The term ringworm is misleading. In the 15th century, the term was used to describe a rash that appeared in a ring formation. It was assumed that ringworm was caused by a worm. During the 1800s, researchers learned that ringworm was caused by a fungus rather than an insect, according to the Medscape website. This common canine infection comes with a number of early warning signs.
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Symptoms and Transmission
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Ringworm is characterized by round, circular areas of inflamed and reddened skin. The center of the patch might appear normal or might be covered in scaly skin, while the area around the center will be irritated and itchy. The hair inside the circle usually breaks off. The Pet Education website indicates that the infected areas are usually found on the head, but they also can be located on other areas of the body. In the early stages of the disease, isolated lesions are found on the body. In advanced or severe cases, ringworm might be mistaken for a more serious disease called mange.
The Dog Health website states that dogs catch ringworm from other infected animals. They warn that the carrier animal might never show symptoms of the disease, but it can transmit the infection to others through physical contact. Pet Education also warns that the disease can be passed through contaminated grooming materials or at dog kennels.
Diagnosis
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Some species of ringworm bacterium glow under an ultraviolet light source. The Dog Health and Pet Education websites agree that the infection can be diagnosed by a veterinarian using a Wood's lamp, which is a type of black light. Another method of diagnosing ringworm is by a skin scraping. The veterinarian collects some of the skin material from the lesion and performs a specialized culture designed to identify ringworm infections.
Treatment and Prevention
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Pet Education suggests that if the dog does not have any extenuating health issues, the infection will usually clear up by itself in a couple of months without any treatment being necessary. If the infection is severe or widespread, antifungal medications such as chlorhexidine or miconazole are applied to the skin twice a day. Oral antifungal medications such as griseofulvin and ketoconazole can also be used under the supervision of a veterinarian. Finally, lime sulfur dips and antifungal shampoos can also help to treat the infection.
There are no vaccines available to prevent ringworm. The best method of preventing the spread of ringworm is good hygiene. Grooming equipment should be thoroughly cleaned after each use, and kennel areas should be disinfected. Infected animals should be kept away from other pets until the infection has cleared up.
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