Ringworm in dogs is not uncommon, though it infects cats far more often. Despite its name, the infection does not stem from a worm, but from a fungus. Unlike many other conditions that can infect your pet, ringworm is contagious to humans, so take precautions to ensure you and other members of the family don't catch the fungus from your pet.
Ringworm is most common in wet, humid environments; however, most cases occur in the fall and winter.
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Cause
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Your dog catches ringworm in the same way you do--he must have skin-to-skin contact with an infected animal or person. Or, he must come in contact with an infected item, such as a brush, towel, kennel or toy. Pets are most likely to contract ringworm at a dog park, kennel or boarding facility where an infected animal has been.
Symptoms
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The first symptom infection that you notice is most likely a missing patch of fur. The exposed patch of skin is likely to be scaly. It is most common for ringworm to occur on a dog's head, but you may also find it on her legs, feet or tail. Although ringworm is usually takes a circular shape, in some instances it may spread across the pet's face.
Sometimes the ringworm lesion itches, and you notice the dog scratching the site. However, the lesion doesn't always itch.
Diagnosis
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A common way to diagnose ringworm at home is to use a black light. Many species of ringworm glow florescently under the light. But if the lesion doesn't glow florescently, it doesn't mean your dog doesn't have ringworm. He may be infected by one of the species that doesn't glow under the black light. Your veterinarian will likely do a microscopic examination of a few pieces of hair plucked from your dog's coat to obtain a more definite diagnosis. Since this method is accurate only in 40 to 70 percent of cases, the doctor might need to do a skin culture to determine with certainty that your dog has ringworm.
Treatment
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The treatment for your dog's condition depends upon how severely she is infected. If she has only a localized spot of infection, the lesion should heal without treatment within three or four months. In this situation, trim the fur around the lesion. Treat the lesion twice times a day with a topical antifungal medication such as Lotrimin cream. If the condition is more severe, the veterinarian may recommend an antifungal shampoo or dip, among other treatments. Antifungal treatments sometimes take several weeks to complete.
Environment
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If the vet diagnoses your dog with ringworm, part of treatment and prevention of a recurring infection is cleaning the environment. Spores of ringworm fungus sometimes survive in the environment for years. Throw away the dog's bed, blankets, toys and other items, if possible. Clean any items you keep and areas where the dog frequents with a one to 20 bleach to water solution.
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