Question:
After reading your July 16 column, I'd like to relate our experience with our cat's ringworm.I noticed a spot of bare skin on his side about the size of a half-dollar. The area grew rapidly so I took him to the veterinarian, who scrubbed the spot and gave me a bottle of Miconazole to spray on it.This cat is an outside farm cat who loves to come in the house for a nap or special attention. The spray caused him a great deal of pain and he'd tear out of the house in discomfort when it was applied. We discontinued its use and thought he'd just have to live with the condition. After church one Sunday, my husband mentioned our cat's problem to a young veterinarian. The doctor said our cat would be OK after lots of exposure to sunlight -- and he was right! The cat's fur has all grown in and there is no sign of ringworm. I first noticed the ringworm in April, and by June his fur had returned.I think it is interesting to note that cats confined to houses or isolated in rooms will not get the benefit of something as n
M.R.J., Howard Lake, MN Jan 09, 2005
Answer:
Thank you for your wonderful letter, which raises a very important health issue for indoor-all-the-time cats. Cats love to sunbathe, and sunrays are extremely beneficial to animals' skin and fur, having a sanitizing effect and, as in humans, providing a source of vitamin D.Years ago, while working on sheep farms in the Derbyshire dales in the UK, I saw with my own eyes how sunlight helped clear up various skin conditions in working sheepdogs.As for indoor cats, they would probably be healthier with access to a sun porch or carpeted shelf by a sunny window, as well as by having a full-spectrum light (like a plant grow-light) in their favorite lying area during the day. This may benefit dogs, too, since some develop a seasonal alopecia that clears up when they get outdoors in warmer, sunny weather. Full-spectrum light will also benefit sun-basking captive reptiles, and is used with indoors-confined zoo animals.Lack of daily exposure to sunlight has adverse physical and psychological effects on humans and other
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