Humans, cats and even dogs are but a few of the mammals that can be infected with ringworm. Because this fungus is so contagious, it can be passed easily between the same species and even different species. If you have pets, especially dogs, it will serve you in good stead to know the signs of ringworm infection. For, if your dog has ringworm, it may get spread to you!
Tell-tale signs of ringworm can be seen via the patches of missing hair in your dog. Ringworm takes up residence in the hair follicle which results in the hair breaking and creating the bald patches. If your dog has ringworm, you will seen on the skin through these bald patches, a red circle with a pale spot in the middle. Such a rash will become extremely itchy for your dog which leads to scratching and which leads to more infections in other areas. This itching and scratching can end up infecting humans and can also be transmitted via the blankets and beddings of both human and dog when the rash comes in contact with these surfaces.
Take your dog to your vet if you suspect ringworm infection. One way for your vet to diagnose properly is by viewing the skin while illuminating it with a special ultraviolet light called a Woods lamp. Another way would be to take scrapings to test for the presence of fungus. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the vet will probably recommend a couple of treatments. Most are easy to do and only require diligence to succeed. You see it is impossible to cure the dog completely if the risk of re-infestation is not eliminated.
To eliminate the infection, there are a few steps involved. The first of course involves commencing the treatment of the dog. This can take the form of dips, shampoos, cream, etc. Oral medication may also be prescribed. Your veterinarian will be able to tell you exactly which treatment is right for your dog. Anti-fungal shampoos are considered the more effective ones because they are able to remove the spores from the dog and since the shampoo is applied to the whole body of the dog, it can also wash away spores in areas that have not shown symptoms yet. It generally takes at least 2, probably more shampoos before the spores are totally eliminated.
While the dog is being treated, the house must be treated as well. This includes the dog’s bedding and the other areas that the dog frequents. They must be disinfected daily with hot water and bleach. Do avoid direct contact with the dog first to avoid getting infected yourself. Keep other pets away for the meantime. It may be good to shampoo these other pets as a sort of prophylactic treatment. Remember that the complete elimination of ringworm in your pet will involve all these steps. There is no shortcut and most steps will have to be done on a daily basis. Then once the medication period is over, bring the dog back to the vet for retesting to ensure that the fungus has been totally eliminated.
As you can see, it takes a lot of effort to cure your dog from ringworm. If your dog does get infected, follow these steps carefully. If your dog has never been infected, please follow excellent prevention measures. For, as you well know, simple prevention is far superior than spending time and energy on the cure!
Anthony Bruno
