Ringworm, more correctly called dermatophytosis,
is a contagious disease caused by an infection of the skin, fur and/or
nails with particular types of fungi. Despite its name, ringworm
has absolutely nothing to do with worms. The disease in people
can produce a characteristic raised ring, which to someone in the past,
must have looked like a worm underneath the skin.
"In some cases, a skin biopsy is necessary to definitively diagnose ringworm."
Who Is Most at Risk?
Ringworm fungi are found in almost
every environment, and any cat, dog or person, and many other species
of animals, can become infected if they come in contact with enough
of the fungal organisms or if their immune system is compromised in
some way. Cats, especially kittens, are most frequently
diagnosed with the disease. They also shed a lot of the ringworm
fungi when they are infected, so people or pets that have contact with
an infected cat or kitten are at an increased risk of developing the
disease.
The Signs of Ringworm
The most common symptoms of a ringworm
infection in cats and dogs include
- Hair loss
- Itchiness
- Flaky or crusty patches
of skin
- Brittle or misshapen nails
Ringworm Treatment
The clinical signs associated with
ringworm can also be seen with many other skin diseases. If your
pet has any of these symptoms, take him or her to the veterinarian.
Your vet may use a black light to identify which parts of your pet's
body are potentially infected and then will pluck some hairs and try
to grow the ringworm fungus in a special type of agar. This test
can take several weeks to complete, so in the meantime skin scrapings
to look for mites and cytological preparations to determine if bacterial
or yeast infections are present can help rule out other causes of your
pet's symptoms. In some cases, a skin biopsy is necessary
to definitively diagnose ringworm.
If your dog or cat's ringworm
is mild, medicated
shampoos or dips and may be all that is needed to eliminate
the infection. Shaving a pet with a long coat can help topical
medications better reach the skin and reduce the amount of fungus available
to be spread to other animals or people. In more severe cases,
a veterinarian will also prescribe oral anti-fungal drugs, such as griseofulvin
or itraconazole. For large dogs where cost may be an issue, ketoconazole can also be considered. The topical
flea preventative Program (lufenuron) may also help eliminate ringworm
but should not be used alone.
Treatment will need to continue for
several months and should not be stopped until follow-up cultures are
negative.
Preventing the Spread of Ringworm
Ringworm is very contagious, so animals
undergoing treatment need to be isolated, and owners should wear gloves
and wash their skin and clothes thoroughly after handling an infected
pet. Thoroughly vacuum rugs and upholstery and disinfect hard
surfaces with a 10% bleach solution to decrease the amount of ringworm
fungus in the home. This will reduce the chance that the disease
will spread to other individuals in the home or that a patient will
be reinfected after treatment is stopped.
Dogs and cats can also carry the ringworm
fungus on their bodies but not show any signs of the disease.
Your veterinarian may recommend screening all of the animals in a household
to determine if one of them is a carrier that could be responsible for
infecting people or pets.
The above is provided for information purposes only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of any condition.
This information does not cover all possible variables, conditions, reactions, or risks relating to any topic, medication, or product and should not
be considered complete. Certain products or medications may have risks and you should always consult your local veterinarian concerning the treatment of
your pet. Any trademarks are the property of their respective owners.