Ringworm in cattle?

[Ashley]

Is there anything that works to get rid of this? I finally got the blind calf over it. She has been kept apart from everybody else and I set her up so I never had to go in to care for her to reduce transfer of anything(even so always cared for her last). Now the bigger two have it. One is very middle the other is horrible and it seemed to happen almost over night. Grrrr These are good sized calves so its not so easy for me to fight with them these days to treat them, but I manage.

I always plan around the time I need to shower, that way when I am done rolling around in their ringworm with them I can come in, wash my clothes and shower. On the neck spots I have been spraying blue kote, around the eyes and face I have been putting athletes foot cream on. With as bad as the one is im sure I will end up with it. Several have told me to just let it run its course but that can take up to a year and I really dont want every other animal in the barn as well as us humans catching it.

Any suggestions?

 

[chandab]

Sounds like you are on top of it. With our cows, they are out to pasture all summer/fall, so if they get it has to just run its course; if they happen to be at home or we are working them for something else, then they might get one treatment with something like bluekote.

 

[cretahillsgal]

When I had show calves I had several calves that got it.

What worked best is to get paint brush and brush iodine on the spots. Would be even easier if you could get the spray kind and just squirt it on. Did it for about a week to 2 weeks on all the spots. Then the hair grew back in.

 

[drmatthewtaylor]

Antifungals are illegal to use in livestock. And ringworm isn't life threatening and lasts only a few weeks, so do nothing is reasonable. Isolation helps prevent spread.

Iodine can be used, but keep away from eyes and it will stain.

Dr Taylor

 

[chandab]

Antifungals are illegal to use in livestock.Dr Taylor

Why? Just curious.

 

[Ashley]

Well considering it took me 4 months to get the first calf over it I highly doubt in a few weeks it will magically be gone. Considering I am expecting anytime soon, and I am the one that cares for the animals I dont really want to end up giving it to my baby when she gets here.

I did call the vet to get something stronger but as usual they didnt call back. We only have one cattle vet with in a hour range of me. Mostly horse vets around here.

 

[drmatthewtaylor]

Why? Just curious.

Antifungals can cause liver failure in people. Considering ringworm is not life threatening and does not pose a human health problem then its not usually worth treating.

Dr Taylor

 

[drmatthewtaylor]

Well considering it took me 4 months to get the first calf over it I highly doubt in a few weeks it will magically be gone. Considering I am expecting anytime soon, and I am the one that cares for the animals I dont really want to end up giving it to my baby when she gets here.

I did call the vet to get something stronger but as usual they didnt call back. We only have one cattle vet with in a hour range of me. Mostly horse vets around here.

Cattle ringworm isn't generally contagious to people.

People get a different species of fungus. That species is more common in cats. Frequently MD's do not treat human ringworm as it usually runs it course.

Few weeks is an average, some longer some shorter. Fungus is usually gone about a month before people can see signs its gone.

Dr Taylor

 

[Ashley]

Vet called back and recommended using the athlets foot cream. Also it is catchy to humans, have had it many times.

 

[chandab]

Antifungals can cause liver failure in people. Considering ringworm is not life threatening and does not pose a human health problem then its not usually worth treating.

Dr Taylor

Thank you. I did not know that, and since we run cattle, its a good thing to know (good to know with the horses too).

When I come across it, I usually just use iodine, as we always have it on hand.

 

[Ashley]

I decided Im not going to do anything with it. Being 38 weeks preggo wrestling 6 month old fat calves isnt to easy. I just keep kicken him off of me and shower as soon as I am done.