What Is Ringworm Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment And Prevention
Some types of ringworm can be treated with over-the-counter medications, but other forms require prescription antifungal medication.
Medication Options
Treatment of ringworm depends on the location of the infection. Nonprescription antifungal creams, lotions, or powders that can treat tinea pedis and tinea cruris include:
- Clotrimazole
- Miconazole
- Terbinafine
Prescription antifungal medications that can treat ringworm on the scalp include:
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Tinea cruris can typically be treated with over-the-counter topical medications. Dermatologists also advise wearing breathable, cotton underwear. To relieve the symptoms of jock itch, the AAD recommends applying a cool, wet washcloth to the area for 20 to 30 minutes two to six times a day. Its important to use a clean washcloth each time and to use it only on the itch, and to wash it in hot, soapy water before using it again.
Prevention of Ringworm
Ringworm can be challenging to prevent, but there are a number of simple steps you can take to reduce your risk, or to prevent the infection from spreading to other areas of your body or to other people.
A Brief On Ringworm Infection
This infection in dogs is commonly called ringworm because the signature physical appearance of a ringworm infection is circular red lesions that look like rings. It was never associated with any worms . Ringworm in dogs, as in other pets and humans alike is a parasitic, fungal infection of the skin. The fungus lives and grows in the upper layer of the skin and in the dog’s hair follicles.
Occasionally, it can also occur in the nails. It is not a life-threatening disease, but it’s highly contagious and requires a visit to a veterinarian. It is a superficial infection and doesnt spread over the entire body it usually stays contained to several areas of the dog’s body. However, in dogs with compromised immune systems , it can spread quite extensively .
Ringworm in dogs spreads through contact, which is why it is important to keep a good hygiene in the house. Frequent vacuuming of your infected dogs hair is the key to preventing the spread of the ringworm infection to other members of the household, be it other pets, your family or yourself.
Possible ringworm infections are also why you should avoid contact with homeless and stray animals. Many of them are infected and can in turn infect you, or at the very least, you can carry a ringworm infection home. The fungal spores of the ringworm infection can remain infectious for up to 18 months, so infected hairs can be dangerous for you and your pet for quite a long time .
Ringworm Treatment And Prevention
The different types of over the counter ringworm treatment for dogs vary, so it is best to speak with a veterinarian first before selecting atreatment option. Topical ringworm treatments for dogs include Cruex cream, Desenex cream, Lotrimin cream, lotion, and solution), miconazole , ketoconazole , and terbinafine . Medicated shampoos such as Selsun Blue or anti-fungal shampoos that contain ketoconazole 2% or the newerciclopriox are effective in treating mild cases of ringworm.
If ringworm is left untreated for a long period of time, once diagnosed, your vet may prescribe griseofulvin , terbinafine, itraconazole , or fluconazole to be used in combination with over the counter topical treatments or shampoos.
To prevent ringworm in pets, monitor your pets eating habits closely.You should never feed pets table scraps or people food but if you must, make sure foods are cooked thoroughly. In addition, by any means necessary, keep your pet away from discarded food on the ground outside and at parks and keep him away from pet feces and litter boxes. Finally,always give your dog pure drinking water and bathe your pet regularly.
Tip: Although ringworm in dogs is common, it is still an unpleasant and highly contagious condition. Ringworm is easily transmitted from dogto human and between dogs and cats. It is important to always wash yourhands thoroughly after handling your pet or anyone elses.
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How Can Humans And Pets Catch Ringworm
Ringworm can be caught from a variety of sources ranging from the soil, other people and also from your pets. It is one of the few infections that can be transferred from animals to humans. As the fungi can live on stray hair follicles and skin cells, it is quite easily transmitted. One species of ringworm is a soil organism and can be picked up spending time in the garden. If you know your pet or another person has ringworm, avoid the following:
- Skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or animal
- Sharing of towels, clothing or sports gear
- Contact with infected household items, such as a brush, pet clothing, towels and furniture.
How To Stop Ringworm Spreading
Do
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start treatment as soon as possible
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wash towels and bedsheets regularly
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keep your skin clean and wash your hands after touching animals or soil
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regularly check your skin if you have been in contact with an infected person or animal
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take your pet to the vet if they might have ringworm
Dont
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do not share towels, combs or bedsheets with someone who has ringworm
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do not scratch a ringworm rash this could spread it to other parts of your body
Page last reviewed: 26 October 2020Next review due: 26 October 2023
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What To Expect After Ringworm Treatment
Even after a successful treatment of ringworm in dogs, the infection can still have bothersome results for quite a while. It is not rare for animals to be clinically cured and clean, but remain fungal culture positive. In other words, your dog could still be a ringworm carrier and therefore, be contagious to other animals and people.
For this reason it is strongly recommended to perform additional fungal cultures at the end of your dogs treatment. If positive, you’ll need to continue treating your pet until there are one or two negative fungal cultures. Fungal cultures should be taken weekly or biweekly, as your vet prescribes.
For animals that are receiving griseofulvin , complete blood counts should also be performed weekly or biweekly. If your dog has received ketoconazole or itraconazole , blood work to monitor the liver may also be recommended.
Proper treatment and proper post-treatment are near-guaranteed to completely cure your dog and allow you to return to your regular, ringworm-free life.
What Is Ringworm And What Causes It
Ringworm is the common name given to a fungal infection of the superficial layers of the skin, hair, and nails. Ringworm infections can occur in humans and in all domesticated species of animals. The name comes from the classical appearance of the round, red, raised ‘ring’ marking the boundary of inflammatory lesions in people infected with the disease. The common name of ringworm is somewhat misleading, in that it is not an infection caused by a worm, and the infected areas are not always ring-shaped. The fungi responsible for ringworm infections belong to a specialized group known as dermatophytes, so the medical name for this disease is dermatophytosis.
There are a number of distinct species of dermatophytes. Some species of dermatophytes are species specific, meaning that they will only infect one species, whereas others can be spread between different species of animals, or from animals to humans. The three most common fungal species that may cause ringworm in dogs are Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. These three species of ringworm are zoonotic, meaning they can also infect humans.
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Causes Of Ringworm In Dogs
The fungi that cause ringworm can remain dormant for up to 18 months. This cements the fact that diligent care must be taken if you learn that your family pet has ringworm.
- Dogs and humans with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to dermatophytosis
- Spores can be found in soil
- Fleas can transmit ringworm
- Contact with contaminated items can spread ringworm
- Direct contact with the fungus on an animal or person is a source of transmission
Signs Your Dog Has Ringworm
Ringworm doesnt infect every dog whos exposed to it. Typically, its hard for a ringworm infection to take hold in animals and humans with healthy skin and a robust immune system,Allison Brys, DVM, co-medical director of VCA Sawmill Animal Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, says. But some factors can make dogs more vulnerable to ringworm.
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What Are Fungal Infections
Although fungal infections are less common than either bacterial or viral infections, these infections can be just as serious. Fungal infections may occur due to contact with other animals, from the environment, or as a result of the overgrowth of fungi that are naturally present in and on your dog’s own body.
There are two main categories of fungal infections that your dog could be diagnosed with, systematic fungal infections which affect your dog’s major body systems, and localized fungal infections that are typically seen on your dog’s skin or external features.
Causes Of The Disease Stages Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Of Lichen Experienced Neurologists In Moscow Clinic Of The Central Clinical Hospital Of The Russian Academy Of Sciences
Shingles has vivid and painful symptoms. Most often, the disease is detected in the elderly. Unfavorable ecology contributes to the development of infection in young people with weak immunity. Shingles often develops against the background of oncological processes, especially in people with weakened immunity .
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Can Other Animals Get Ringworm
Cats can get ringworm, too, and the fungus responsible for most cases of ringworm in dogs, Microsporum canis, is also responsible for 98 percent of ringworm in cats. Since many dog owners also have cats in the home, this means that the risk of the fungus spreading from cats to dogs and dogs to cats is relatively high.
Most species of domestic animals can get ringworm, including livestock, so talk to your vet about the risk of spreading ringworm between your pets and other animals.
Which Doctor Should I Contact With This Disease
You should first contact a therapist, then an infectious disease specialist or dermatologist.If the form of herpes is severe, the help of a neurologist is needed, in case of eye damage an ophthalmologist.
We recommend making an appointment at the neurological department of the clinic of the Russian Academy of Sciences . The best doctors will examine you, study the signs of the disease, determine the causative agent of the infection, diagnose, consult, issue clinical recommendations and prescribe effective treatment.
Do not postpone your visit to a specialist! Specialists of the neurological department of the Central Clinical Hospital of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow remind: any symptoms that disturb you are a reason for consulting a neurologist.In this case, the doctor will be able to recognize and stop the disease at an early stage, until the situation worsens and becomes irreversible. You can make an appointment with a neurologist by calling the clinic, as well as using the form on the website.
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How Is A Ringworm In Dogs Diagnosed
Properly diagnosing ringworm in your dog as soon as possible is extremely important both for your pet and for yourself. Other than simply observing the typical symptoms of ringworm with a naked eye, your veterinarian will perform several different tests to ensure a proper diagnosis.
They’ll use an ultraviolet light, called Woods Lamp, to get a better look at your dogs hair and skin. Your vet can also perform a microscopic examination of your dogs hair, perform a fungal culture from your dogs skin or even get a skin biopsy. All this is important not just to determine that your dog does have ringworm infection , but to diagnose the exact type and severity of the ringworm infection .
Different types of ringworm in dogs require different treatments. Once the ringworm infection has been properly diagnosed, it is time for its immediate treatment.
Essential Oil Antibiotic: What Works
Essential oils are great for fighting bacteria and can even help with behavior issues like anxiety.
Always use pure essential oils, making sure there are no additives. Essential oils need a carrier oil like coconut oil, and should not be put on the skin directly. As with most natural remedies, only use the amount recommended to prevent any negative side effects or harm.
Essential oils are powerful, concentrated version of herbs and plants, a single drop goes a long way. Certain essential oils and herbs should not be used on dogs and cats, so always do research first. They can be used to treat ear infections and can be used alongside conventional antibiotics to reduce ear pain. Calendula and hypericum oil can be used directly in the ear.
Some essential oils have great antifungal properties too and can be used to treat yeast infections on the skin and ears, like lavender and oregano oil. Lavender oil is also great for preventing fleas and ticks, which carry Lyme Disease.
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How Does A Dog Get A Yeast Infection
Yeast exists naturally on the dogs body and usually does not cause an issue unless your dog has allergies or an immune condition.
Yeast dermatitis, for example, is very common in dogs and is caused by the fungus Malassezia pachydermatis. According to VCA, this yeast is normally found on the skin, but its abnormal overgrowth can cause dermatitis or inflammation of the skin. This can create an environment in which bacteria can thrive and reproduce, creating what veterinarians refer to as a secondary infection.
This kind of yeast infection is not contagious and is often caused by the production of excess skin oils. In floppy-eared dogs, an overgrowth of yeast produced by a warm, moist environment can cause ear infections of both the middle and inner ears. Dogs with yeast infections often have chronic ear infections, and the yeast will give off a distinct musty odor.
Other fungal infections occur when fungal spores in the environment come into contact with your dog via inhalation or through the skin. There are many different types of these external fungi, including blastomycosis, a fungus that affects the lungs, or ringworm, which is caused by a fungus called dermatophytosis.
Symptoms of a yeast infection include hair loss, redness and itchiness, and thickened, crusty skin. Fungal infections may also produce an unpleasant odor caused by the bacteria breaking down the skins fats and oils.
How To Treat An Infection
If young people who do not have chronic diseases are sick, then treatment is not carried out. The disease will completely disappear within a month. To rule out pain with herpes, your doctor may prescribe pain relievers. For intense pain, pain relievers are used along with antiviral drugs. The use of non-steroidal drugs is possible. Prescribe antiherpetic drugs in tablets, creams, ointments or intramuscular injections.
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General Information And Causes
Despite its name, ringworm is not actually a worm and it isn’t always ring shaped! It’s a fungal infection that causes raised, crusty, hairless patches of skin, often in a ring-like pattern.
Ringworm doesnt only infect dogs. It also affects, and spreads between humans and other animals such as cats, rodents, horses and cattle.
Ringworm is contagious. It can spread through direct contact, but can also live on surfaces such as bedding, towels and grooming equipment for up to two years.
Mild ringworm infections occasionally clear without treatment, but medical treatment is necessary for dogs with more serious infections. Puppies, older dogs, and dogs that are otherwise unwell are most at risk of serious ringworm infections.
A dog with ringworm
Ringworm symptoms in dogs include:
- Patches of raised, red, crusty skin
- Mildly itchy skin
Ringworm Treatment: 6 Natural Remedies + How To Prevent It
Before we talk about the specifics of ringworm treatment, I want to clear up one of the top ringworm misconceptions that ringworm is caused by a worm. The truth is that ringworm is not caused by a worm of any kind. What causes ringworm then? Ringworm is a skin rash caused by a fungus. Another common ringworm myth is that you cant catch it from someone, but thats totally wrong. Ringworm is in fact a very, very contagious fungal infection that can be passed without even having any actual physical contact with an infected person.
There are actually a few types of ringworm. Ringworm of the scalp, for example, is an extremely contagious infection. Toddlers and school-age children are most at risk for developing scalp ringworm. Did you know that jock itch and athletes foot are also forms of ringworm?
Its hard to say which natural ringworm treatment is the absolute best ringworm treatment. Thankfully, there are a lot of options when it comes to ringworm home treatment. There are also natural options for dog ringworm treatment and cat ringworm treatment. For this article, Im going to focus on treatment for ringworm in humans when the fungal infection is on the body.
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A Penicillin Alternative Best Natural Antibiotic
Severe infections may require conventional antibiotics, but there are some natural antibiotics for dogs that can aid the healing process and be an alternative for less severe infections.
Colloidal silver has great antibacterial properties and taken orally, used topically, or injected. According to VetInfo.com, it can be used to treat bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
Chapter : Treating Ringworm
In most cases, pet animals spontaneously recover from ringworm within about 3 months. Awaiting self-cure is certainly a reasonable choice in a single animal household with no young children or immunocompromised adults where contagion is not a major concern. However, in a shelter environment or foster situation, a more rapid resolution is highly desirable. Reducing environmental contamination is just as important as treatment directed towards speeding recovery of affected animals.
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