A puppy, like a human baby, is prone to infections and illnesses as its immune system develops. Ringworm is a fairly common fungal infection in puppies, but this highly contagious infection needs to be contained and treated before it gets worse or spreads from the puppy to humans.
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Cause
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Ringworm is not actually a worm; it is a skin infection caused by a fungus that can infect any mammal, so if a puppy catches ringworm it can spread to humans and other pets.The most common types of ringworm fungus that attack a puppy are Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.
Source
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Ringworm can be transmitted to a puppy by any infected animal or by ringworm fungal spores in bedding. This fungus is highly contagious and can spread rapidly through a kennel, dog boarding house or among dogs and pups that frequently socialize with each other. Ringworm is more frequent in the fall and winter, and more prevalent in hot and humid climates.
Signs of Infection
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If a puppy has ringworm you will first notice small, bald patches on the puppy's face, ears and muzzle. These round spots often have a pink or reddish edge, and are not itchy at first. As the infection progresses, it spreads to the paws and claws from the puppy's grooming itself, showing hairless patches on the paws and abnormal and brittle-looking claws. Finally, ringworm can spread from the face to the tail and body as the dog licks and grooms itself.
Untreated Ringworm
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As ringworm progresses it becomes more itchy and distressing for a puppy, finally producing kerions as secondary infections like staph set in. Kerions are raised red lumps that are firm and have a thick, crusty look to them. As the itchiness increases, your puppy will start tearing at its skin, causing wounds, scarring and allowing more infections to get into its body.
Treatment
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Ringworm can be easily treated with topical antifungal medication prescribed by a veterinarian. If your puppy has a secondary infection, a suppressed immune system or some other underlying condition making the ringworm worse, your doctor will recommend a specific course of treatment to heal your puppy.
Warning
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RIngworm spores are not only incredibly contagious, but they have a long lifespan and can live on surfaces for weeks. To avoid transmitting ringworm to other animals or humans in your house, and to avoid re-infecting your puppy with ringworm, use gloves while handling your puppy and sterilize every surface your puppy touches with bleach and hot water to quarantine the ringworm fungus. If you throw out the bedding, sterilize it first to avoiding spreading this infection to any human or animal that may touch the bedding afterward.
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