Ringworm Cat & Dog Signs
A bad case of ringworm on a dog or cat isn't hard to miss. It's not a worm, but a fungus, and can cause bald, flaky, sometimes circular patches on your pet's head, ears, paws and back. In a case that's not so severe, signs of infection can sometimes be difficult to detect - perhaps there may be only a few broken hairs. And some animals can carry the fungus and show no symptoms at all. But whether the infection is obvious or hard to spot, ringworm is easily transmitted and highly contagious to other pets and humans, too.
Cat & Dog Ringworm Treatment
Because ringworm can spread over the entire body and is contagious to humans, diagnosis and treatment should always be supervised by a veterinarian. Your pet's doctor can use an ultraviolet light to diagnose infection, perform a culture or may examine affected hair under a microscope. If your pet has been diagnosed with ringworm, you will need to keep the infected patches clean. Some veterinarians recommend washing the area with an antiseptic soap that contains povidone iodine or chlorhexidine. You should also apply an anti-fungal cream twice a day. To prevent the infection from spreading from animal to animal, veterinarians recommend giving baths to all the pets in the household. Your veterinarian can prescribe an anti-fungal shampoo, or may recommend an over-the-counter formula. Once you've lathered him up, let your pet sit about 5 minutes before rinsing. This will allow the anti-fungal action to take effect. If topical treatment proves unsuccessful, your pet's doctor may prescribe a strong oral medication that will kill the fungus.
If your pet has a lot of hair, it's a good idea to trim the fur around the flaky patches. An electric trimmer works best. This will make the area easier to treat and will help stop the fungus from gaining more ground.
Human Exposure to Dog & Cat Ringworm
Remember to wash your hands after you treat or touch your pet. Use a mild bleach solution, followed by plain soap and water. The patches will clear up in a bout one to three weeks, but you may want to keep your infected pet separated from other animals in the household in the meantime. And finally, get out the vacuum cleaner! Ringworm can live on the hair that your pet sheds, so regular vacuuming can reduce the risk of reinfestation. You will need to change the bag frequently.
