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Last Updated on June 22, 2023 by Thee Puppypreneur
WHAT IS RINGWORM IN DOGS
Ringworm in dogs is not actually a worm at all but a fungal infection. It is a highly contagious fungal infection that can be spread from humans to pets and vice versa. In fact, if your dog has ringworm, he can also spread it to other animals or even you.
WHAT CAUSES RINGWORM IN DOGS AND HOW DO THEY GET IT
Dogs can get ringworm from other dogs, animals and people. Depending on the species of ringworm they get.
Your dog could pick it up at the dog park, from your groomer, you or another dog.
Cats have been found to be asymptomatic carriers meaning that they show no symptoms and especially the long-haired breeds.
WHAT DOES RINGWORM IN DOGS LOOK LIKE
Ringworm in dogs has been thought to be identifiable by its red, scaley round appearance. However, ringworm in dogs can actually take many shapes and it is not always round.
It can cause itching and it causes hair loss at the site of infection. There could be small red bumps or crusty lesions. Ringworm can be found anywhere on your dog from its body to its face and even in between the toes.
HOW IS RINGWORM IN DOGS DIAGNOSED
Ringworm in dogs can be diagnosed by various methods such as through ultraviolet light called a wood’s lamp like this one
Amazon.com: Wood’s Lamp pet cat, dog Wood’s Black light Flashlight cat Ringworm Detector,Doctor Pet Urine Detector,for Analyzing Skin Dog Cat Care Bed Bug Inspect. : Pet Supplies
which certain ringworm strains like Microsporum Canis will glow yellow-green under the light. 1Information for Healthcare Professionals | Ringworm | Types of Diseases | Fungal Diseases | CDC
Another way ringworm in dogs can be diagnosed is through fungal culture by skin scraping and hair samples and this procedure is painless.
RINGWORM TREATMENT FOR DOGS
Ringworm treatment for dogs can be treated several different ways. Depending on your veterinarian, your budget and the severity of the condition. You may receive topical creams, shampoos and/or a combination with oral medications.
Topical medications or shampoos that are most commonly used consist of Ketoconazole, Miconazole or Lime sulfur.
I always have ketoconazole shampoos on hand like this one below that contains benzethonium chloride and ketoconazole;
Another option for you to consider is this shampoo which contains chlorhexidine and ketoconazole;
suggested to be used twice a week and your veterinarian might want you to bath your dog twice weekly for up to 4-6 weeks.
I swear by these wipes and love them so much, I always use these for her skin on her underbelly, butt and paws.
Amazon.com: Dechra MiconaHex + Triz Wipes For Dogs, Cats & Horses (50ct)
They contain miconazole in them and clean and moisturize. I used to use 50/50 of ACV (apple cider vinegar) but these wipes work way better for me.
Your veterinarian may also recommend ointments on top of shampoo for your furbaby.
is one of the many types of ointments that can be applied topically to the infected areas.
Another thing that your veterinarian may or may not recommend is shaving your furbaby around the infected area.
I have a million pairs of clippers and shears like these
You need to take care when doing this as to not contaminate anywhere else in the house with the infected hairs.
Using clippers and then forgetting to sanitize them and then using them a couple months later could reinfect you or another animal.
I keep this on hand whenever I use my clippers for my furbaby as I want to make sure I disinfect the clippers after every use!
Oral medications that can be prescribed if topical treatments your vet recommends fail could include; Terbinafine, Ketoconazole, Fluconazole, or Itraconazole depending on your situation these could be prescribed for 2 – 3 months.
They will also want to do more fungal cultures in the months following to make sure that the infection is gone and unfortunately false-negatives and positives are common so you will still have to continue treatment for weeks after you receive a negative culture.
HOW TO PREVENT RINGWORM IN DOGS FROM SPREADING
Like I said, ringworm is highly contagious. You are going to need to decontaminate your home in order to stop the spread.
This means everything your dog has come into contact with. The carpet, sofa, floors, toys, you and other animals.
The Bissell can help you steam clean your carpet and furniture and reaches high temps of up to 190 degrees.
Your furbaby will more than likely be given shampoos and creams but make sure that you clean their bedding and their bowl and toys.
You might want to keep other pets in the household away from your furbaby if they have ringworm. The use of crates or baby gates to separate the infected from the non-infected is beneficial.
Unfortunately, just to make sure no other animals run the risk of being infected you will have to keep them separate for a minimum of 2 months just to be sure.
Remember ringworm in dogs is a fungus and therefore fungal spores can be easily spread throughout your house. You will need to keep decontaminating collars, bedding, and flooring every few days.
WHAT ALTERNATIVE OR NATURAL REMEDIES ARE THERE TO RINGWORM IN DOGS
NOTE: These herbs are meant to be used topically and not internally
BLACK WALNUT
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) is also said to have antiparasitic and antifungal properties. Quercetin-3-O-glucoside (known as isoquercitin) is one such flavonoid found in black walnut that contains antifungal properties. 2Ho, K. V., Lei, Z., Sumner, L. W., Coggeshall, M. V., Hsieh, H. Y., Stewart, G. C., & Lin, C. H. (2018). Identifying Antibacterial Compounds in Black Walnuts (Juglans nigra) Using a Metabolomics Approach. Metabolites, 8(4), 58. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo8040058
Black walnut is controversial in dogs and can be toxic if administered incorrectly.
NEEM
Neem (Azadirachta indica) also has remarkable antifungal qualities when administered topically. It has also been used in the treatment of ringworm effectively. 3Kumar, V. S., & Navaratnam, V. (2013). Neem (Azadirachta indica): prehistory to contemporary medicinal uses to humankind. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine, 3(7), 505–514. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2221-1691(13)60105-7
Neem is controversial to some pet parents, however you will find it in pet products. Below is just cold pressed neem oil.
LEMON BALM
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) has great anti-fungal properties. Depending upon which species of ringworm your furbaby has…Lemon Balm has been shown to be effective against Trichophyton 4Parham, S., Kharazi, A. Z., Bakhsheshi-Rad, H. R., Nur, H., Ismail, A. F., Sharif, S., RamaKrishna, S., & Berto, F. (2020). Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Antiviral Properties of Herbal Materials. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 9(12), 1309. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9121309 species of ringworm.
TEA TREE
Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) has so many wonderful antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
Tea tree is very controversial as well as some say it is toxic to dogs, yet you will find it in many dog products such as shampoos. Such as one of my favorites below;
When administered correctly tea tree was effective at reducing the signs of dermatitis at a 10% solution of tea tree oil, as was noted in a study on dogs. 5Wynn, S. G., & Fougère, B. J. (2007). Veterinary Herbal Medicine: A Systems-Based Approach. Veterinary Herbal Medicine, 291–409. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-02998-8.50024-X
Usually, if a holistic veterinarian recommends tea tree, the strength is around 1% diluted. Small dogs and cats should stay away from this.
Whatever your situation is and how your want to go about treating it make sure that you discuss with your veterinarian first for the appropriate course of treatment for your specific situation.
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