BAD Ringworm

[SSIMMENTALS]

I live in Alabama and do not have much experience with ringworm at all. We just bought a new heifer in the first of December; About a two weeks ago, she came up with some serious ringworm(all over head, behind and on ears, all down neck, and on her tailhead and rear. She even has some on her front leg.) I've had steers from up north just come up with a patch or two on their head, but nothing like this. In my only other two times battling ringworm, the steer just came up with a bald spot, this heifer has raised bumps that turned into baldspots and some on her face and behind her ear are still raised and bald with what looks like crusty skin on them.I've never had them bleed or have a rusty looking scab over thembefore. I think whoever clipped her for the sale must have had it in their blade b/c everywhere she was taken down tight is where they are.
Thus far, we've been treating the body with a scrub from the vet. Its what they wash off an area with before they operate. We wet her, scrub her down with it, let it set for 20 min, and rinse it off.The patches are kinda scabbing over in a rusty bloodish color and will rubb off a nasty looking crust when scrubbing and picking at them. They bleed also. Is this in someway good?  Should I let them scab over or scratch it off?  on her face, we rub a liquid medice out of a dropper called Tresaderm (also from the vet)The skin where the ringworm is isn't just bald or that funny grayish color it gets when its healing. Some spots look normal for ringworm while on others the skin is slightly raised, bald, and crusty looking.I can try to get pictures if you can't imagine what i'm describing, but if you know what i'm talking about or have experienced it, please let me know if what she is doing sounds normal for ringworm. We have her isolated and have been treating for about a week. We didn't know it was ringworm when she first came up with it, but once the first one turned bald, we started treating.
I'm just concerned and not in my element.
Thanks,
Sarah

 

[BAILEYFARMS]

THE SCRUB WILL WORK IF YOU CAN FIND A PRODUCT CALLED FLUID FILM PUT IT ON AFTER YOU GAT HER DRY IT HELPS HEAL THE SKIN. ITS A LUBERICANT LIKE WD-40 OUR JOHN DEERE DEALER SALES IT.

 

[CM Cattle]

A bought a steer at naile that had a bad case of ringwarm on his head. I posted a topic on here and many people siad to use iodine, or bag balm. I found a 15 year old case of bag balm in the medican cabnet and tried it on the steer, it seemed to work a little but it never would go away. I talked to a friend and he told me to use malaseb pads. I havn't used it yet, but he siad it should go away pretty quick.
Good luck!!!

 

[box6rranch]

Our white bull had it really bad last year. Didn't even see it until we shaved his head. We got bleach and a toothbrush and scrubbed the sores. Then we used Vagisil from the grocery store. Get the extra strength formula. It seems to work the best using both techniques. Try and do it a couple of times a day.

 

[CJC]

If it is ringworms (within 28 days they should be gone); If you go to the front page; go to bottom and press next. There's a forum on ring worms.
Before you by Sullivan's fungus stuff go to the feed store and buy the strongest rubbing alcohol they have around 98% it's the same stuff just cheaper. Scratch the scab off then spray the alcohol on.    

 

[TxAdmin]

http://www.steerplanet.com/content/view/23/52/

 

[inthebarnagain]

Vittetoe has some stuff called stop N grow that says it is for sheep but if you call they will give you the cattle dose.  You feed it to them which is good when the ringworm is covering large areas to make sure you are getting it all. 

 

[NHR]

We got a really bad case of Ringworm/Fungus at Louisville. It is large and raised (not the typical ringworm). We finally found something to kill it. Its called Topical Fungicide available at Tractor Supply and at www.enasco.com/farmandranch

 

[dori36]

All the suggestions will probably "work" to some degree in about 30 days.  Making sure she gets outside in sunshine will also probably work in about 30 days.  The lesions will take a while to completely disappear and I'm not sure picking them off and exposing bloody areas is the best.  I'm guessing you're either scrubbing her with Betadine scrub or Rocal.  I'd say be patient, treat gently, removing patches when they're dry enough to nearly fall off.  Or keep her clean, outside and ignore them and they'll heal in about the same amount of time.  Do keep her away from your other cattle, if you have other cattle, so she doesn't spread it to her "friends"!

 

[kanshow]

I think it's worse this year.    I agree with all the above suggestions..  Monostat has worked pretty good to get ours cleared of it.  The main thing is to scratch the scab off.  I'd wear disposable gloves when you are treating her.. because you can get it.   

Oh yes..  to add to what Dori said..  we found we were reinfecting & spreading with halters so I'd suggest using one halter for her and don't mix them up. 

 

[dori36]

I think it's worse this year.     I agree with all the above suggestions..   Monostat has worked pretty good to get ours cleared of it.   The main thing is to scratch the scab off.  I'd wear disposable gloves when you are treating her.. because you can get it.   

Oh yes..  to add to what Dori said..   we found we were reinfecting & spreading with halters so I'd suggest using one halter for her and don't mix them up. 

Good points on keeping her halter (and any other equipment you may use on her like clippers) separate.  Ringworm is truly a pain in the a--, but you can get it under control with diligent management and treatment.

 

[SSIMMENTALS]

Thanks everyone. We are going to keep working on her. Here's another question for you. When she gets to looking better, how long until it is dead and would be safe for her to reenter the group, go back to shows, and not spread it to everyone?
Thanks,
Sarah

 

[combine54]

...we used to get ringworm years ago on our Holstein show calves and scraped the scabs and poured diesel fuel on the sores...painful but successful....BUT BUT BUT remember YOU can get it from them too...so be extra careful and wash wash wash after contact with her...after 3-4 weeks, the calves were ready to be declared safe, but every item involved needs a complete clean-up or year after year, the same building will carry the contact enough to start your next outbreak...it is simply amazing how bad it can get and how easy it passes...EVEN to the handlers!  True story from one that has had it.....

 

[lowann]

The best,fastest, and cheapest product we have ever found, is an over the counter product called Blue Star. You can get it at most any drug store/Wal-mart. It's used for human cold sores etc....... I even told a guy we know from Trans Ova Genetics to try it on his show cattle. He told me it was absolutely the best thing he has ever used. Healed up, and new hair growing in just a few days.
It is also allot safer for the cattle than other products. This is in a small jar, and is a topical treatment.

 

[lowann]

Blue Star ointment does have a web site, under construction. You can check it out. It works!!

 

[ShowmanQ]

We always use Vagisil on ringworm also spray a bit of athletes foot spray on it. Beware, you look kind of funny going to the checkout at the dollar store five boxes of Vagisil, 8 cans of athletes footspray, and a Mountain Dew (lol)

 

[shortyjock89]

Don't forget the half dozen cans of Pink Oil, as many bottles of conditioner, and a gallon of vinegar!  You can get some pretty interesting looks.

 

[SSIMMENTALS]

Yep, I made the mistake of trying to "explain" everything to the cashier one day after more than a few confused looks. 

Good news everyone though, shes starting to look better, The scrub really seems to be working. The majority are not raised or as crusty, and those that are still crusty looking and raised are getting to where it picks off and is thinner crust. She has been bragging to her friends through the fence that she is the only one who is getting rinsed in the winter!!

Sarah