What are the signs of ringworm in cats? How can you tell if your cat has a ringworm? What are the causes and treatment options for ringworm in cats? Find all the answers here.

Understanding Ringworm in Cats

Ringworm is a fungal skin infection that is commonly found in cats. Contrary to its name, ringworm is not caused by a worm, but rather by a group of fungi known as dermatophytes. The most common culprit behind ringworm infections in cats is the fungus Microsporum canis.

Ringworm gets its name from the distinctive circular or ring-shaped rash that often develops on the skin of an infected individual. While ringworm can affect both humans and animals, cats are particularly susceptible to this contagious condition.

How Does Ringworm Spread in Cats?

Cats can contract ringworm through direct contact with an infected animal, person, or object. The fungal spores that cause ringworm can survive on surfaces for up to two years, making it challenging to identify the original source of the infection. Once the fungus comes into contact with a cat’s skin, it can establish itself in the top layer, feeding on the dead skin, hair, and nail tissue.

Kittens and long-haired cats are especially prone to developing ringworm due to their weaker immune systems and increased surface area for the fungus to colonize. However, any cat can potentially contract the infection, regardless of age or breed.

Identifying the Signs of Ringworm in Cats

Ringworm in cats can manifest in various ways, and not all infected cats will display obvious symptoms. Some cats may be asymptomatic carriers, meaning they harbor the fungus without showing any visible signs of the infection.

Hair Loss, Damage, or Discoloration

One of the most common signs of ringworm in cats is hair loss, often in circular or irregular patterns. The affected areas may reveal round sores on the skin, and the remaining hair may appear stubbly, weakened, or discolored.

Skin Inflammation

Ringworm can also cause skin inflammation, leading to scaly, flaky, or crusty patches on the cat’s head, ears, tail, and feet. You may also notice increased dandruff or red, inflamed sores and bumps on the skin.

Infected Claws

In some cases, the ringworm fungus can target a cat’s claws, causing them to become brittle, damaged, pitted, or scaly at the base.

Excessive Grooming

Due to the itchiness and discomfort caused by the ringworm infection, cats may groom excessively in the affected areas.

Diagnosing and Treating Ringworm in Cats

If you suspect your cat has ringworm, it’s crucial to have a veterinarian confirm the diagnosis. They may use a UV light to detect fungal spores in the cat’s fur or perform a skin or hair sample test to identify the specific fungus causing the infection.

Once the diagnosis is established, the treatment for ringworm in cats typically involves a combination of topical, oral, and environmental measures:

Topical Treatment

Your veterinarian may prescribe topical antifungal creams, ointments, or shampoos to apply directly to the affected areas on your cat’s skin and coat.

Oral Medication

In more severe cases, your veterinarian may recommend oral antifungal medications to help combat the infection from within.

Environmental Cleaning

Since the fungal spores can persist on surfaces for extended periods, it’s crucial to thoroughly clean and disinfect your home to prevent the spread of the infection to other pets or family members.

Preventing the Spread of Ringworm

To minimize the risk of spreading ringworm, it’s important to:

• Isolate any infected cats from other pets and family members
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect your home, paying special attention to areas where the infected cat has been
• Wash your hands and any clothing that has come into contact with the infected cat
• Monitor other pets and family members for signs of infection and seek medical attention if necessary

Conclusion

Ringworm is a common and treatable fungal skin infection that can affect cats. By being aware of the signs and symptoms, seeking prompt veterinary care, and implementing proper cleaning and disinfection measures, you can effectively manage and prevent the spread of ringworm in your feline companions.

How Can I Tell If My Cat Has a Ringworm?

One of the most important things to understand about ringworm is that it is caused by a fungus, not a parasite or worm. Ringworm is a fungal skin infection named after the ring-shaped rash that commonly occurs on the skin of an infected person or animal. In cats, most ringworm infections are caused by the fungus known as Microsporum canis.

Ringworm is contagious and can spread easily, but it is treatable. While any cat could potentially contract ringworm, kittens and long-haired cats are the most susceptible. If your cat is struggling with hair loss, round sores on its skin, or excessive grooming, ringworm could be the cause.

Below, we’ll go over what to look out for if you think your cat might have ringworm.

How Does Ringworm Spread in Cats?

Ringworm is caused by a fungus that thrives by eating dead skin, hair, and nail tissue. Once the fungus comes into contact with a human or an animal, it takes up residence on the top layer of the skin, hair, or nails. It usually takes 1-2 weeks after initial contact before symptoms of the infection begin to appear.

Cats can contract ringworm if they have had direct contact with an infected animal, person, object, or surface. The same applies to humans; if you touch the infective spores on the animal itself or on an item where spores were spread, you could contract ringworm yourself.

The spores can live on objects and surfaces for up to two years, which can make it difficult to identify the source of the infection and prevent spreading. If you believe your cat might have contracted ringworm, it is a possibility that the infection could spread to people or other animals in your home.

Healthy humans with strong immune systems are less likely to contract ringworm, and sanitizing the surfaces and objects in your home will help reduce the potential spread of the infection.

Signs of Ringworm in Cats

Asymptomatic

Some cats who have ringworm may be asymptomatic. There are a few reasons as to why this is.

First, if the initial contraction of the fungus occurred within the last two weeks, it could be too early in the infection process for symptoms to appear.

Second, if a cat with long hair is infected, there may be too much hair to easily see the common symptoms of hair loss and round sores on the skin.

Third, some cats are asymptomatic carriers, which means that they may not ever show symptoms of the infection, even though they do have ringworm and can still spread it to others.

Hair Loss, Damage, or Discoloration

Since the fungi that cause ringworm feed on dead hair, skin, and nail tissues, hair loss is a major warning sign of ringworm in cats. You may find small, medium, or large bald patches on your cat. The bald patches may be circular and reveal round sores on the skin.

Your cat may also show symptoms of hair damage; their once healthy, shiny coat may have patches of weakened or broken hair. Their hair may appear stubbly or discolored. In an animal infected with ringworm, the fungal spores can move from the skin surface into the hair shafts, leading to hair loss, damage, and discoloration.

Skin Inflammation

A common sign of ringworm is skin inflammation. This can manifest in a few different ways. Your cat may have scaly, flaky skin on its head, ears, tail, and feet. The skin will appear dry, flaky, or crusty. Because of this, dandruff is a related symptom. If you notice your cat has a lot of dandruff in their fur or falling off of their bodies when scratching or grooming, you may want to examine their skin for patches of dry, scaly skin.

Your cat’s skin may also have red sores, red bumps, or discoloration. Ringworm is commonly identified by the circular red sores it causes on the skin. This can be more difficult to see in cats than humans since cats are completely covered in fur. Comb through your cat’s fur to see if you can find any areas of skin that are reddened, show new sores, bumps, or inflammation.

Cats can have dry, scaly skin patches, round, red sores on the skin, or both.

Infected Claws

Less commonly, ringworm can target the claws and nail beds of a cat. Check your cat’s claws to see if they are brittle, damaged, pitted, or scaly at the base.

Excessive Grooming

Given that ringworm causes damage to the hair, skin, and nail tissues, it is likely that these areas will become itchy or painful. This can lead your cat to groom excessively, typically in one or more areas where the infection is most apparent.

Treating Ringworm in Cats

A veterinarian will need to diagnose your cat with ringworm before treatment can begin. They may use UV light to try to identify fungal spores in your cat’s hair. They also may take a hair or skin sample or conduct a culture test.

Once ringworm has been determined as the cause of the infection, you can begin treating your cat. Usually, this entails a combination of topical, oral, and environmental treatment.

Topical and Oral Medication

The extent of the topical treatment will depend on the severity of the infection. In small-scale infections, antifungal creams may be used as a spot treatment on the patches of afflicted skin. In more advanced infections, your cat’s coat may need trimming, and your cat may need to be bathed with an antifungal shampoo. Follow the advice of your veterinarian to determine if trimming or shampooing is necessary.

Antifungal medication can also be administered through oral medication. This is known as “systemic medication” and is an important component of a ringworm treatment plan.

Environmental

Disinfect or remove any object or surface that has been touched by your infected cat. Since ringworm can live on objects and surfaces for up to two years, decontaminating your home is essential for preventing the spread of ringworm.

Thoroughly wash bedding, blankets, and any cloth material that your cat may have slept on or rubbed on. Vacuum all furniture, surfaces, and floors. Wipe down hard surfaces and floors with cleaner and consider deep cleaning your carpets.

It is a good idea to keep your cat in one room or one area of the house while healing. This can prevent reinfection or spread.

Self-Resolve

If your cat is healthy and has a strong immune system, the ringworm infection could resolve on its own over time without treatment.

However, this process can take up to a year, and that means that there would be a high potential for the fungal spores to spread in your home and yard during the time that it takes your cat to heal.

Your cat will likely be highly uncomfortable during that time as well, struggling with hair loss and skin inflammation. By providing treatment for your cat, you can help your cat feel better and limit the spread of the infection.

Healing and Preventing Ringworms in Cats

After treatment has begun, expect your cat to need at least 4-6 weeks of continuous treatment to heal. Even with ongoing treatment, the infection is still contagious for that period of time. The best thing you can do is follow the advice of your veterinarian and continue the full course of treatment. If treatment is stopped too early, reinfection may occur.

It is important to maintain regular decontamination around your home during the next 4-6 weeks as well, since regular cleaning and decontamination will help eradicate the ringworm fungus from your home for good.

When in Doubt, Contact Your Vet

Since not all of us are blessed with veterinary medicine degrees, there are plenty of times where we simply don’t know what’s going on with our pets. At Parkway Veterinary Emergency Clinic, we’re here for you and your pets in their times of need.

If you have any questions about the health of your pet, don’t hesitate to call us at (863) 665-3199!

Ringworm: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment

Not to be confused with roundworm (a parasite that can live in the intestines and causes diarrhea and fever), ringworm is a highly contagious fungal infection that is more common in children rather than adults.

Nearly half of ringworm cases in the U.S. occur in children under 15 years old with males being far more susceptible than females.

If you come into direct contact with an infected person or animal or touch a contaminated surface, you may contract ringworm.

Ringworm gets its name from the circular ring-like shape the rash causes.

Tell-tale signs of a ringworm infection include red, itchy, scaly skin, and in some areas, hair loss.

Fortunately, ringworm is rarely fatal unless left untreated. It can be diagnosed, treated, and prevented with the right care.

In this article, I will discuss the symptoms of ringworm and what causes it.

I’ll also go over how to prevent it and when to see a doctor. 

Symptoms 

Once you have come into contact with the fungi that cause ringworm, it is soon after that symptoms typically manifest.

The incubation period can be anywhere between 4-14 days depending on the location of the body that is affected.

In most cases, symptoms of ringworm on the skin generally appear faster than symptoms on the scalp. 

The following are common symptoms of ringworm:

• Red, scaly, cracked, itchy skin anywhere on the body 
• A clear or scaly ring-shaped rash
• Red bumps on the skin
• Slightly raised, expanding rings
• Hair loss
• Discolored, thick, or brittle fingernails or toenails

Ringworm can affect any part of the body including your fingernails and toenails.

Symptoms will vary depending on which part of the body has become infected: 

• Body (tinea corporis): If ringworm appears on your body, it is usually an itchy, circular rash with clearer skin in the middle. 
• Beard (tinea barbae): If you have facial hair, it may be easy to spot ringworm that affects your face. You may notice itchy, scaly, red spots on the cheeks, chin, beard, and upper neck. These spots might crust over or fill with pus. Hair loss is also a likely symptom of tinea barbae.
• Feet (tinea pedis): Also known as “athlete’s foot,” ringworm on the feet manifests as red, swollen, itchy skin between the toes, particularly the pinky toe. The skin may be scaly to touch, and in more severe cases, blisters may form on your feet.
• Groin (tinea cruris): Ringworm of the groin is also referred to as “jock itch” and presents itself as scaly, itchy, red spots that typically appear in the skin folds of your thigh.   
• Scalp (tinea capitis): Red, itchy, scaly, circular bald spots on the scalp are tell-tale signs of ringworm. The bald spot may grow in size or more may emerge accompanied by hair loss or brittle hairs at the infected site. Ringworm on the scalp is typically more common in children than adults. 
• Nails (onychomycosis, also called tinea unguium): Ringworm can affect the toenails (and in some cases, the fingernails) due to footwear that provides a warm, moist environment for the fungi to grow. Tell-tale symptoms include thicker or discolored nails that may even begin to crack or lift away from your nail bed.

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Causes 

Ringworm is caused by mold-like parasites that live on the dead tissues of your skin and can be spread in various ways, typically through other humans, animals, and the environment.

• Humans: Humans can spread the fungal infection by having direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.  
• Animals: Animals, especially pets, can be likely carriers of ringworm. Touching an animal with ringworm, especially kittens and puppies, can cause you to contract the infection. You can also get ringworm from other animals including cattle, goats, rabbits, and birds. A tell-tale sign that an animal has ringworm is that they may have hairless, circular, or irregularly shaped patches of scaling, redness, or crusting. You may notice them scratching these areas too. Be sure to always wash your hands with warm, soapy water after coming into contact with an animal you suspect has ringworm. If you have just adopted a new pet, organize a vet checkup to ensure they are clear of the infection. 
• Objects: Ringworm can live on various fabrics and surfaces and can be easily transferred through direct skin contact. It’s important to wash and dry all bedding, towels, clothing, and other fabrics thoroughly and regularly disinfect surfaces.
• The environment: While it is rare, ringworm can be transferred to humans through contact with infected soil. However, this would typically require prolonged exposure for the infection to occur. 

Stages of Ringworm

Since there is an incubation period with ringworm infection, you won’t know you have it as soon as you contract it.

Ringworm emerges in stages from the initial contact:

• Day one: This is the period of exposure when you make first contact with an infected person, animal, or object.
• Day two to ten: This is referred to as the incubation period, the period before symptoms emerge and when the fungus spores colonize the skin. For tinea corporis, the incubation period usually lasts about 4-10 days.
• Symptoms period: This is the time when symptoms emerge and will remain until treated. For tinea corporis, symptoms usually appear about 4-10 days after exposure. 
• Day two to five after treatment: Healing typically begins in this period with the aid of antifungal creams. During this time, you will be less contagious.
• Beyond 14 days: You will notice your skin slowly repairing, and symptoms will become more manageable.

Because ringworm is so contagious, it is best to start treatment at the first signs of symptoms to avoid the infection from spreading on your body and to others. 

Is Ringworm Contagious? 

Ringworm is a highly contagious fungal infection and it can be transmitted from one person to another for as long as the fungus spores stay alive.

Fungal spores can live up to 12-20 months on a person or animal.

This is why it is imperative to disinfect any objects that an infected person or animal comes into contact with including bedding, towels, couch cushions, sports gear, and clothing.  

With the right treatment, ringworm can disappear after four weeks of treatment making a person not contagious anymore.

Risks

While anyone can get ringworm, those with a weakened immune system such as those with HIV/AIDS may struggle to get rid of the infection.

There are a few other risk factors that can increase your chances of contracting the infection.

These include:

• Living in a warm, humid climate
• Using public showers or locker rooms, especially being barefoot in these areas
• Participating in contact sports
• Being in close contact with animals
• Sharing personal items with a person who may have ringworm
• Sweating excessively or wearing heavy clothing that causes you to sweat
• Wearing tight shoes or clothes that chafe your skin
• Having diabetes
• Being overweight

Diagnosis 

If you suspect you have ringworm, visit your healthcare provider.

Your doctor will usually diagnose ringworm by first doing a physical examination of your skin.

They may use a black light to view the affected area; depending on the type of fungus, ringworm infection may fluoresce under black light.

In some cases, where further confirmation is needed, your doctor may do a skin biopsy or fungal culture.

This involves taking a sample of your skin or discharge from a blister and sending it to a lab to test for the presence of fungus.

Complications 

It is important to treat ringworm to prevent the infection from spreading to other areas of your body or to other people. If left untreated, potential complications include:

• Skin scarring including dark marks left on the skin
• Hair loss 
• Nail deformities
• Secondary infection due to bacteria entering broken skin

To avoid long-term health complications that can arise from ringworm, seek treatment as soon as possible. 

Prevention

Because ringworm is highly contagious, it is important that you regularly disinfect your environment.

The fungal spores can live on objects such as bedding, towels, couch cushions, and other surfaces.

Consider the following prevention methods:

• If you have a weakened immune system, limit your contact with people and animals.
• Keep your skin clean and dry.
• Dry your feet thoroughly after you shower.
• Avoid touching the ringworm lesion.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after treating the lesion with topical ointments.
• Wear open-toed shoes that allow your feet to breathe and stay dry.
• Avoid walking barefoot on surfaces that are wet or may be infected such as public restrooms, showers, or pools.
• Regularly change your socks and underwear.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water after touching pets or other animals that may have ringworm.
• Regularly disinfect and clean pet living areas.
• Don’t wear heavy clothing in warm, humid environments where you are likely to sweat.
• Keep your fingernails and toenails short and clean.
• Don’t share clothing, towels, sheets, or other personal items with others.
• Regularly wash your sheets, towels, and clothing and dry them thoroughly before storing them away.
• If you’re an athlete involved in close contact sports, don’t share sports gear with other players. Keep your uniform and sports gear clean and dry and shower immediately after your practice session or match.

Treatment 

As soon as symptoms emerge, it is best to start treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others or other areas of your body.

Most cases of ringworm on the skin can be treated with over-the-counter medications such as antifungal creams, lotions, or powders.

These can be applied directly to the infected site for approximately two to four weeks to kill off the harmful fungal spores that are living on the body.

Over-the-counter antifungals include:

• Clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex): This is a topical fungal cream, spray, or solution that you put directly on your skin. The right treatment for you will depend on where the ringworm infection is on your body.
• Ketoconazole (Xolegel): Available as a cream or shampoo, ketoconazole is an antifungal medicine used to treat skin infections caused by a fungus (yeast). It can also prevent ringworm from coming back.
• Miconazole: A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved antifungal medication, miconazole can be applied to the infected site to kill off harmful fungi living on the skin.
• Terbinafine (Lamisil): Terbinafine is available as a cream, gel, or spray and treats ringworm, athlete’s foot, jock itch, and pityriasis versicolor. For athlete’s foot, you can use terbinafine in a liquid form. 

Always read the label and use it only as directed.

Contact your healthcare provider if the infection doesn’t go away or continues to spread. 

If you have ringworm on the scalp or a more serious case of ringworm, you may require prescription medication.

Ringworm on the scalp can be harder to treat.

Antifungal medications in the form of oral medicines that are taken for one to three months might be prescribed to you by your doctor.

Common prescription medications include:

• Fluconazole (Diflucan): This antifungal medication is available in oral form and can be effective in treating cases of ringworm.
• Itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox): Itraconazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that is used to treat cases of ringworm. It can be administered intravenously or in oral form. 
• Terbinafine: As well as being available as a cream, gel, or spray, terbinafine comes in tablet form by prescription for more serious cases of ringworm. 

Home Remedies 

There are several home remedies for ringworm you can try to alleviate symptoms.

While there is no scientific evidence to support their use over OTC antifungal treatments, they can be used effectively in conjunction with prescription and OTC medications.  

These treatments include:

• Apple cider vinegar: This remedy has strong antifungal properties and can be applied topically by using cotton balls soaked in undiluted apple cider vinegar over affected areas of skin. You can apply the mixture 3 times a day to treat ringworm.
• Coconut oil: You can apply coconut oil to your skin to improve ringworm symptoms as it has both microbial and antifungal properties. For best results, warm the oil until it becomes liquid and apply it to the skin or scalp 1-3 times a day.
• Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil has antifungal and antibacterial properties that your skin can greatly benefit from. Apply tea tree oil directly to the affected area(s) 2 or 3 times per day with a cotton ball or swab. Dilute the tea tree oil if you have sensitive skin. 
• Turmeric: With numerous benefits including antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is excellent for calming irritated skin. You can mix turmeric with water to form an antifungal paste and then apply it directly to your skin. Allow the paste to dry on your skin before washing it off and then patting your skin dry with a clean towel.  

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When to See a Doctor

Some more mild cases of ringworm can go away on their own with the aid of home remedies and self care. However, this generally takes a lot longer than cases where ringworm is treated with OTC antifungals. Visit a doctor if you notice the infection spreading.

If you are treating ringworm with medicine and symptoms persist or get worse, or you experience side effects from the medications you are taking, you should speak with a healthcare provider. They will be able to determine the best treatment plan for you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are 3 symptoms of ringworm?

Red, itchy, scaly skin that forms a circular rash on the body is a tell-tale sign of ringworm. You may also experience hair loss, and, if the infection appears on the nails, you may notice your fingernails or toenails become thicker or discolored.

How does ringworm start?

Ringworm starts to grow in a warm, moist environment. The infection begins when a person or animal makes direct skin-to-skin contact with a person, animal, or object that has ringworm.

K Health articles are all written and reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, or PharmDs and are for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute and should not be relied on for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.

How to cure ringworm in a dog

Red ring-shaped skin lesions are the main and most recognizable sign of ringworm in both dogs and humans. However, ringworm in dogs is not always manifested by foci that resemble rings. It is a very common and contagious skin infection in dogs.

It is characterized by skin lesions that usually appear on the muzzle, ears, tail or feet. While these affected areas are fairly easy to spot, ringworm can spread to other, more hidden areas on your pet’s body. This significantly speeds up its distribution.

Although ringworm in dogs is very unpleasant, it is easy to prevent and fairly easy to treat.

Ringworm in dogs: infection

Pets often become infected with ringworm, or dermatophytosis, while digging. This disease is relatively easy to treat and does not cause serious complications. However, dermatophytosis in dogs can be difficult to manage due to the fact that it is highly contagious and can be transmitted via fomites.

Fomite is any object or material contaminated with a pathogen, upon contact with which the infection is transmitted. In short, everything a pet touches can be infected with ringworm. This poses a risk of transmission to other dogs, cats and people. If a four-legged friend is suspected of having ringworm, disinfect any brushes, beds, food and water bowls, and toys. In general, everything that the pet comes into contact with.

In addition, any infected dog is considered highly contagious to other animals and humans. Gloves should be worn or hands should be washed and clothing should be washed after contact with the dog. She also needs to be kept in quarantine until the veterinarian reports that she is cured.

Ringworm: breeds that may be infected

Not all dogs that come into contact with animals infected with ringworm show signs of the disease. Infections depend on the type of fungus, as well as the pet’s age, relative health, nutrition, and care.

Ringworm can develop in any dog, but certain age groups and breeds are more at risk. In an article for DVM360, veterinary dermatologist Antea Schick writes that Boston Terriers, Yorkies and Jack Russell Terriers are more prone to ringworm infections. She adds that very old dogs, puppies, and dogs with suppressed immune systems are also at increased risk of developing ringworm.

Canine ringworm is transmitted to humans. If a pet has been diagnosed or suspected of having dermatophytosis, do not touch its skin. Hands must be washed after each contact with the dog. If red spots appear on the skin of the owner, he should immediately consult a doctor.

Ringworm in the dog: treatment

Veterinarians usually diagnose ringworm with a physical examination and one or more simple laboratory tests. Wood’s lamp, fungal culture, and microscopic examination of wool are the most common ways to diagnose this infection. Sometimes dermatophytosis in dogs is determined using a skin biopsy or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, with samples sent to a specialized laboratory.

Ringworm is treated with antifungal, topical, oral medications, or a combination. In addition, pharmacies offer several types of lotions, creams and shampoos, which can be purchased with a prescription from a veterinarian. Ringworm can also be treated with prescription-only oral antifungal medications.

Pets are often shaved in the area of ​​infection to prevent the spread of disease through the shedding of infected hair. In some cases, a dog can become re-infected with ringworm. However, in such cases, treatment can speed up recovery and reduce the likelihood of transmitting the disease to other animals or people.

How to disinfect your home

Ringworm likes to migrate and infect others through fomites, so disinfecting your home is an essential part of any treatment plan. If your dog has ringworm, veterinarians recommend taking the following steps:

• Keep your dog in a separate area that is easy to clean. If there is carpet, you need to vacuum it daily.
• Use a 1:10 diluted bleach with water or an all-purpose cleaner on all non-porous surfaces twice a week, such as countertops, etc.
• Wipe all floors and walls with a dry cloth once a week.
• Wash all beds weekly at the highest temperature and discard any bedding or toys that are difficult to clean.
• After any contact with an infected dog, change clothes and put them in the washing machine as soon as possible.

In particularly severe cases, you can clean the air ducts and replace all air filters, especially if there are children or other dogs in the house.

Prevention of ringworm in dogs

First of all, you should not allow your dog to dig out rodent burrows, as this is how the infection is often transmitted. The chance of contracting ringworm can also be reduced by improving your pet’s overall health.

If you take your dog to the veterinarian for check-ups once or twice a year, follow all his recommendations and provide your pet with preventive nutrition, this will be the best protection against ringworm.

Contributor Bio

Dr. Sarah Wooten

Dr. Sarah Wooten graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. A member of the American Society of Veterinary Journalists, Dr. Wooten divides his professional time between his private small animal practice in Greeley, Colorado, public speaking on peer issues, leadership and client communication, and writing. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, skiing, scuba diving and participating in triathlons.

See also:

• Lichen in dogs: types, symptoms and treatment
• Most common skin diseases in dogs
• Why does my dog ​​itch?
• What can you catch from a dog

Ringworm | True friend

“Ringing lichen” or the scientific language of dermatophytosis is a common pathology in the practice of small pets (especially cats and dogs), the clinical picture of this disease is different. To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to take an anamnesis, clinical examinations, and the most important and accurate diagnostic methods (instrumental and cultural) in this area. Treatment includes complex and local remedies.

The disease is a zoonosis (COMMON TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS!)

Dematophytosis refers to a group of infectious diseases that affect the upper layers of the skin, nails and hair. The causative agents are ascomycete molds of two genera: Microsporum and Trichophyton (keratin is used as a nutrient substrate). There are about 40 species, 4 species are most important in the practice of veterinary medicine:

• Microsporum Canis – affects the hair shaft, cats, dogs, cats, HUMAN, rodents are susceptible to the disease. Sick animals are the source of infection.
• Microsporum Gypseum – affects the hair shaft, dogs and cats get sick. The source of infection is the environment (inhabitant of the soil), animals that have access to the soil are infected.
• Microsporum Persicolor – affects the stratum corneum, dogs, cats, rodents get sick. The source of infection is sick animals (usually rodents).
• Trichophyton Mentagrophyton – affects the hair shaft, cats, dogs, HUMANS, rodents are susceptible to the disease. Source of infection – sick animals (more often rodents)

M. canis is more common, infection occurs through contact with affected areas of hair, skin, care items. The incubation period is 7-14 days. Fungal spores penetrate the hair follicle, arthrospores adhere strictly to keratin, increased skin moisture facilitates the penetration process.

CLINICAL SIGNS:

Local alopecia and peeling of varying severity, most often affected: muzzle, auricles, limbs. Itching varies from none at all to very severe.

Dogs often have classic rounded lesions with alopecia, scaling. The size of the bald patches is the larger, the faster the fungus multiplies. Sometimes a single tiny spot does not bother the dog for many years, and at the moment of weakening the immune system grows to an incredible size (in severe cases, complete baldness is possible). Keep in mind that a small bald spot is a source of infection! Spores are constantly showered from its surface, which can cause disease in other animals or humans. With trichophytosis, the symptoms are more noticeable. At first, the hair seems to break off at the base, and then falls out with the root. But sometimes fungi affect only the claws, in which case the owner does not notice the disease for a long time.

Cats : In the first phase, when the pathogen is just getting used to the skin, the signs of the disease are usually expressed by a skin rash, which is very difficult to detect under the long cat hair. You should pay attention to other alarming symptoms: increased activity and frequent scratching of a certain area. The animal clearly shows foci of baldness of a rounded shape (Fig. 3). The center of such foci is covered with scaly elements, and then begins to peel off.

CATS ARE CHARACTERISTIC FOR LONG-TERM SYMPTOMS!

Diagnosis:
Fluorescent diagnosis with a Wood’s lamp (examination of lesions under ultraviolet radiation) – in positive cases, a characteristic yellow-green glow is observed (Fig. 4). Unfortunately, only 50% of Microsporum canis has the ability to fluoresce. A negative result does not exclude the presence of dermatophytosis in the animal

Microscopic examination of hair from the affected area. If the result is positive, fungal hyphae are visualized.

– Cultivation of fungi (growing on special media), the most accurate method for diagnosing dermatophytosis, as it allows you to identify the type of pathogen. The average growth of a colony is from 7 to 30 days.

– Cytological diagnosis is carried out using a smear of an imprint from weeping lesions.

Treatment:

The disease tends to resolve itself, but due to the rapid infection of humans and animals, treatment is essential. Treatment should be carried out locally and systemically, since local agents cannot penetrate the hair follicle. Effective local remedies are solutions of enilconazole, hydrogen sulfide lime, shampoos based on ketoconazole and miconazole, ointments Miconazole and Thiabendazole. Systemic drugs such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, etc.

Treat all animals in contact. Healthy isolate from the sick and use local treatments as a preventive measure.

Treatment is discontinued only after 2 negative cultures! M. canis can be in the environment for up to 18 months, so it is necessary to clean the premises with a 1% bleach solution, 0.6% enilconazole solution. Antifungal vaccines as preventive measures did not give a positive result.

NB: It must be remembered that the drugs, regimen and duration of treatment is only a VETERINARY DOCTOR! All preparations are selected individually for each animal.

NOTE:

+ Long-haired animals get sick more often than short-haired ones.