What Are Ringworm in Cats and Dogs
📝 Summary
Owners are surely familiar with ringworm, a skin problem whose treatment is slow and which can infect the owner too. Although it is the most common skin disease in cats and dogs, many fur babies are abandoned because of it!
1 Overview
What Are Ringworm in Cats and Dogs
Ringworm is a skin disease caused by fungal infection. Four fungi can cause cat ringworm, the most common being Microsporum canis.
When immunity drops, nutrition is poor, or the living environment is damp and unclean, ringworm can break out; it spreads through contact, dust, and clothing.
It seems minor, but once infected the treatment period is long and it easily recurs; without timely treatment it can spread to other body parts and may infect humans.
What Symptoms Appear After Infection
The mildest signs are the hair loss and dandruff mentioned above, along with crusting and matting of the hair and broken hairs at the roots.
Besides this, the most common sign is a ring-shaped scaly patch, often on the cat’s head, chest, forelimbs, and back, and on the dog’s head, ears, limbs, and tail.
The bridge of the nose and temples are common early sites. Severe cases show papular dermatitis (raised bumps) and large areas of hair loss. The simplest check is a Wood’s lamp exam: infected areas glow fluorescent apple-green under the light.
Ringworm in humans is similar to the ring-shaped scaly patches in pets, but also shows ring-shaped rashes or blisters; intense itching makes the infected area spread.
How to Treat Ringworm in Cats and Dogs
For ordinary ringworm, handle it in steps:
1. Clip hair in the affected area
2. Use antifungal skin medication
3. Medicated bath
4. Disinfect the home
If an owner is accidentally infected, use clotrimazole or ketoconazole ointment and similar antifungal creams as directed; it usually clears in 2-3 weeks.
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