Cat mouth black fungus looks like small, dark spots on the edge of your cat’s lips or on the underside of its chin. This article will cover the concern “Cat mouth black fungus”, how it can be diagnosed, treated and prevented in your cat, etc.
Cat mouth black fungus
Cat mouth black fungus is caused by a fungus Candida albicans. The outgrowth of this fungus can cause mouth inflammation in cats. Signs may include black spots around the lips or on the underside of the cat’s chin.
The fungal infections can cause enormous damage to your cat’s health. Fungi are parasitic organisms and feed on their host to obtain nourishment. Although there are many fungi species present in the environment, only some of them will cause infection in cats.
The primary source of most fungi is soil and your cat can acquire fungal infections by inhalation, ingestion, through a wound, exposure to an animal with fungal infections or coming in contact with their feces. However, immunosuppressed cats are more prone to fungal infections.
Fungal infections in cats
There is a whole list of fungi infecting cats, some of them are mentioned below:
- Mycetoma
- Aspergillosis
- Candidiasis
- Cryptococcosis
- Coccidioidomycosis
- Histoplasmosis
- North America Blastomycosis
- Sporotrichosis
- Rhinosporidiosis
- Phaeohyphomycosis
These fungi can infect the entire body or be focused in one specific system of cats. Fungi commonly infect cat’s skin but it can also infect lungs, nasal passages or spread throughout the animal’s body leading to more generalized symptoms.
Causes of fungal infections
Different types of fungi are found in many different areas of the environment. Your cat can get fungal infection in a number of ways. Here is the list of causes of fungal infections:
- Exposure to the fungi from the soil.
- Inhalation
- Ingestion
- Exposure to the feces of infected animals.
- Exposure to the animals with existing fungal infections.
- Immunosuppressed cats
- May enter through the wounds on skin.
Signs of fungal infections
If you suspect your cat has fungal infections, it may show signs as below:
- Black spots on face
- Poor appetite
- High fever
- Skin lesions
- Blindness
- Anemia
- Diarrhea
- Sneezing
- Seizures
- Weight loss
- Lack of energy
- Bladder infections
- Breathing difficulties
- Discharge from nose
- Persistent cough
- Circling
- Swelling under the bridge of the nose
- Cysts under the skin
- Depression
- Intolerance to physical activity
- Blindness
- Lung infections
- Paralysis
Diagnosis of fungal infections
The following are the diagnostic tools being used to detect fungal infection in cats:
- Chemical blood profile
- Complete blood count
- Tissue samples taken for analysis
- Urinalysis to check kidney function and other signs of internal fungal infections.
If your cat shows signs of fungal infections, contact your veterinarian and he will run through your cat’s medical history and perform a physical examination. These diagnostic tests are mostly general but there are specific diagnostic tools for some specific fungal species.
Treatment of fungal infections
The treatment of fungal infections in cats depends on the type of fungi infecting the cats. If your cat gets a fungal infection, your veterinarian may hospitalize it to avoid the spread to humans. Follow the instructions of your vet while taking your cat home to avoid recurring infection.
Wearing gloves and a mask while handling your cat or changing cat litter is recommended in cases of fungal infections. Fungal infections of skin are treated with antifungal medications and topical ointments. Lesions on your cat’s skin or inside his nose can be removed by your veterinarian.
Recovery of Fungal infections
The treatment and recovery of your cat depends on the type of infecting fungus. The source of fungi should be determined to prevent recurring infection. Some infections can be treated with medication, while others can have long lasting health effects.
After initial treatment, your cat ought to be examined every 2 weeks for a period of time. It’s recommended to attend all follow-up appointments to make sure your cat is not having a relapse. Your vet can also change your cat’s medicine if no improvement is seen in a month or so.
Some fungal infections can make your cat extremely sick and require long-term medications that become expensive. Certain fungi cause lesions on the skin and return even after surgical intervention. However, in more severe cases, your doctor may recommend euthanasia as the best treatment.
Prevention
Ensuring general good health and a healthy immune system prevent this opportunistic fungi from causing diseases in cats. Maintaining physical activity and a balanced diet are required for the healthy lifestyle of your cat. Keeping your cat indoors can also reduce the risk of the disease.
Conclusion
Today, we covered the article “Cat mouth black fungus”, how it can be diagnosed, treated and prevented in your cat, etc. This article will cover the concern that cat mouth black fungus can be caused by fungus Candida albicans. However, different fungal infections are found in cats and can be accordingly treated.
