Ringworm is an annoying, highly contagious fungal disorder
that is curable. The problem with this disorder is that
there are 35 different species of ringworm that can affect
cats, dogs and be transmitted to humans as well. The most
common form is Mircosporum Canis which accounts for the
majority of ringworm cases.
What Causes Ringworm in Canines?
Ringworm is caused from exposure to the dermatophytes
from spores present in the environment, mainly from other
animals that are infected with it. Your dog could pick it
up from anywhere...boarding kennels, breeding kennels,
someone else's home. The spores can live in the environment
for up to 13 months and are very hard to get rid of, so
reinfection of animals is also a common problem. As well,
children are highly susceptible to these infections, so it
is very important to rid the household of this fungus as
soon as possible.
This disorder usually appears as a lesion upon the skin of
an animal or human and requires medical attention. It looks
like a rapidly growing circular patch of broken hair in
most cases. The patch may look somewhat inflamed and appear
to have "dandruff" like flakes on it. However, sometimes
it is very hard to spot ringworm, especially in dogs.
A veterinarian can usually diagnose ringworm by using an
ultraviolet light. In some cases however, this isn't enough
and a sample of hair or scrapping of the skin is needed
for further diagnosis. Treatment is basically in the form
of antifungal pills and/or topical medications such as
creams or medicated shampoos.
Curing Ringworm In Dogs
The major problem is getting rid of the spores in your
home so they don't reinfect your pets. Most spores are
shed through the fur into the carpet, so occasional "dip"
baths may be required to kill the spores that may linger
on the fur of your dog. As well, it is recommended that
you destroy all pet bedding, blankets, brushes/combs,
and other items used by the canine.
Any items that cannot be thrown out need to be soaked
thoroughly in a solution of hot water and Betadine or
Iodophor for one hour. They should then be rinsed in a
mixture of water and .5% chlorine bleach. Drying the
items outdoors in sunlight will also help. Vacuum your
house thoroughly and be sure to immediately dispose of
the vacuum bag. Then have all carpets and upholstery
steam-cleaned and wash all walls with a mixture of water
and chlorine bleach. If you have an air filter in your
home, you must also dispose of the filter.
Although ringworm is a mild disorder, it can cause a
tremendous amount of problems to a household. If you
continue to have problems with canine ringworm reinfection,
please consult your veterinarian for additional solutions
or information that he/she may be able to provide.
Rose Smith is the author and owner of Caring For Canines,
a web site that provides information on natural dog health
care. To learn more about dog skin problems, care and
grooming, please visit us at: http://www.caringforcanines.com/grooming-aids.shtml