Quick question about ringworm

[aly13]

Hi again, I posted a few weeks ago about my two girls who had mildish ringworm and were prescribed malaseb shampoo. After doing 4 washes over the month as the vet advised and deep cleaning with f10, They still have it on their noses and one has it inside her ears which i obviously cannot scrub with the shampoo.

The vet still is reluctant to give me itrafungal due to effects on their liver, even though theyre young and healthy pigs. but next week I will pressure him again and hopefully he finally prescribes it..

My question is will their scabby area on the nose fall off with the oral medication? Ive tried scrubbing it with the shampoo to no avail and its a sensitive area of course. So will the itrafungal make the crust and spores fall off? TIA!

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

Itrafungal can cure ringworm regardless of where it is located, then affected skin will heal and return to normal but it is a very harsh drug so understand your vets reluctance. Perhaps there is a topical cream they could prescribe?

 

[aly13]

Itrafungal can cure ringworm regardless of where it is located, then affected skin will heal and return to normal but it is a very harsh drug so understand your vets reluctance. Perhaps there is a topical cream they could prescribe?

I dont feel like any topical creams could target all of it as its right on her nostrils down to her mouth and she could lick it off and ingest it, and its right into her ear and i cant exactly shove cream down there either. I know its a strong medication but Ive heard great things about it from people who have used it many times on here and elsewhere with no ill effects

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

I dont feel like any topical creams could target all of it as its right on her nostrils down to her mouth and she could lick it off and ingest it, and its right into her ear and i cant exactly shove cream down there either. I know its a strong medication but Ive heard great things about it from people who have used it many times on here and elsewhere with no ill effects

If nothing else is suitable and the malaseb hasn't cleared it all I don't see why they won't give it a go when you see them next week. It maybe a product your vet hasn't had to use before for piggies and is being cautious as has a duty not to cause harm. As far as I am aware itrafungol isn't licensed for animal use, where as malaseb is, so he will have gone down that route first.
Ir they still don't want to prescribe it, it maybe worth offering to sign something saying you are aware it is an off license drug and the associated risks.
I hope all goes well at the vets and your piggy recovers soon.

 

[Free Ranger]

I'm guessing you've already found the guide Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures

The Itrafungol bit says:
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Available treatments

Oral treatment
By far the most effective and least stressful for your piggies with the least risk of infection for yourself!
Oral systemic fungal treatment with itrafungol(UK)/sporonox(US) (active ingredient: itraconazole) or newly ketaconazole (US) is now increasingly more widely prescribed by exotics vets and general vets with access to an exotic consultant vet.
gets to all places, especially in very sensitive areas like eyes, ears and mouth and can also be used to treat for candida. It is prescription-only and not cheap, but well worth it, especially when you have a number of guinea pigs or frailer ones.
--------------------------------------
Have a look at the other options too - remember the guide is written with people across the globe in mind and in many countries veterinary meds are just not available, hence the references to products designed for humans as a final resort.

Maybe if you e-mail your vet a heads-up about your girls still suffering and tell him/her you are keener to discuss the oral med at the next appointment it gives them time to do a bit of their own research or consult other vets how they'd go about dosing etc. Sometimes it's harder when a vet is put on the spot with something unusual.