichophytosis, the most dangerous type of ringworm, but then none of us knew such words. For many months, the wound was poured with iodine, and bald spots on the cat's body were treated in the same way. In parallel - with hints,not directly - various friends were asked for advice on "effective" methods of treating lichen, after which all this (window condensation, newspaper ash, cabbage leaves and other nonsense) was immediately tried on itself and, alas, did not help at all. I still don’t know where the incompletely treated cat eventually ended up (they told me, a child, that she was taken to the hospital), but my dad never healed his leg.

Do not treat lichen yourself, entrust this matter to your doctor. Moreover, today there is no need to be ashamed of the problem. Of course, in certain cases, the disease can go away on its own, but ringworm and pityriasis requires the use of antifungal agents.

Antifungal therapy

For the treatment of lichen caused by pathogenic fungi, local or oral antifungal drugs are used, depending on the diagnosis and condition of the animal.

Table: overview of drugs for local lichen

Drug name	Release form	Mode of application	special instructions	Approximate cost in rubles
Fungin	drops; spray.	The recommended dose is 0.2–0.3 ml per 1 kg of the cat's weight.	Highly toxic. It is not prescribed for weakened animals, pregnant cats and kittens. The course of treatment is no more than two weeks.	300
Clotrimazole	pills; ointment; cream; spray.	It has systemic antifungal and antimicrobial effects. It is applied externally 2-3 times a day.	It is used to treat humans, but is often used in cats as well. The first effect appears 5-7 days after the start of treatment.	40
Sanoderm	Ointment	It is applied twice a day, after signs of improvement appear, you should switch to single use.	The course of treatment is 2-4 weeks, then you need to take a break for at least three weeks. Side effects from the adrenal glands are possible.	120
YAM	Ointment	Effective for dermatitis, eczema and fungal lichen types. It is applied 1-2 times a day to the affected area with the capture of healthy tissue.	The course of treatment is 1-2 weeks. The drug is toxic, care should be taken that the animal does not lick it.	one hundred
Mycozol	pills; cream; ointment; gel; spray.	Antifungal and bactericidal drug. Apply 2 times a day.	Do not mix with other antifungal medicines. If there is no improvement after 3 weeks, the treatment is canceled, and the medicine is replaced with another.	130
Fukortsin	Solution for external use	Apply 2-4 times a day with a cotton swab	May cause an allergic reaction. There are also known cases of resistance (addiction).	60
Thermicon	gel; cream; emulsion; spray.	It is applied 1-2 times a day. After application, it is recommended to rub the preparation lightly into the skin.	The course of treatment is 1–2 weeks. Improvement occurs in the first days.	260
Exoderil	Cream	They have a wide range of actions. Apply once a day.	Appointed for small lesions. The course of treatment is 2–4 weeks, but therapy should not be stopped ahead of time, otherwise the disease may return.	450
Lamisole				550
Imaverol	Emulsion	Diluted with warm water in a ratio of 1:50. Treatment of the affected area is carried out 4 times with a three-day break.	Well tolerated, can be used to treat lichen in pregnant cats	1700

Photo Gallery: Local Antifungal Medicines

Mycozol is a broad-spectrum antifungal veterinary drug

Thermicon comes in the form of a spray, which is very convenient when treating a cat

Exoderil is effective at the initial stage of the disease

Fungin is an effective veterinary drug against ringworm

Clotrimazole is intended for use in humans, but it is sometimes used for cats as well

Sanoderm - a veterinary drug based on clotrimazole

NM is highly toxic

Imaverol is an effective drug, but very expensive

Treatment method and precautions

Regardless of which antifungal drug is used, the technique for treating ringworm and pityriasis is always the same. First of all, you should cut the hair around the affected area of the skin, wash it with warm soapy water to soften the scabs formed, and then let the skin dry completely.

When working with a lichen cat, you need to follow the rules of personal hygiene.

It is necessary to work with sick animals in rubber gloves, and the scabs removed from the skin together with the remains of wool should be burned or disposed of with all necessary precautions.

It is very important to thoroughly disinfect the site of the medical procedure after its completion. In addition, it is advisable to keep a cat sick with ringworm in isolation from people and other pets, but if this is not possible, preventive measures will be required for all household members.

Controversial is the question of the possibility of bathing lichen cats. Strictly speaking, it all depends on the type of disease (for example, water does not affect lichen pink in any way, but it can spread the spores of pathogens of fungal forms of the disease throughout the body).

With ringworm, it is often recommended to wash the animal using special shampoos (Nizoral, Sebozol, etc.), but I would recommend refraining from such procedures, especially if your cat does not like to swim. Excessive stress only weakens the pet's immunity, water washes away the protective layer from its skin, which is not very useful for a cat, and the risk of infection spreading to the healthy surface of the skin (both the cat and the one who bathes it) is still present even when using shampoo …

Oral medication use

In most cases, lichen in cats is treated with topical medications. Tablets are prescribed when the disease has become severe and has affected large areas of the skin, as well as the claws of the animal. All oral antifungal medications have serious contraindications, so they are used only in extreme cases. Do not use such drugs to treat pregnant cats and small kittens.

Table: overview of pills against lichen

Drug name	Treatment regimen	Approximate cost in rubles
Itraconazole	The daily dose is 8-10 mg per 1 kg of body weight. The course of treatment is 7 days, then the dose is halved.	340
Irunin	Itraconazole analog	400
Ketoconazole	The daily dose is 4–8 mg per 1 kg of body weight. The drug is less tolerated than Itraconazole.	220
Terbinafine	The daily dose is 8–12 mg per 1 kg of body weight.	200
Griseowulfin	Single dose - 8-12 mg per 1 kg of body weight (0.25 tablets for an adult cat and 1/8 tablet for a kitten). Mixed with feed 2 times a day. The course of treatment is 3-5 weeks.	225
Fluconazole	The daily dose is 10-12 mg per 1 kg of body weight. The course of treatment is at least a week.	40

Photo gallery: oral medications against lichen

Fluconazole - Inexpensive Antifungal Pills

Itraconazole suppresses many fungi

Irunin - a drug based on itraconazole

Terbinafine is used to treat ringworm in cats and humans

General strengthening therapy

Since lichen primarily affects weakened animals, in addition to the use of narrowly targeted drugs, it is necessary to pay special attention to the general condition of the cat. For some types of lichen, this therapy is the only form of treatment.

Nutritional adjustments are an important part of treatment. It is necessary to ensure that the animal receives all the necessary nutrients and vitamins, and it is better when the source of all this is high-quality food, and not synthetic drugs.

It is advisable that the cat receives vitamins from food, and not in the form of tablets

Prevention of lichen in cats

The best way to prevent lichen is to take good care of your cat.

I cannot agree with the statement that a cat should not be allowed out into the street. Your pet needs fresh air and new experiences just as much as quality food. I will never forget how my middle-aged already Thai cat was transformed when we took her with us to the recreation center and allowed her to walk through the pine forest every day. The pampered and completely amorphous creature suddenly turned into a real predator, every muscle played on his body, and his eyes lit up with excitement and thirst for life.

Walking the cat outdoors is very beneficial.

Another thing is that a domestic cat should be isolated from direct contact with animals with symptoms of skin diseases.

Vaccination

Vaccinations against lichen using such antifungal drugs as Vakderm, Microderm, Polivak TM are sometimes carried out in our country both for the purpose of prevention and for treatment. It is believed that the antifungal drug stimulates the production of antibodies to the pathogen and will make the animal easier to cope with the disease.

The feasibility of vaccination against lichen is a debatable issue

However, it is worth noting that in Europe they are extremely skeptical about such a practice, and the named drugs have not even passed the necessary certification. The generally accepted approach to the problem in the civilized world is unambiguous: vaccination against lichen is ineffective. For a healthy animal, this disease does not pose a big threat, and the sick one needs to be treated, not vaccinated.

Reviews of lichen vaccination

A cat affected by shingles looks intimidating, and yet it is not infectious in most cases. It is possible and necessary to help such an animal, but first a diagnosis should be made, because the cause of deprivation, contrary to the existing misconception, is not always parasites. At the same time, the use of alternative methods of treatment in the case of such a dangerous disease as ringworm can have dire consequences not only for the cat, but also for the people around her. And since the risk group includes children, whom the disease affects primarily due to weak immunity, one should definitely not joke with an insidious disease. Modern medicine has many ways to quickly, effectively and relatively inexpensively treat all types of lichen. Contact her help and solve the problem in a civilized manner.