The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: shropshire_blue on April 27, 2012, 05:32:01 pm

Title: Ringworm question
Post by: shropshire_blue on April 27, 2012, 05:32:01 pm

I think the calves have ring worm.  One came with a spot on her ear, and it hasn't got much worse, the other has suddenly (over two days) gone from nothing noticeable to having crusty bits round his eyes and down his neck.  The poor wee fella looks so miserable!

I got some Imaverol from the vets which I've soaked them both in.  They have had 1 of 3 treatments.

My questions are:
How long before we should see an improvement in them?
How likely are we to catch it too?
What should I do about disinfecting the barn? I've heard the spores can live on wood for years!

Thanks for any advice
Neil

Title: Re: Ringworm question
Post by: VSS on April 27, 2012, 06:17:36 pm

Once your cattle have had ringworm they won't get it again, but any other young animals you buy in will almost certainly get it. It can last for ages and there isn't really a great deal you can realistically do to treat it - it will just run its course. It shouldn't make them ill.

You might catch it (my youngest daughter had ringworm on the back of her head when she was only a couple of months old) but it is easily treated with cream you can get on prescription from the doctor.

In the "good old days" the standard treatment for ringworm in cattle was to paint the patches with creosote. Now you can't get real creosote anymore, that treatment option is down the pan.

Title: Re: Ringworm question
Post by: robert waddell on April 27, 2012, 06:31:22 pm

i thought it was paraffin :farmer:

Title: Re: Ringworm question
Post by: shropshire_blue on April 27, 2012, 06:59:15 pm

Ok, thanks guys.

Title: Re: Ringworm question
Post by: Rosemary on April 27, 2012, 07:21:46 pm

I've had it - it was on the inside of my elbow and appeared shortly after we'd been catching calves  ;D

I got cream and pills, I think. Cleared up quick. A couple at agricultural college with me both got it - her patch was on her neck, his on his ankle. Boy, did we have fun with that scenario  ::). Happy days ;D

Title: Re: Ringworm question
Post by: VSS on May 01, 2012, 08:21:12 pm

Quote from: robert waddell on April 27, 2012, 06:31:22 pm

i thought it was paraffin :farmer:

Paraffin aswell :)

Title: Re: Ringworm question
Post by: landroverroy on May 02, 2012, 10:16:19 am

 You can treat the animals with cream for Athletes Foot, as that is also a fungicide.
 Any spores on the wood are effectively irradicated by a wood fungicide, such as Cuprinol, (a bit expensive, but works), or simply copper sulphate.

 Also, if you can put the infected animals outside, the sunlight clears it up as fast as anything.

Title: Re: Ringworm question
Post by: shropshire_blue on May 04, 2012, 10:10:33 pm

Quote from: landroverroy on May 02, 2012, 10:16:19 am

Also, if you can put the infected animals outside, the sunlight clears it up as fast as anything.

I like the sound of that!

Thanks all for the advice...

Title: Re: Ringworm question
Post by: dannidub2000 on June 11, 2012, 08:30:05 pm

was going to add the above, the best treatment is sunlight :)