Do you have red, bald spots on your pet’s skin? It could be ringworm. Learn more about symptoms, treatments, and how to prevent ringworm infections.
What is Ringworm?
Ringworm may sound scary, but it is a very common and usually non-threatening infection that affects the skin and hair of both animals and humans. Good news for those who don’t like creepy crawlies. Ringworm is not a worm at all. This is actually a common name for a fungal infection.
Ringworm (scientifically known as tinea corporis) is caused by a collection of disease-causing bacteria known as dermatophytes. Nearly all ringworm infections are caused by her three types of fungi:
- Microsporidia canis, responsible for approximately 70% of infectious diseases
- Microspore gypsum, responsible for about 20% of infections
- Ringworm, responsible for about 10% of infections
These fungi are found in nature and can travel home on your pet’s fur, where they can be passed on to other animals and humans. This fungus lives on the surface of the skin, hair follicles, and sometimes nails, causing skin irritation and weakening of hair and nails.
Almost all pets are exposed to these fungal dermatophytes throughout their lives, but many pets have adequate immune systems to keep infection at bay. Dogs and cats that are very young, elderly, or have a weakened immune system are more likely to develop symptoms and experience more serious infections than healthy adult dogs.
Ringworm is actually a common infection in humans, but it goes by several different names depending on the site of infection. Red, ring-shaped patches of inflamed skin are called ringworm when they appear on the scalp and most of the body, while the same fungus that affects the feet is called athlete’s foot.
Symptoms and diagnosis
Symptoms of ringworm vary, but you should be aware of the following common symptoms of ringworm in dogs and cats:
- circular bald spots
- red, inflamed skin or skin lesions
- scaly or flaky skin
- Hair that is dry, brittle and can break easily
- Nail peeling or cracking
- Small sesame-sized scabs called miliary dermatitis (common in cats)
If you notice any of the above signs, or if your pet seems to be itching or in pain, you should go to your veterinarian for a diagnosis. They will examine your pet’s skin and fur and will likely use the following common methods to confirm that the infection is ringworm.
- wooden lamp: This UV lamp causes the excreta of infectious fungi to glow bright yellow-green under light. Because it cannot detect all cases, further tests are usually done, but it is a good noninvasive preliminary test to identify ringworm.
- Microscopic examination: A veterinarian may take a hair sample from the affected area and examine it under a microscope to visually identify fungal spores on the hair.
- Fungal culture: If the diagnosis still needs to be confirmed, the veterinarian will send a hair sample to the laboratory to test and identify the fungus. This test is usually not the first test a veterinarian does, as it can take up to a month to make a final diagnosis, but it is the most accurate.
If your veterinarian determines your pet has a severe ringworm infection, they may recommend further laboratory testing to assess your pet’s general immune health. Most adult animals are healthy enough to combat ringworm infections, and significant systemic infections can be a sign of undiagnosed medical problems that compromise immune responses.
process
Once your pet has been formally diagnosed with ringworm, your veterinarian can help develop a treatment plan for your pet. There are three common things veterinarians prescribe to treat ringworm.
- Topical cream or ointment: These remedies are applied directly to the affected skin and are great for topical infections. Your veterinarian may recommend shaving these areas on long-haired pets for easier application. In addition to fighting fungus and soothing your pet’s skin, these remedies also help trap spores and prevent spread.
- Medicated shampoo: If your pet has an infection that covers a large area of its body, a full body shampoo may be the easiest solution. Vet-prescribed medicated shampoos use the same ingredients as antifungal creams, but are formulated to last long after you wash them off.
- Oral medicine: Veterinarians often prescribe systemic oral medications in combination with topical treatments to attack infections from the inside out. There are several medications available, but they are usually taken as tablets with meals. Some popular drugs can suppress bone marrow function and reduce red and white blood cell counts in pets, so while your pet is on medication, your veterinarian should check for side effects. You may be asked for regular blood tests. With proper veterinary supervision, these treatments are safe and effective.
Whatever medication your veterinarian prescribes should be taken for at least six weeks to complete the course of treatment, and it may take months for the infection to completely disappear. Your veterinarian will also recommend that other pets in your household and people who have had close contact with infected animals be tested for ringworm. Early detection of infections facilitates the treatment process.
Another important factor in combating ringworm is to intensify cleaning habits as soon as your pet is diagnosed with ringworm, and keep it as hygienic as possible while your pet is recovering. Fungal spores can easily spread to your hands when you rub your pet’s belly, or transfer to sofa cushions when your pet takes a nap and is waiting to be picked up by the next person to sit.
To prevent the spread of ringworm, you should:
- Thoroughly vacuum rugs, furniture, and other soft surfaces that your dog touches daily.
- Wash your pet’s bed, blankets, stuffed animals, and furniture covers regularly.
- Disinfect hard surfaces frequently accessed by pets daily.
- Promptly contain and dispose of any loose hair from brushing your pet.
- Temporarily replace stuffed soft toys and snuff mats with easy-to-clean toys that can be scrubbed or machine washed.
- Minimize physical contact with the pet while treatment is completed and consider isolating the pet from other pets and young children who cannot resist the appeal of the pet begging for attention. please give me.
- Wash hands thoroughly after contact with pets.
- Keep infected pets away from people with weakened immune systems who are susceptible to ringworm infections.
Curbing an infestation can be mentally challenging, especially for snugglebug pets who don’t understand why they can’t have daily cuddling sessions. Please know that we are doing everything we can to protect your pet’s health and your own. a lot When both of us are in good health, we are waiting for you to massage your stomach many times!
prevention
We all want to protect our pets from anything that can harm them, but unfortunately there is no way to completely eliminate the possibility of your pet coming into contact with the fungus that causes ringworm. . However, there are still things you can do to reduce the chances of contact becoming infectious. The best line of defense is consistent cleaning and supporting your pet’s immune health.
While it may not be practical to vacuum every corner of your home every day, all You can reduce the amount of pesky fungal spores in your home by regularly cleaning items and areas your pet frequents. everyone’s possibility of infection. Creating a weekly and monthly cleaning checklist will help you stay on track with your cleaning schedule and help maintain a healthy environment for everyone in your home.
A strong and healthy immune system is key to stopping infections on the spot. There are many natural ways to support your pet’s immune health. For example, keep your pet active, take it out into the wild, or feed it a diet that nourishes and actually improves its body’s function.to add dog immune support topper again cat’s dinner or feed the cat a treat Snacks that boost immunity It’s an easy way to ensure they’re getting important nutrients without them realizing they’re basically just taking vitamins.
The good news is that ringworm is a manageable problem and knowing the basics can help you take better care of your best friend. Whether you’re diagnosing a nasty skin infection or taking precautions to stay healthy, your pet, as always, knows they’ll be fine.