Along with making your kitty extremely uncomfortable, fungal infections can also have a serious impact on their health. In today's post, our St. Louis vets share some information about the causes of fungal infections in cats and the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.
Fungal Infections Affecting Cats
Fungi commonly live in soil and wait to thrive once an animal has ingested soil particles containing the spores. Parasitic fungal organisms can also find their way into your pet through the skin (via a cut, wound or other open sores), or through direct contact with an infected animal or an infected animal's feces.
Health problems and various complications associated with fungal infections typically occur in cats with compromised immune systems or those that are ill, weak, or have been taking immunosuppressive agents or antibiotic drugs over long periods of time.
What are the common types of fungal infections in cats?
Although there are many different types of fungi in the environment that can negatively impact your cat’s health, our St. Louis vets see some infections more often than others. Here are some of the fungal infections we see in cats:
- Aspergillosis
- Candidiasis
- Cryptococcosis
- Coccidioidomycosis
- Histoplasmosis
- North American Blastomycosis
- Mycetomas
- Rhinosporidiosis
- Sporotrichosis
- Phaeohyphomycosis
These infections can be concentrated in a specific part of your kitty's body or spread throughout the entire body (generalized infections). Though generalized fungal infections are fairly rare in cats, fungal skin infections are quite common.
What are some of the signs that your cat may have a fungal infection?
Ultimately, the symptoms that your cat experiences will depend on the type of infection that they contract. Below are some common symptoms our vets see in cats with the types of infections listed above:
- Lung infections
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Eye problems
- Seizures
- Bladder infections
- Skin lesions
- Weight loss
- Paralysis
- Intolerance to physical activity
- Diarrhea
- Blindness
- Anemia
- Depression
- Swelling under the bridge of the nose
- Difficulty breathing
- Bloody discharge from nose
- Cysts beneath the skin
- Cough
- Circling
Diagnosing and treating cat fungal infections.
Because some fungal infections are rare or regional, they can be difficult to diagnose. You can help your vet to pinpoint the fungus responsible for your kitty's symptoms by knowing your cat’s medical history and being prepared to answer questions such as when your pet began to display symptoms of infection.
At Animal Emergency Clinic our team has years of experience in diagnosing and treating internal conditions. Our vets can perform a thorough physical exam and take blood samples to be analyzed in our in-house diagnostic lab.
From there, our veterinary team can use advanced tools and technology to make a definitive diagnosis of your cat's condition and provide treatment recommendations based on a comprehensive assessment of your kitty’s health issues.
A complete blood count (CBC), chemical blood profile and urinalysis will help your vet identify what’s causing your kitty’s symptoms. In some cases, a tissue sample may be taken to assist in diagnosis. Your cat will typically be anesthetized for these tests. The tissue sample will be taken during surgery, then analyzed in our lab.
Depending on the type of fungi that is causing your cat’s symptoms, your veterinarian may present different options for treatment, such as hospitalization if the fungus is transmittable to humans. This will help reduce the risk of you or your family becoming infected with the disease.
If your kitty will be staying at home, your vet may provide instructions on how to prevent infections - including wearing gloves and a mask when handling your cat or changing their litter.
Your vet may be able to remove any skin lesions and prescribe topical ointments to help treat the infection. If necessary, any secondary infections will also be treated with medications or IV fluids. Fungal infections can be challenging to treat so it's important to keep in mind that several weeks of treatment may be needed before your kitty’s health issues begin to show significant improvement.
What does recovery look like for cats suffering from fungal infections?
The prognosis for your feline friend will be determined by the type of fungal infection your kitty has contracted. Although prescription medication can help to clear some infections, others may have long-term health impacts or even lead to severe neurological symptoms (for example, North American Blastomycosis can cause these).
To help your cat recover, it’s critical to attend all follow-up appointments so your cat’s recovery can be assessed. Your vet will check to see that no relapses have happened and make changes to medication if required. Report any changes in your cat’s appearance or behavior immediately.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.