Many dogs develop ringworm over the course of their lives.Dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors and cats that have ringworm are most likely to pick up the infections.Ringworm is dangerous for dogs and can easily transfer to humans.It is important to be vigilant for signs of ringworm in your dog and to seek veterinary attention to prevent the condition from spreading.
Step 1: There are signs of irritation and itching in the body.
These are the first signs of ringworm.These symptoms show that you need to inspect the dog more closely.
Step 2: Look at the dog's skin.
If you suspect your dog has a skin infection, you need to inspect all of the affected areas.You need the dog's fur to see the skin.Your attention should be on the areas that the dog was itching, as well as the spots that it had been bitten on.If you suspect an animal has ringworm, you need to wash your hands after handling it.
Step 3: There are bald patches where the hair has stopped growing.
This can happen on the head, ears, paws, and forearms.Is this patch circular?Do they have a bright red rim?The likelihood of ringworm increases if the answer to these two questions is yes.
Step 4: You can watch affected areas for a few days.
If you see areas that seem to be irritated, keep an eye on them.Continue to observe the situation and see how the dog's condition develops, as you may be unsure if ringworm is the culprit immediately.It's a good idea to keep the dog away from you while you make up your mind.In one room with minimal soft furnishings, keep him or her away from other pets.This will make it easier to vacuum the room.If the dog has ringworm, it's a good idea to restrict his access to other pets so that he doesn't spread it to others.Be on the lookout for insect bights or a more generalized rash that doesn't have a circular shape.It would require a very different course of treatment if these were indications of an allergic reaction.Ringworm infections are often the result of weakened immune systems, while generalized rash can be caused by over- active immunity.
Step 5: The growth of inflammation should be watched.
It is likely to be ringworm if the lesions become bigger and more inflammatory.To treat the condition, you will need to get your pet checked out by a vet and get anti-fungal medication.
Step 6: Take your dog to the doctor.
If you suspect your pet has ringworm, you should take it to the vet.A variety of methods can be used to confirm the presence of ringworm.
Step 7: Understand what your vet is doing when he or she uses a lamp.
The Wood's lamp has ultraviolet bulbs and a magnifying lens.The bulbs are allowed to warm for 10 minutes after the lamp is turned on.In a dark room, the animal is examined by shining the Woods Lamp onto the suspect areas and using a magnifying lens.The ringworm glows in the presence of ultraviolet light.Ringworm is present if this happens.If you want to double check your vet's findings, you can send a sample to a lab for species identification.Only a small percentage of ringworm species fluoresce in this way.A negative on the Wood's Lamp doesn't mean the animal is clear.This is a good way to get a quick positive, but not a conclusive negative.
Step 8: Understand what the vet is looking for when he or she examines hair.
A quick result can be obtained by plucking hairs from the edge of the affected area and examining them under a microscope.It is possible to see the ringworm in the hair shaft with high magnification.
Step 9: If all else fails, your vet will do a culture.
You can get a definitive answer from a fungal culture.A sterile brush is rubbed over the affected area by the doctor.The head of the brush is pressed against a culture medium and sealed to see if it grows.The "in house" test is used by many vets.This shows that ringworm is present.It takes an average of 4 - 5 days for the fungus to grow and cause a color change, although the test is not considered negative until a full 2 weeks have passed.
Step 10: Ringworm should be treated.
If your dog is found to have ringworm, your vet will prescribe an anti-fungal medication.While being treated, keep your dog isolated, as the infection could still spread to other animals and even to humans.The Elizabethan collar is used to make sure that your dog cannot ingest any medication.
Step 11: Ringworm is a disease that can be treated.
It is not an outbreak of worms or bugs.There are two species of fungus that are responsible for ringworm infections.This knowledge will help you understand how the disease can be spread and how to identify it.
Step 12: Understand what ringworm looks like.
Ringworm leaves marks on the surface of the skin.There is only a small patch of hair loss in the early stages of infections.The body rejects hair that is damaged due to the growth of the fungus down the hair shaft.The skin irritation can cause itching, but it can also lead to hair loss in the affected region.
Step 13: Ringworm can be a problem for a dog.
Immune health of the animal is a factor that contributes to infections.Ringworm can affect animals with suppressed immune systems and is most common in puppies and older animals.Dogs under stress or taking medication can be vulnerable.The immune system keeps the flora and fauna of the skin in check.If the immune system isn't fighting fit, the fungus can grow and cause a full on infection.Ringworm is usually caused by the fungi that cause it, but contact with an especially heavy concentration of spores can increase the likelihood of infections.Other animals have higher concentrations of heavy concentrations.If your dog is healthy but gets ringworm, it's probably because it was around another animal that had the disease.Ringworm is very infectious and the hairs that are shed are a major source of infections for people and pets.If you want to prevent the spread of the disease, you have to clean up all the fur from the pet that has been bitten.