Kitten has ringworm! What about my bunny?

[Kirsty]

Today I brought my kitten to the pound where he was adopted to get neutered and when I picked him up, the vet there said he had ringworm!

I am now panicking. He scratched my hands and legs pretty bad while playing. This week I noticed some of the scratches have turned in to raised red bumps. I have them on my hands, arms, and legs. First I thought they could have just been infected, but now after learning about his ringworm I am afraid I have it too. I have had my kitten for a little over two weeks and he has had plenty of time to spread it!

 The vet sent home this “dip” stuff that I have to bathe my kitten in twice a week and also an oral medicine. In my research, I have found that ringworm can be all over the carpets and surfaces where your infected pet has been.

 My bunny has played with the kitten since we got him and uses the same room to hop around in all the time. I am now really afraid to let him out of the cage because of the possibility of him getting ringworm. Would I have to dip him in a ringworm bath too? I already feel horrible enough having to do it to the kitten, but a rabbit? I thought I’ve read somewhere that bathing rabbits is not good for them. He would also hate me for it.

 Have any of you had a problem with ringworm? Did any of your rabbits get it? What did you do?

I am trying my best to get help and have the house cleaned. I would really like it professionally cleaned but haven’t had time to talk to my boyfriend or his parents. I can’t do this alone… His mom was the one who gave us the cat, so I know she will be willing to help, but right now I feel really lost and scared.

This is a much bigger issue than just my bunny getting ringworm, but I am worried about him.

How can I let him out to play? I have no idea when I will have a chance to clean all the carpet or if I’ll even be successful. I am talking to a doctor about my possible ringworm or infections tomorrow morning. Not only am I afraid of my rabbit getting ringworm from the kitten, carpets, and other surfaces, but I am afraid to hold and pet him because of my possible ringworm problem. Is there a safe way to help prevent my rabbit from getting it by giving him some sort of medication or something? I am bringing him to the vet next week and will ask them, but would love any bit of advice I can get here. It also feels good to tell people. I am stressing a lot.

Thank you!

[Eepster]

Take a deep breath, ringworm isn’t that bad.

The red raised scratches aren’t a sign of ringworm, circular rashes are. You and your bunny may or may not have caught it, but just in case you should get a prophylactic treatment before you start showing symptoms. Call your bunny’s vet and ask for a prescription. Call your own Dr and ask for a prescription for you. Have your BF and his mom get themselves prescriptions.

Ringworm is a fungus, so I would use vinegar to clean. Mix plain white vinegar with some water and put it in a spray bottle, spray the carpets and stuff with that. The smell will dissipate when it dries. Repeat as often as you can stand.

[Kirsty]

Thank you very much!

 

I have some vinegar cleaning stuff I will use. The kitten is being treated by a vet and is staying at my boyfriend’s mom’s house so we can clean the house. I am mad at the pound for the way they acted about it. So far my bunny, boyfriend, and I still do not have it.

 I read a lot of horror stories from other people who’s cats brought home ringworm and that made me panic. There wasn’t much online about ringworm and rabbits. The vet said my rabbit was fine. He was neutered yesterday and I told them about the kitten.

[LongEaredLions]

Sounds like you have everything under control. Shame that the pound didn’t take responsibility for the ringworm but it’s good that you are getting everything dealt with.

[Author]

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