Ringworm, or dermatophytosis, is a relatively common skin condition in dogs and cats that can be passed on to humans. Once thought to be caused by a worm due to circular lesions that develop on the skin, ringworm is actually a fungus and has nothing to do with worms. Ringworm is characterized by round hairless patches of scaly skin usually on the head, ears and tail. The condition can be quite itchy and uncomfortable for your pet, but it is easily treatable.
Things You'll Need
- Prescription medication
- Iodine-based anti-fungal shampoo
- Lime sulfur dip
- Topical anti-fungal cream
- Razor
- Ringworm vaccine
Instructions
Diagnose your pet for ringworm. When a dog or cat has ringworm, you'll begin to notice small round patches of crusty, scaly skin. Ringworm weakens the hair follicles resulting in isolated hair loss. These patches may grow larger and more irregular, appearing in different places on the animal's body. Ringworm has an incubation period of about 10-14 days, which means the animal will show signs of infection 10-14 days after exposure.
Take your pet to a vet for more accurate diagnosis and inquire about treatment. Diagnosis methods include microscopic analysis, fluorescent light screening, and skin culture testing, the latter being the most accurate. Most vets will prescribe a tablet drug called griseofulvin for both cats and dogs. Itraconazole is another commonly prescribed drug for treatment of ringworm.
Give your pet the recommended daily dose of the prescribed drug. Usually the drug is given daily and accompanied by a temporary high-fat diet.
Bathe your animal using an iodine-based anti-fungal shampoo. Do this three times a day, every other day. Let the lather sit for five to 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
Apply a lime sulfur dip twice a week. After the first two weeks, decrease the frequency to once a week for the following four to six weeks. Remove jewelry when dealing with this substance as it can alter the color of some metals.
Apply a topical anti-fungal cream to the affected area once a day for about 10 days.
Remove the animal's hair as a last resort for extensive infections. Definitely consult your vet about this, as some breeds do not respond well to this and it may further aggravate the condition. Be extremely delicate when shaving the animal.
Have your pet vaccinated for ringworm to avoid future infections. Keep your pet away from other infected animals.