Ringworm – A contagious fungal infection

by Sandi Coetsee

Contrary to what the name might imply – Ringworm is not a worm, but a fungal infection that invades the hair follicles.  Ringworm takes its name from its classic appearance: a spreading circle of hair loss with scaly skin at the centre and a red ring at the periphery.

Ringworm in dogs is primarily a disease of puppies and young adults.  The face, ears, paws and tail is the most common area of infection.  The most frustrating aspect of Ringworm is that humans can contract this fungal infection from pets and vice versa.  Children are especially susceptible.

Strict hand washing precautions are necessary to prevent human contamination.  Children should not be allowed to handle pets with Ringworm.  Wash contaminated clothing and fabrics with bleach.  Discard the dog’s bedding and sterilize grooming equipment 1:10 dilution of bleach.

Ringworm by itself is not an itchy skin condition, but secondary infection with scabs and crusts can provoke licking and scratching.  Ringworm can invade the nails.  This results in nails that are dry, cracked, brittle and deformed.

To diagnose Ringworm can be tricky, as there are few cases of circular hair loss thought to be Ringworm that can be localized demodectic mange or a hair follicle infection.  The most reliable method of diagnosing Ringworm is by fungal culture.  Some hairs from the abnormal areas are plucked and placed on a special medium to grow out any fungus that is present.  Results may take up to two weeks.
Although mild cases can resolve spontaneously in three to four months, all cases should be treated to prevent progression and spread to other pets and people in the household.  Depending on the severity of the infection, there are different methods of treatment.  In difficult cases your local vet may prescribe an anti-fungal drug, which can be used in conjunction with a topical anti-fungal agent.  Anti-fungal drugs require close veterinary counseling and supervision.

If you suspect your pet may have Ringworm, have it seen to as soon as possible, before the spread of infection gets out of control.

The above information is for guidance only.  Veterinary advice is always best, and if ever in doubt should be sought immediately.

Until next week, keep those tails wagging!!

Source: Dog Owners Home Veterinary  Handbook