If your dog gets ringworm, it’s easy to panic when you see the nasty little round spots that are caused by this common fungal infection. Fortunately, ringworm is treatable and can be completely cured. If you know the facts about this condition and how to treat it at home, you can help your dog make a full recovery from ringworm.
Description
Ringworm is a fungal infection that can occur in humans and many animal species, including dogs. The infection got its name because it was once believed to be caused by a worm due to the rounded patches that are its hallmark. Scientists eventually discovered that a fungal infection was actually to blame. The fungus that causes the infection takes up residence on the surface of the dog’s skin and the inside of its skin follicles. It survives by getting nourishment from dead tissues.
Causes
Ringworm is extremely contagious, so many dogs get it from contact with another infected animal. It can be transmitted between different types of animals, so a dog can get it from an infected horse, cat or other animal. Dogs can get it from humans, too, and can pass it along to their owners and anyone else who touches them. Ringworm can also result from touching contaminated items such as dog beds or blankets or from using grooming tools that were previously used on an infected animal.
Time Frame
Ringworm has an incubation period of between 10 and 12 days. Once a dog is exposed to the fungus responsible for ringworm, it will take 10 to 12 days for the animal to get the characteristic round lesions. Because the incubation period can last for nearly two weeks, it can be difficult to trace the infection to its source.
Prevalence
Ringworm is most commonly found in puppies and younger dogs rather than in healthy adult canines. It also tends to show up more frequently in older dogs. This is because puppies and elderly animals have less resistance to infection. If a fully grown dog is in optimum health, it will probably be resistant to ringworm although it can still get infected. Some dogs can actually carry ringworm without exhibiting any signs of the infection. Even though there is no visible problem, they can still spread ringworm to humans, dogs and other susceptible animals.
Diagnosis
Ringworm can often be recognized by the fact that the infection produces such highly visible circular patches on a dog’s skin. However, because other problems can mimic ringworm, most veterinarians will perform tests to make sure of the suspected diagnosis. The most common tests are taking a skin scraping from the dog to be cultured in a laboratory, viewing a skin sample under a microscope or using an ultraviolet light to confirm the presence of the fungus that causes ringworm, since it will often glow under a black light.
Treatment
There are home remedies that can be very effective in the treatment of ringworm. They can be purchased at most pet stores and must be applied to your dog at home on a regular basis. These home remedies include anti-fungal creams and shampoos. You can also use a lime dip as a home remedy for your dog. You will need to initially use it twice a week. After the first two weeks, you can dip the dog on a weekly basis for the next four to six weeks. Any dog beds, blankets and other items with which your dog has had contact can be cleaned with a mixture of bleach and water. Use one part bleach to 10 parts water to make the proper cleaning solution. If you keep your dog outside, its kennel should be washed down with bleach. If you crate him or keep him in a carrier regularly, that should be thoroughly disinfected with the water/bleach solution as well. If you choose not to treat your dog, he will most likely recover on its own in two to four months if he is otherwise healthy. However, your pet can suffer greatly in the meantime and spread the infection to humans, dogs and other animals. As a responsible pet owner, you should start treating your dog as soon as you have a confirmed diagnosis of ringworm.
