Fungal disease in cats and its treatment… Fungi in cats are parasitic organisms that produce spores. They can attach to cats’ bodies like parasites to feed. However, not all fungal species cause infection; only some cause problems such as disease.
Soil is the primary source of most fungi, and cats can acquire these infections by ingesting, inhaling, or through the skin (for example, through a wound or cut). In addition, cats that come into contact with an animal that has an existing fungal infection may be at increased risk.
There are a variety of fungal infections that can affect your cat’s skin. Some may go away on their own without causing serious problems. However, there are some types of fungi that can damage your cat’s skin and put its health at risk.
Fungal infections in cats usually occur when fungi found in the environment are inhaled or enter their bodies through a break in their skin. Fungi are often found in the soil and feces of infected animals.
These infections can affect cats of all ages and breeds, regardless of breed, breed or breed. It can especially affect cats that are sick or have low immunity.
Although some fungal infections can cause illness in healthy animals, others seek out animals with weakened immune systems to establish infection. Cats that have used antibiotics for a long time are more susceptible to fungal infections. This means that the rates of contracting this disease are higher.
What is a fungal disease?
Fungi can grow on any body surface (for example, ringworm is caused by a fungus) and spread through body systems. Systemic fungal disease, also known as systemic mycosis, is characterized by the entry of a fungal organism into an animal and subsequent spread to various organs of the body.
Fungi (plural fungi) can travel anywhere in the body, but each type of fungus has specific spots where it spreads, such as the lungs, eyes, or lymph nodes. The types of fungi that most affect our pets are abundant in soil and tend to be concentrated in certain geographic areas.
What are common fungal infections in cats?
Although your cat’s health can be affected by many different types of fungi in the environment, cats are more susceptible to some types of fungi. Here are some of the most common fungal infections in cats:
- Aspergilloz
- Candidiasis
- Coccidiyoidomycosis
- Cryptococcus
- Histoplasmosis
- Mystoma
- Rinosporidiosis
- Sporotrikosis
- Pheohypomica
Some of these infections can infect the entire body or focus on just one area. It is the most common skin fungal infection in cats. There are also some breeds that are prone to nasal aspergillosis, these are; They are cat breeds with flat faces, like Himalayan and Persian cats.
What are the symptoms of fungal disease in cats?
Which fungal infection your cat has will be determined based on the symptoms it shows. Some common symptoms we often see in kittens with these types of infections include:
- bloody discharge from nose
- Sneeze
- swelling under the bridge of the nose
- Oily skin
- skin redness
- Skin lesions that emit a bad odor
- Cough
- cysts under the skin
- swollen lymph nodes
- skin redness
- Blindness (loss of vision) in advanced cases
- Diarrhea
- Depression
- Difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
- eye problems
- Fire
- Loss of appetite
- Intolerance and reluctance to physical activity
- weight loss
- skin lesions
- Various seizures
Diagnosis and treatment of fungal disease in cats
Because some fungal infections are so rare, they may not always be easily diagnosed. Therefore, it will be helpful for your veterinarian to know your cat’s medical history and when signs of infection began to appear. The veterinarian will most likely perform a complete physical examination and draw blood for laboratory tests.
A complete blood count or complete blood test, urinalysis and chemical blood profile, and x-rays will help reveal the cause of your cat’s symptoms. In some cases, the veterinarian may also take a tissue sample to help with diagnosis. Or your cat may need to undergo endoscopy.
Usually, your cat is anesthetized for this, and tissue sample collection and endoscopy are performed during anesthesia. The tissue sample taken from your cat is then analyzed in the laboratory. When it comes to treatment, depending on the type of fungus causing the problem, your veterinarian may take different measures, such as placing you in intensive care to reduce the risk of infection to you and your family or because your cat needs it.
If you do not want your cat to stay in the hospital and prefer to stay at home, you should definitely wear gloves and a mask when handling your cat at home or cleaning and changing the litter box. Additionally, you can get instructions on how to prevent infections from your veterinarian.
To treat fungal skin infection in cats: Topical ointments is used. For advanced cases, oral antifungal medications can also be used. If necessary, in case of any secondary infection. IV fluids Treatment may also be supported with medication and/or medication. Several weeks of treatment may be required before the healing process begins.
Healing process of fungal disease in cats
The type of fungal disease will determine your cat’s prognosis (recovery process). While some can be easily treated with medication, others can have long-term health effects and even cause serious neurological symptoms (especially in the case of serious infections such as North American Blastomycosis).
It is imperative that you attend all follow-up appointments so that the veterinarian can evaluate your cat’s recovery and ensure recurrence is unlikely. Because in some cases, your doctor may change the medication if necessary. Therefore, if you notice any changes in your cat’s behavior or appearance, you should report this to your veterinarian immediately.
In this context, whether your cat’s recovery time will take longer depends on how severe the symptoms are and the type of fungal infection present in the body. With some types of antifungal medications, it may take weeks before you see an improvement in symptoms. At this point, it is important to give your cat his medication exactly as prescribed.
Causes of fungal infection on the skin of cats
The reason why cats get a fungal infection on their skin depends on the type of fungus responsible for the infection. Some of the problems that doctors identify as the main causes of these skin infections include:
- flea allergies
- Pancreatic or liver cancer
- Exposure to high humidity and heat
- Contact with infected feces
- Exposure to infected soil
- Inhaling fungal spores outdoors
- contamination of wounds
