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Ringworm is an annoying, highly contagious fungal
disorder that is curable. The problem with this disorder
is that there are 35 different species of ringworm that
can affect cats, dogs and be transmitted to humans
as well. The most common form is Mircosporum
Canis which accounts for the majority of ringworm cases.
Ringworm is caused from exposure to the dermatophytes
from spores present in the environment, mainly from other
animals that are infected with it. Your pet could pick it up
from anywhere...boarding kennels, breeding kennels,
someone else's home. The spores can live in the environment
for up to 13 months and are very hard to get rid of, so
reinfection of animals is also a common problem. As well,
children are highly susceptible to these infections, so it is
very important to rid the household of this fungus as soon
as possible.
This disorder usually appears as a lesion upon the skin
of an animal or human and requires medical attention. It
looks like a rapidly growing circular patch of broken hair
in most cases. The patch may look somewhat inflamed
and appear to have "dandruff" like flakes on it. However,
sometimes it is very hard to spot ringworm, especially
in longhaired cats or dogs. The fungus can also affect
a cat's claws where they become roughened and pitted.
A veterinarian can usually diagnose ringworm by using
an ultraviolet light. In some cases however, this isn't enough
and a sample of hair or scrapping of the skin is needed for
further diagnosis. Treatment is basically in the form of
antifungal pills and/or topical medications such as creams
or medicated shampoos.
The major problem is getting rid of the spores in your home
so they don't reinfect your pets. Most spores are shed
through the fur into the carpet, so occasional "dip" baths
may be required to kill the spores that may linger on the
fur of cats and dogs. As well, it is recommended that you
destroy all pet bedding, blankets, brushes/combs,
scratching posts and other items used by the pets. Any
items that cannot be thrown out need to be soaked thoroughly
in a solution of hot water and Betadine or Iodophor for one
hour. They should then be rinsed in a mixture of water and
...5% chlorine bleach. Drying the items outdoors in sunlight
will also help. Vacuum your house thoroughly and be sure
to immediately dispose of the vacuum bag. Then have all
carpets and upholstery steam-cleaned and wash all walls
with a mixture of water and chlorine bleach. If you have an
air filter in your home, you must also dispose of the filter.
Although ringworm is a mild disorder, it can cause a
tremendous amount of problems to a household. If you
continue to have problems with reinfection, please consult
your veterinarian for additional solutions or information that
he/she may be able to provide.
About The Author: Rose Smith, Copyright 2003.
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