Ringworm can affect humans and animals and can spread between both. You should inspect and treat your dog if you believe that he may have ringworm. Dogs that get ringworm have a change in appearance caused by the fungus. Action is required to treat and protect your dog, household and family.
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Ringworm
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Ringworm is a fungus called Dermatophytes. The name denotes a type of plant that can live on skin. The circular marks made by the fungus were thought to be caused by a worm before it was discovered that the instigator was actually a fungus. The fungus lives on the skin's surface and survives on dead skin cells and hair. The most common type of ringworm found in dogs is the Microsporum canis.
Appearance
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On a dog, ringworm is most often located on the ears, tails, paws or face. A round, hairless lesion is the most prominent feature of ringworm in dogs. The lesion will be scaly and may be itchy. The skin around the ringworm mark can be red and inflamed. The ring shape that often shows up on humans who have contracted ringworm is not always so prevalent on a dog, because of its fur. The ringworm mark will become larger and also have an irregular shape. The fungus also causes hair to break and fall off, which creates patchy hair loss on the dog.
Transmission
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Once a dog has ringworm, it can pass the fungi on to other animals or even humans by coming into direct contact with another animal. Dogs can pass the ringworm to other species. The spores of the fungus can survive in carpets, brushes, sheets and other items that the dog comes into contact with. After an animal or human has been exposed to the fungus, it takes 10 to 12 days before any ringworm-type lesions will surface.
Prevalence
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If a dog is healthy and full-grown, it usually develops a resistance to ringworm. A younger dog or puppy would be more inclined to get ringworm because its immune systems has not fully developed. Your dog may be a carrier of the ringworm and have no visible symptoms. However, a dog that is symptomless can still spread ringworm to animals and humans.
Treatment
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Dogs that get ringworm will need treatment to prevent spreading of ringworm to other recipients. Some vets will prescribe an anti-fungal drug but it may have side effects for your dog. Consult your vet first to find out the best options for treatment. A less intrusive treatment would be shampoos or dips like a lime sulfur dip. Infected dogs need a dip twice a week but the concoction has a pungent smell. The dog's hair will be temporary yellowed from the dip and precaution must be taken to avoid staining clothing or accessories when the treatment is being given. The dog's environment and the household environment also need to be decontaminated. Vacuuming and steam cleaning carpets and furniture can rid the house of spores. A 1 to 10 bleach to water ratio can be used to clean surfaces including the dog's kennel. If no treatment is carried out, ringworm will run its course in two to four months and the symptoms will resolve themselves.
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