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Dealing with Ringworms in Dogs and Cats
Dealing with Ringworms in Dogs and Cats
Learn how to identify and treat ringworm infestations.
by Rose Smith
June 13, 2004
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.
Ringworm is caused from exposure to the dermatophytes from
spores present in the environment, mainly from other animals
that are infected with it. Your pet 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 longhaired cats
or dogs. The fungus can also affect a cat's claws where they
become roughened and pitted.
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.
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
cats and dogs. As well, it is recommended that you destroy
all pet bedding, blankets, brushes/combs, scratching posts
and other items used by the pets. 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 reinfection, please consult your veterinarian
for additional solutions or information that he/she may be
able to provide.
- Rose Smith
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