Do cats get toe fungus?

[Kadie]

This is the question my son just asked me after seeing that icky toenail fungus commercial. He wants to know if that little yellow guy gets into the cats toenails?

I really have no clue. Do cats get toe fungus?

LOL

[flamingyouth]

1. They can get a fungal infection in their nail beds, yes

My cat Winky, who has chronic health problems, gets it every once in a while. It's pretty gross. Plus you can imagine how much she loves having her paws soaked.:eyes:

[Kadie]

2. Poor Winky

I don't think any of my cats would put up with soaking their paws. Thanks for the information, I really had never heard of such a thing before.

[flamingyouth]

3. It's probably pretty rare

I've had countless cats over the years, and this is the first time I've ever run across it.:hi:

[jukes]

5. sorry for winky

and her multiple problems. lucky she has such an attentive mom!

i'm surprised the vet hasn't prescribed an antifungal; for educational purp's, wd you expound?

[flamingyouth]

7. She has a chronic condition called pemphigus

She is on a steroid every other day for it, plus she takes alpha interferon. When she has her nail fungus problems, I treat her with a anti-fungal medication. She also gets it in her ears. She is a handful; her last owners couldn't keep her for these reasons. The disease itself is not fatal (well, it's very rarely fatal), but as you can see, it can cause lots of complications. :hi:

[jukes]

9. Poor Winky

f/y, my SO has pemphigus, is on monster doses of anti-immune meds, & has had 1 hip replaced due to avascular necrosis from the steroids. luckily cats deal w/ the cortico's better than humans.

interferon ain't cheap, though the price has come down some in recent years.

she's terribly lucky to have you!


(also, tx for being so nice to m. personally, i'd take a bullet for her.)

[flamingyouth]

11. Wow - you're the first person I know who's even heard of it

And I'm very sorry about your s/o - that sucks. I hate to hear that. Must be very hard seeing someone you love suffer like that. :(

[jukes]

12. it's rogh on her

but she's a trooper. a house full of cats is fraught w/ danger, o/c.



we suspect it was triggered by her 1st tattoo, the symptoms appeared about 6 months later. guess the tat triggered her over-active immune system; now it wants to reject her skin.


she wants a 2nd tat across her instep really bad (le pant, le pant) but can't o/c.

[jukes]

4. 1st case i heard of

was flaming youth's cat, but they are susceptable to fungal infections, just as we are. "ring worm" is the most frequent example.

[fishface]

6. Don't know about that but they get ginguvitis of all things!

My cat's going to have all his teeth pulled because the steroids and antibiotics aren't clearing it up.

[flamingyouth]

8. Sorry about your cat's teeth

I actually have another cat who only has two teeth left. But he manages to eat dry food and everything. Before I adopted him, he had a horrible infection in his mouth and jaw.

Yes, I'm running my own little cat clinic here. :D

[jukes]

10. fishface

hi, haven't bumpt into you yet, so welcome to DU! :hi:

periodontal disease is very common in cats. kills many ferals.

if your boy has periodic episodes of sneezing, mucus discharge from nose/eyes, or hacking as if w/a sore throat suspect feline herpes virus as a cause. if so, you can PM me for some treatment options. i've had a bunch of experience w/that.