How to Treat & Prevent Ringworm in Dogs

Quick Summary

• To treat ringworm in dogs, topical treatments are often used such as creams and ointments. Depending on the severity of the ringworm, a vet may also prescribe anti-fungal medications often taken by orally.
• It is highly important to decontaminate areas and surfaces your dog might have contracted as well as spread ringworm.
• To prevent ringworm in dogs, routinely clean or sanitize his beddings and the rest of the environment he is always in.

Contrary to the name, ringworm is not caused by worms. Ringworm (dermatophytosis) is a skin condition. It mainly happens by a fungal infection and not unlike Athlete’s foot or jock itch. I’ve only ever had one dog that contracted this fungal infection once, and below, I’ll be sharing a guide on how to spot symptoms, treat, and prevent ringworm in dogs.

What is ringworm in dogs?

Contrary to a common misconception, the infection known as ‘ringworm’ is not caused by a worm but rather by a type of fungus. There are several species of fungi that cause ringworm; the most common of which are Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, or Trichophyton mentagrophyte.

Ringworm fungus can affect both humans and domestic animal.

What Are The Signs Your Dog Has Ringworm?

Ringworm generally looks like a circle—or ring—on the skin that’s bald, scaly and red. “The fungus lives in hair follicles, causing the hair to break off (hair loss),” notes Dog-health-guide.org. It thrives in warm, moist areas of the body and appears most on the head, but it can also appear on the legs, feet or tail, says PetEducation.There are, in actuality, several things to look for when diagnosing ringworm. It can easily be confused with other skin conditions. It’s important to seek veterinary care when trying to determine what your dog has. Some things to look for include:

Symptoms of ringworm:

If your dog is showing any symptoms of a ringworm infection, it’s important to take action right away.

•  Hairless Skin Lesion
  When it comes to ringworm, one of the easiest symptoms to spot is a patchy hairless lesion on the skin. It’s often circular in shape, though there are occasionally spots that do not conform to the typical ring shape.
• Red Skin
  Sometimes, the infected skin of a dog appears red, irritated and crusty. Ringworm is a skin infection. It is caused by a fungus. The fungus lives on the top layer of the skin and feeds off of the dead skin cells.
• Itchiness
  Though not always, ringworm can sometimes be itchy, or at least uncomfortable, for dogs. “This symptom also presents a possible additional difficulty for veterinarians when diagnosing a dog’s medical condition,” reports RingWormInDogs. “When a dog experiences itching in association with characteristic ringworm skin lesions, they may scratch enough to disfigure the appearance of the lesions. This may cause an initial misdiagnosis, and can contribute to other related symptoms such as scabbing, bleeding, and further loss of hair.”
• Lesion Continues to Grow
  If left untreated, it’s quite likely that an infected spot will continue growing.
• Pustules
  In some, but not all, cases of ringworm, pustules may be visible on or around the skin lesion. Other conditions can also cause pustules, so it’s important to get a diagnosis from your veterinarian to avoid confusion. Because of its irritated, crusty appearance. It can sometimes get confused with mange or even an autoimmune disease.

In some cases, the ringworm infection may be more severe and require medical attention from your veterinarian.

Diagnosis

There are a few ways to diagnose ringworm, the easiest of which is probably to shine an ultraviolet light (sometimes called a Wood’s light) on the dog. This method is not completely accurate, though. Because not all forms of fungi show up under the light so only about 50 percent of ringworm infections show up under the ultraviolet lamp. “In addition, a healthy animal may have spores on his coat but may not have an active infection,” reports PetEducation.

How to prevent ringworm in dogs

A veterinarian can pluck hairs of a dog for examination under a microscope to determine if it’s ringworm.

In these cases, the hairs on the lesion are examined

“using a preparation of KOH (potassium hydroxide solution) to make them more visible. Between 40 percent and 70 percent of the infections can be diagnosed this way “. Sources agree that the most accurate way to diagnose ringworm is by performing a fungal culture. In which some hairs and scales are tested. These tests do not, however, offer immediate results.

The advantage of this test is that it can confirm ringworm. It can tell exactly which species of fungus is present. Mar Vista Animal Hospital writes on its website. “Knowing the identity of the fungus may help determine the source of infection. The disadvantage, however, is that ringworm fungi require 10 days to grow out.”In rare cases, a vet may decide to perform a skin biopsy. “Sometimes the lesions on the skin are so uncharacteristic that a skin biopsy is necessary to obtain a diagnosis,” reports Mar Vista Animal Hospital. Fungal spores are quite clear in these samples. And the diagnosis may be ruled in or out.

After the Diagnosis

Ringworm is not a life-threatening disease. It’s believed that these lesions heal themselves after several months. But that’s probably not the best solution. First, ringworm can cause a dog discomfort, not to mention cause the dog to look unsightly. Furthermore, ringworm is a condition that can pass easily from species to species—humans included. So, treatment is typically recommended. “There have been several studies which showed that this fungal disease should eventually resolve on its own,” states the Mar Vista Animal Hospital’s website. “Typically, this takes four months, a long time in a home environment for contamination to be occurring continuously.”

Ringworm Treatment

It’s important to remain committed to the treatment process your veterinarian prescribes for you. Otherwise, there is a high chance of continuous re-infection in the home, whether that be humans or other pets. There are several options for treating ringworm. And the first line of defense is usually a topical anti-fungal cream or ointment. Several options are available through your veterinarian, who may also recommend trimming away the hair around the skin lesions. Care should be taken when clipping not to irritate the skin. As this may promote the spreading of the infection.

Topical treatment

Depending on the vet’s instructions. Topical treatments are generally applied a couple of times per day.

Ringworm shampoo for dogs

In many cases, the vet may also recommend some medicated shampoo or lime sulfur dips for use in conjunction with the topicals.

It’s less likely that a dog will require oral medication, although there are a couple available on the veterinary market should the doctor determine such a need. Generally, this is not the first choice. Regardless of which treatment is prescribed, it’s essential to stick with it. Until the veterinarian determines the infection has cleared up. Just because the animal looks better doesn’t mean all the ringworm spores are gone.

The Environment Also Needs Treatment

Like all creatures, dogs shed and dogs infected with ringworm are shedding contaminated spores. Brushing and combing an animal with ringworm also further spreads the spores, thus spreading the fungus. Animals and people become infected because of direct contact with a contaminated animal, hair, skin follicles, grooming equipment, clothing, bedding and so on. Dogs can pick up fungus nearly anywhere dogs and/or cats have been, including parks, kennels, veterinary clinics, homes of friends—even from pet parents unknowingly petting a ringworm-positive animal and then petting their own pets.

Unfortunately, fungal spores can live for a long time, so even when a dog or cat has cleared up, a problem might still be present in the house. “Spores from infected animals can be shed into the environment and live for over 18 months,” reports PetEducation.Treating the home can present challenges because nothing is completely effective and this is especially true in multi-pet households.For starters, thoroughly clean hard surfaces such as floors, countertops, window sills and so on with a disinfectant. Many people use bleach with a diluted ratio of 1:10, but this doesn’t kill all of the spores. To supplement that, vacuum, steam clean or dryclean carpets, rugs, upholstery and draperies. After vacuuming, throw away the bag.

Also, wash items like bedding and clothing in hot water and detergent. If there are cats in the house, scrub out their litter pans. Newman Veterinary Medical Services further recommends replacing air filters weekly while fighting fungal spores. People handling an infected animal, equipment, bedding—whatever—need to thoroughly wash their hands in hot, soapy water afterward.

The Silver Lining

While treating fungus can be a little laborious—if not a little icky at times—the good news is that while ringworm always presents a threat, it’s not a disease that’s running rampant in the canine community. It’s more likely to turn up in cats, though puppies and their developing immune systems are more susceptible than adults. “Most healthy dogs do not carry spores on their skin or hair,” reports PetEducation. “The incidence of ringworm infections in dogs is actually quite small. In one study of dogs that had active skin problems, less than 3 percent had ringworm.” And because most of the symptoms are clearly visible, pet parents can usually catch the signs early and take their pets to a veterinarian right away, making treatment easier and preventing further spread of the fungus.

FAQs

What can I give my dog to prevent ringworm?

Anti-fungal shampoos that can be bought over the counter can be effective in countering the development of ringworm in dogs

Can I touch my dog if he has ringworm?

It is best to avoid touching dogs with ringworm as the infection can be contagious to humans. Immediately wash your hand with soap and water if you happen to touch an infected animal.

Is ringworm curable in dogs?

Yes, ringworm in dogs can be cured through the use of topical therapy like creams, ointments, and shampoos. A vet may also prescribe oral anti-fungal drugs.

How can ringworm be prevented in animals?

To prevent ringworm in dogs, regularly vacuum and disinfect your house especially the areas where you dog tends to stay the most like his beddings and crate. Immediately dispose loose hairs from grooming tools and other areas in your house.