mec4n@boole.acc.Virginia.EDU (Mary ellen J. Carrera) (08/16/89)
Having conquered the flea problem with my cats, I now have a new one - CHIGGERS! I am living in Virginia, and in the last few weeks, my cats have started getting bites that turn into hard lumps, which are so itchy that they are scratching themselves raw, one on the neck and the other in the armpit. My vet suggested cortisone cream, and I have been using antibiotic cream as well, as these are open sores. Does anyone know if flea spray will even work on chiggers (they burrow under the skin, which causes the bumps). Anyone have any advice on how to kill/repel these pests? I know exactly how exasperating these bites are, because I also have some on my legs. They just don't heal! And strangely enough, noone around here seems to know what would help. HELP!
chappell@aylmer.uchicago.edu (Chappell) (08/17/89)
In article <3138@virginia.acc.virginia.edu> mec4n@boole.acc.Virginia.EDU (Mary ellen J. Carrera) writes: >Having conquered the flea problem with my cats, I now have a new one - >CHIGGERS! I am living in Virginia, and in the last few weeks, my cats >the other in the armpit. My vet suggested cortisone cream, and I have >been using antibiotic cream as well, as these are open sores. Does >anyone know if flea spray will even work on chiggers (they burrow under >the skin, which causes the bumps). Anyone have any advice on how to I hail from Texas, and therefore am an expert in practical parasitology. In addition to quite a few senior members of Congress, Texas is host to fleas, ticks, chiggers, mosquitos, lice, scorpions, sundry other venomous arachnids, fire ants, wasps, and killer bees - not to mention a fine assortment of spiny plants. In general, I find the best and least noxious defense against chiggers is a physical barrier. Shirt tucked into jeans and jeans tucked into boots. Sulfur around the edges of the pants (top and bottom) further helps. Clad like this, you're pretty safe. Elemental sulfur (called flowers of sulfur in drug stores) is cheap, environmentally safe, nonstaining, and benign to humans (externally). On cats, however, ask your vet, seeing as how they would lick it off. Tall grass harbors chiggers so mowing might help, although I am reluctant to suggest habitat instruction. They do not burrow in immediately. In humans, washing after an exposure is a good idea and for cats brushing might work. As far as treatment, I and various friends consider topical applications (cortisone, calamine) to be a slight help. Systemics work better. Antihistamines have worked well, with a shot of cortisone almost a miracle cure for me in one case where I got bitten by several hundred of the buggers. A vet would be reluctant to give too many shots, because the steroid may damage liver & kidneys. I know of no cure for congressmen. -Spike.
kauffman-jon@CS.YALE.EDU (Jon Kauffman) (08/17/89)
Please do not refer to these animals as "chiggers."
In polite society, we call them chegroes.
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SMILEY! Don't flame me; I gave up the KKK years ago
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Yours because I couldn't help myself,
/jon
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Jonathan Kauffman kauffman@cs.yale.edu
Yale Computer Science Facility {decvax,harvard}!yale!kauffman
======================================================================cindy@ncrcae.Columbia.NCR.COM (Cindy Baldwin) (08/17/89)
In article <3138@virginia.acc.virginia.edu> mec4n@boole.acc.Virginia.EDU (Mary ellen J. Carrera) writes: >Having conquered the flea problem with my cats, I now have a new one - >CHIGGERS! >(they burrow under the skin, which causes the bumps). Anyone have any >advice on how to kill/repel these pests? >I also have some on my legs. >HELP! Yes, they do burrow under the skin, and I'm not really sure what you can do for the cats because the only remedy that I am aware of is to paint over the bumps with clear nail polish and suffocate the little beasts. HOWEVER, I do not recommend this for the cats, as their skin is far too sensitive and this could make things worse. What is causing the awful itch is the chiggers moving around. I'm not sure what can be used as a repellent. I wish I could help more. cyn
hjsdvm@ziebmef.mef.org (Howard J. Scrimgeour) (08/22/89)
In article <4919@ncrcae.Columbia.NCR.COM> cindy@ncrcae.Columbia.NCR.COM (Cindy Baldwin) writes: >In article <3138@virginia.acc.virginia.edu> mec4n@boole.acc.Virginia.EDU (Mary ellen J. Carrera) writes: >>Having conquered the flea problem with my cats, I now have a new one - >>CHIGGERS! > >>(they burrow under the skin, which causes the bumps). Anyone have any >>advice on how to kill/repel these pests? >>I also have some on my legs. > >>HELP! > >Yes, they do burrow under the skin, and I'm not really sure what you can >do for the cats because the only remedy that I am aware of is to paint >over the bumps with clear nail polish and suffocate the little beasts. >HOWEVER, I do not recommend this for the cats, as their skin is far >too sensitive and this could make things worse. > >What is causing the awful itch is the chiggers moving around. > >I'm not sure what can be used as a repellent. > >I wish I could help more. > >cyn You might ask your veterinarian about some of the systemic insecticides, such as cythioate. I'm not sure if this is licenced for cats (they're very sensitive to organophosphates), but it's worth checking on. +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Howard J. Scrimgeour, D.V.M. | | hjsdvm@ziebmef.uucp CIS:75126,2744 | | uunet!{utgpu!moore,attcan!telly}!ziebmef!hjsdvm | | "We also walk dogs..." | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
map@neoucom.UUCP (Marlene Porter) (08/22/89)
In article <3138@virginia.acc.virginia.edu> mec4n@boole.acc.Virginia.EDU (Mary ellen J. Carrera) writes: >Having conquered the flea problem with my cats, I now have a new one - >CHIGGERS! I am living in Virginia, and in the last few weeks, my cats . . . >the skin, which causes the bumps). Anyone have any advice on how to >kill/repel these pests? I know exactly how exasperating these bites >are, because I also have some on my legs. They just don't heal! >And strangely enough, noone around here seems to know what would help. >HELP! Try putting some nail polish on the spot of the bite. This will cut off the air supply to the chigger and cause it to die. I had trouble with chiggers some years back and this worked very well. You can also buy some type of medication (I think it is similar to nail polish) that is made specifically for chiggers. It may take a few days before the problem goes away. Marlene Porter map@neoucom.UUCP Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine Rootstown, OH 44272