The Dog Spot
Dog Ringworm Article
This is a selection made from among articles on Dog Ringworm. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.
Dog Ringworm
from: Kyle BesserIf you suddenly notice a bald spot on your dog's coat, chances are it is not just because he is getting older. Sudden hair loss in dogs could indicate a health problem, one of which is the presence of ringworm. Although your dog may catch ringworm from time to time, he may experience nothing worse than a bald spot and mild itchiness.
Ringworm creates ring shaped, flaky, bald patches on a dog's head, ears, back, nails, and paws. Although the name ringworm sounds like some sort of a curled worm, it is actually a type of fungus that is similar to athlete's foot. Ringworm can be easily seen and looks very similar to a ripple that forms when you throw a stone in a pond. The growth begins at a middle point and gradually spreads out in a ring shape. As the fungus grows in the skin cells and hair, the skin may become irritated, reddened and thickened, and the hairs may break off leaving course stubble behind.
Ringworm is contagious to humans, especially children, and other animals. The extensive spread of this parasite could indicate that your pet's health is not doing well. Actually, it is usually the sick, stressed, and weakened dogs that acquire serious infestation. Ringworm that spreads throughout the body is a very serious issue that signifies a severely low immune system.
Unless your dog has a low immune system, ringworm normally goes away on its own within one to three months. In the meantime, you may still want to relieve the itchiness and discomfort associated with this parasite and also reduce the odds of transmission to humans and other animals.
To effectively treat ringworm, the first thing you must do is clip the hair around the area of the dog's bare spot up to about one half inch around it. You may need to have someone help you keep your dog still or preoccupied to prevent you from accidentally injuring the skin. Clipping the hair will reduce the chances of spreading the ringworm by confining the infection to that area and also make it easier for application of the treatment.
Carefully dispose of the infected hair that you remove. Burn it if possible. Ringworm can still feed on the hair even after it is cut off the dog and is still contagious on contact. Vacuum the area where you did the clipping to catch loose hairs. You also need to vacuum carefully and regularly if your pet has ringworm. Wash bedding, dishes, utensils, and anything else the dog has contact with using soap and hot water. Always wash your hands properly after touching the dog.
Related Articles for Dog Ringworm
Dog-Parasites Online News
No relevant info was found on this topic.