Ringworm in Pet Dogs | Hypoallergenic Dog

Microsporum canis is the most predominant ringworm found on dogs and cats. The quality of a ring that we see on humans doesn?t always emerge as a ring on dogs. The wound will grow in size and often become irregular in form. The hair shafts break off then results to a round hairless lesion. The face, ears tail and paws are the common areas where the fungi are found. The characteristics of the lesion are scaly, itchy and reddened.

Ringworm can be passed through direct contact from infected dogs to cats or from infected animals to humans and infected humans to pets. Animals can transmit ringworm to a person without showing any signs that it is infected. Ringworm can live in an environment and even in soil for a long time. It can infect a dog when it comes in contact with these.

Microsporum gypseum exist in the soil. Dogs and cats usually dig in soil area thus can be infected by this type of fungi. Trichophyton mentagrophytes typically comes from rodents and usually infects dogs which are exposed to rodents or the burrows they live in. The exposure to the fungus, will take an incubation period of 10-12 days before any lesions occur.

A veterinarian would need to do the following tests to diagnose ringworm:
* Fungal culture is the most accurate. It is the plucking from the infected area then sends it to a
laboratory for testing and for observation of color change within 14 days.
* Wood?s lamp is an ultraviolet lamp or black light used by vet because ringworm glows under the lamp.
* Microscopic diagnosis is when a vet looks at an infected part under a microscope.

The treatment recommended by vets is oral or topical antifungal medications. The vet may prescribe griseofulvin, shampoos and dips. Griseofulvin in an anti-fungal tablet used for dogs daily. It should be taken by dogs for at least one month. These tablets are not absorbed by the stomach so feed the dog high fat diet and let the dog to drink rich cream. Griseolfulvin reduce reproduction of ringworm but it has side effects like pancreatitis and problem caused by fat consumption.

Lime sulfur dips smells strongly like rotten eggs and caused the dog?s hair to turn to a yellowish colour. Shaving around the lesions may also be useful. It is effective to clip the hair of pets while doing topical shampoo therapy. Baths should be given 3 times everyday. Lather should be produced and left for 5 minutes before rinsing. Topical antifungal medication should be applied in the infected area once daily for 10 days.

To prevent ringworm in dogs, decontaminate the environment like carpets, bedding and grooming equipment. Use a mixture of 500 ml of bleach and 4 liters of water and apply it on any surface. Vacuum and dispose garbage will kill fungi. Wash the dog?s kennel and bedding with bleach and hot water.

A vaccine for ringworm that decreases redness and other symptoms is now being marketed however tests shows that the vaccine does not present complete defense against infection. In some cases, the ringworm in dogs may resolve by itself.

For more information please read this article on Ringworm and on Ringworm in Dogs

Source: http://hypoallergenic-dog.net/ringworm-in-pet-dogs/

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