How to Kill Ringworm in Dog Pens

Because animals infected with ringworm constantly release spores into their environment, a ringworm infection isn't one of the easiest conditions to eradicate. Disinfection with appropriate products and treatment of infected dogs is necessary to kill this fungus in dog pens. Failure to properly decontaminate the dog's living quarters may result in the ringworm fungus remaining infectious for 18 months or more, according to Mar Vista Animal Medical Center

  1. Treatment

    • Have all dogs tested for ringworm, if applicable; should one dog be found to have ringworm, any other dogs sharing his environment could be infected as well. Treating infected dogs is key to preventing further environmental contamination of the dog pens. Topical therapy kills the fungus on the dog and prevents it from spreading. Oral antifungal medication, on the other hand, inhibites fungal reproduction. Because ringworm may be transmitted from animal to person, thorough hand washing is important after you handle affected dogs.

    Isolation

    • Remove and isolate infected dogs from their pens while they're being treated. Dogs infected with ringworm are generally contagious for about three weeks even when aggressive treatment is implemented, according to the Mansfield Animal Medical Center. (See Reference 2) Restrict infected dogs to areas of the house that are easy to clean for best results.

    Disinfection

    • Remove and possibly discard items found in the dog's pen, such as bedding, food bowls, water bowls and toys. Any items that can be placed in a bathtub or washing machine should be washed with hot water and an antifungal soap. Afterwards, the items should be rinsed and soaked for 10 minutes in a solution of 1 part bleach to 30 parts water at least three times, writes veterinarian Karen Hellen Rhodes in the book "The 5 Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion."

    Decontamination

    • Vacuum the dog pen to remove dog hairs and spores. The vacuum bags should be burned or saturated with bleach. Optimally, use a small disposable vacuum that can simply be thrown out once the areas are treated. Then clean the pen with antifungal soap and water and rinse it three times at least three times a week. Finally, decontaminate the pen's surface with a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. The surface must stay wet for at least 10 minutes to kill the ringworm spores.

    Prevention

    • Return the dogs to their pens only after they obtain two consecutive negative cultures. To prevent reinfestation, the pens should also be tested to ensure they were properly decontaminated. A piece of Swiffer cloth can be used to take a culture of the dog pen by using it to dust for 5 minutes or until the cloth becomes dirty. Dogs should be returned to their dog pens only once their living quarters are determined clear of ringworm by a veterinarian.