Ringworm is an annoying, highly contagious fungal disorder that is curable. The problem with this disorder is that there are 35 different species of ringworm that can affect cats, dogs and be transmitted to humans as well. The most common form is Mircosporum Canis which accounts for the majority of ringworm cases.
What Causes Ringworm in Canines?
Ringworm is caused from exposure to the dermatophytes from spores present in the environment, mainly from other animals that are infected with it. Your dog could pick it up from anywhere...boarding kennels, breeding kennels, someone else's home. The spores can live in the environment for up to 13 months and are very hard to get rid of, so reinfection of animals is also a common problem. As well, children are highly susceptible to these infections, so it is very important to rid the household of this fungus as soon as possible.
This disorder usually appears as a lesion upon the skin of an animal or human and requires medical attention. It looks like a rapidly growing circular patch of broken hair in most cases. The patch may look somewhat inflamed and appear to have "dandruff" like flakes on it. However, sometimes it is very hard to spot ringworm, especially in dogs.
A veterinarian can usually diagnose ringworm by using an ultraviolet light. In some cases however, this isn't enough and a sample of hair or scrapping of the skin is needed for further diagnosis. Treatment is basically in the form of antifungal pills and/or topical medications such as creams or medicated shampoos.
Curing Ringworm In Dogs
The major problem is getting rid of the spores in your home so they don't reinfect your pets. Most spores are shed through the fur into the carpet, so occasional "dip" baths may be required to kill the spores that may linger on the fur of your dog. As well, it is recommended that you destroy all pet bedding, blankets, brushes/combs, and other items used by the canine.
Any items that cannot be thrown out need to be soaked thoroughly in a solution of hot water and Betadine or Iodophor for one hour. They should then be rinsed in a mixture of water and .5% chlorine bleach. Drying the items outdoors in sunlight will also help. Vacuum your house thoroughly and be sure to immediately dispose of the vacuum bag. Then have all carpets and upholstery steam-cleaned and wash all walls with a mixture of water and chlorine bleach. If you have an air filter in your home, you must also dispose of the filter.
Although ringworm is a mild disorder, it can cause a tremendous amount of problems to a household. If you continue to have problems with canine ringworm reinfection, please consult your veterinarian for additional solutions or information that he/she may be able to provide.
Rose Smith is the author and owner of Caring For Canines, a web site that provides information on natural dog health care. To learn more about dog skin problems, care and grooming, please visit us at: http://www.caringforcanines.com/grooming-aids.shtml
maid service near Buffalo Grove ..Over the past decade, breed rescue groups have become a... Read More
"You've created your own monster, you know", my mother said... Read More
Cats are living longer lives thanks to dedicated care from... Read More
Cat arthritis is not a very common ailment among healthy... Read More
General Info.Brine shrimps, or artemia, are a zooplankton used mainly... Read More
Grooming means taking care of the physical maintenance of the... Read More
You may wish to consider a chinchilla as a possible... Read More
So you'd like to know how to build a dog... Read More
Clone a Cat, Go To Jail ...or at least... Read More
Standing and walking on the hind legs are tricks that... Read More
Do you have at least one framed photo of your... Read More
Distemper: Spotting This Dog Killer Before it's Too LateCanine distemper... Read More
'Help, my cat is pregnant and I don't know what... Read More
A dog, like a human baby, experiences the world through... Read More
A couple of years ago a Japanese electronics company came... Read More
As dogs grow older, their senses become less sharp and... Read More
Breeding tropical fish can be a lot of fun. Try... Read More
If you're contemplating the idea of starting a home-based business... Read More
All puppies are small dogs ? some, however, won't be... Read More
a) GrowlingIf your rabbit growls or grunts at you, she... Read More
Animal lovers come in all shapes and sizes. Undoubtedly if... Read More
If you are thinking of adding a dog to your... Read More
Parasites are organisms that survive by feeding off of other... Read More
Does your dog have that sheepish look? It could be... Read More
Believe it or not boutiques for dogs are everywhere. Nowadays,... Read More
kitchen deep cleaning Mundelein ..Keeping fish as pets takes more than just feeding them... Read More
The cat backs up to the door, lifts the tail... Read More
General Info.Brine shrimps, or artemia, are a zooplankton used mainly... Read More
Do you have some adult discus fish and want to... Read More
Does your dog have that sheepish look? It could be... Read More
Teaching your puppy crate training is the first and best... Read More
"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil... Read More
Did you know that there are key health benefits that... Read More
As we find ourselves in the middle of winter, it's... Read More
Obesity is one of the most important health concerns facing... Read More
Goldfish HealthcareYou would think that it's unfair that such a... Read More
It was November and I had spent 3 months searching... Read More
Teaching your dog to heel is one of the most... Read More
The American Humane Society estimated that last year alone; fifteen... Read More
Many dog owners are bewildered when they hear their dog... Read More
Pets are family members and should be treated as such.... Read More
When you take into account that there are over 68,000,000... Read More
Thanks to Disney's Motion Picture 'Finding Nemo,' almost everybody is... Read More
Our pets depend on us for their every need, including... Read More
Pets are people, too. At least, that's the way they... Read More
Kittens communicate in a very distinct way. Did you know... Read More
Man's Best Friend is a great companion around the home,... Read More
Obesity in dogs is a growing problem, which can cause... Read More
Fleas belong to the insect order Siphonaptera. They are common... Read More
Piranhas are unique creatures that have gained popularity not just... Read More
Pet |