Ringworm
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Our guide has been authored by qualified veterinarians, but should not be taken as substitute for medical advice or professional veterinary consultation. If your pet displays any unusual symptoms, we strongly advise seeking guidance from a veterinarian
Understanding Ringworm in dogs
Ringworm, also known as dermatophytosis, is a fungal infection that affects the hair and skin of cats and dogs. It can also be transmitted to other animals and humans. Fungal spores are present all around us – in the air, on the skin, and contaminated objects or surfaces such as food bowls, furniture, bedding, and more. Most of them do not cause disease, but under certain conditions, some of them can cause various skin problems. In the case of ringworm, two main types of fungi cause the disease: Microsporum and Trichophyton.
Suki's story
Anthony and Gabriella adopted their adorable puppy Suki from the street. After giving him a much-needed bath, they noticed he had several bald patches, which they initially attributed to his previous struggle with fleas and ticks. However, when Anthony developed a red circle on his hand around the same time, they began to suspect a deeper connection between the two. Concerned, they took Suki to the vet for a thorough examination. The vet found that Suki glowed under UV light, like a firefly. The diagnosis was clear - Suki had ringworm. Anthony and Gabriella received a treatment plan for Suki, including a special shampoo, ointment, and syrup. After diligently following the vet's instructions for two weeks, Suki's bald patches disappeared.
Ringworm's Causes: Uncovering Triggers
- Weakened immune system: Cats and dogs with a weakened immune system are more susceptible to ringworm. Conditions such as malnutrition, stress, chronic diseases, or the use of certain medications can compromise their immune system and make them more susceptible to infections. This is also why the disease is very common in stray cats.
- Young age: Due to their developing immune system and delicate skin, puppies and kittens are more susceptible to ringworm.
- Environmental conditions: Dogs kept in crowded or unsanitary conditions, such as shelters, kennels, or pet stores, are at higher risk of developing ringworm.
Recognizing Ringworm: Signs and Symptoms
- Small bald spots: On the fur - the hair inside the lesions may be dry or brittle, and appear thinned or moth-eaten. Peeling of the skin and dandruff may also appear in the affected areas.
- Location of lesions: Lesions can appear anywhere on the body, but are more common on the head, tips of the ears, and limbs.
- Peeling of the nose: Sometimes other skin lesions that are not on the skin may also occur.
It’s important to note that these signs are not specific to ringworm only and can also appear in other skin diseases. Therefore, it is not possible to diagnose based on appearance alone, and further tests are required.
Ringworm Diagnosis: How it's Identified
Ringworm can be challenging to diagnose because the clinical signs can match many other diseases. This is why veterinarians use a variety of tools and methods to diagnose this disease, in addition to the characteristic clinical signs. One of the most prominent methods is a Wood’s lamp examination – a special ultraviolet lamp that allows the detection of certain types of fungi that glow under this light and appear greenish or bluish. However, the lamp cannot detect all types of fungi, so a negative result does not necessarily rule out ringworm. In addition, the veterinarian may take cultures – that is, a sample of hair, scales, or skin scrapings from an affected area and transfer it to a special medium for “incubation” for several days. A change in the color of the medium followed by colony growth confirms the presence of a skin fungus. One of the most sensitive tests is a PCR looking for the DNA of the fungus.
Treating Ringworm: Options and Approaches
A fungal infection can be very stubborn and can take at least 6-8 weeks to treat, and sometimes even 3-4 months. The treatment is carried out in two ways:
- Local treatment: Anti-fungal shampoo or ointments are applied directly to the affected areas.
- Systemic treatment: Antifungal medications are given by mouth to eliminate the infection from the inside. These medications indeed have side effects, but they are usually mild and go away after the treatment is stopped. In any case, to be on the safe side, veterinarians will usually recommend interval treatment – i.e., stopping for a few days at a time, along with monitoring liver function in the case of long-term treatment.
Ringworm: Surprising Facts
Fungi are a completely separate kingdom - they are neither animals nor plants and it is estimated that there are between 2 and 4 million different species of fungi in the world. But you can relax - only a few dozen of them are contagious to animals and humans.
Mushrooms have complex relationships with bacteria on the skin, so they can sometimes break out due to antibiotic treatment. The world's first antibiotic treatment (penicillin) was derived from a fungus!
It's worth knowing that dogs and cats can also be carriers of skin fungi, which reside on their fur without external signs on the skin. This doesn't mean they can't infect others.
Vet's Tip: Dealing with Ringworm
Ringworm is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted between animals and humans. If a cat or dog has ringworm, they may also infect family members, especially children or those with weakened immune systems, so caution is important in these cases. When treating an affected animal, it’s very important to wear gloves beforehand and wash hands to prevent infection. However, it’s also important not to panic. Often when humans get a ringworm, the immediate culprit is usually the dog or cat, but there are many other ways to become infected. If you want to find out whether indeed the pet is the carrier even though it has no lesions, you can perform what’s called a “skin scraping” – passing a sterile toothbrush over the fur and culturing the material.
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Latest in Research and Treatments
The biggest limitation in diagnosing fungal infections is the time it takes to get answers from cultures, as well as the possibility of contamination by external fungi from the environment. There is currently an advanced research effort to develop molecular tests such as LAMP. These tests specifically detect fungal DNA and are much faster than culture testing – recent studies have shown over 95% accuracy in detection in less than an hour!
dogs breeds Prone to Ringworm
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