Ringworms

Question
How do w know if a pet has ringworms? Recently my 2 sons and myself have had ringworms. If so what v=can you prescribe for the pet?

Answer
Hi Patty!

Just because your pet's getting balder doesn't mean he's suddenly getting olde.In fact,if his coat is starting to resemble the putting green on the 18th hole,it could be due to the fungal infection called ringworm.
   Dogs and cats of all ages may occasionally get ringworm,a trpe of fungus that causes ringlike,flaky,bald patches on the head,ears,paws and back.It can also infect the nails.
   While ringworm often goes away on its own within one to three months,in the meantime it can make your pet uncomfortably itchy as well as ugly.Worse,it's contagious-both to pets and people.To clear up the infection fast,here's what vets recommend.

                For Dogs And Cats ONLY

Trimming hair aroung the bald spots will help prevent the fungus from spreading and also make the area easier to treat.
   Depending on how fast your pet's hair grows,you'll probably have to repeat the trim every week to two weeks until the infection has cleared up.Using scissors is okay,but it's better to use an electric trimmer.I can't tell you how many animals I see with cuts inficted by
well-meaning owners.

Since ringworm thrives on hair both on and off the pet,be sure to clean up well after giving your pet a haircut.

To keep the "rings" clean and infection-free,wash them daily with an over-the-counter antiseptic soap containing povidone iodine (such as Betadine Skin Cleanser) or chlorhexidine (such as Nolvasan).This will help prevent minor fungul problems from turning into a more serious bacterial infection.

There are a number of over-the-counter antifungul creams,liquids and ointments that are very good for controllig ringworm.For the treatment to be effective,rub a small amount of the medication into the skin twice a day.Ask your vet which medication will work best for your pet.

To eliminate ringworm and prevent it from spreading,wash your pets with an antifungul shampoo.This will not only kill any fungus that's already present,it will also help prevent further infection.So even if only one pet in the family is infected,it's a good idea to shampoo all your pets.
   Soak your pet throughly-either in the tub or outside using a hose.Then work up a good lather with the shampoo.Wait about 15 minutes to give it time to work,then rinse wll.

To prevent ringworm from spreading,regular grooming is very important.Brushing or combing your pet at least once a day will help remove fungul spores before they can cause further infection.
   To prevent reinfecting your pet,however,it's important to clean the brush or comb throughly after grooming by dunking it into a solution made with 1 part bleach to 32 parts water.Dip combs,scissors and clipper blades into the solution several times,then set them aside to air-dry.Brushes take longer to disinfect,so allow them to soak for several minutes.

While pet problems usually aren't passed to people,ringworm is a contagious exception.So until your pet is infection-free,keep the cuddling to a minimum.And always wash your hands well after petting or treating him.
   Soap and water alone won't kill the fungus,so it's a good idea to first douse your hands with a mild bleach solution,then wash that off with regular soap and water.

Sinse ringworm in readily spread from pet to pet,it's a good idea to keep your infected friend away from your other pets until the "rings" clear up- or better yet,until you get a clean bill of health from your vet.

Sinse ringworm survives even on the hair that's not on your pet,vacuuuming the house often will help reduce the risk of reinfection.Make sure you vacuum well and get all the hair that's been shed.

Draping an old sheet or blanket over your pet's bedding-or on carpets,furniture or anyplace else that he calls home- makes it easier to prevent "contagious" hair from spreading.
   Every day or two,scoop up the covers and wash them in hot water.For extra protection,add a mild bleach solution to the wash.

                  When To See The Vet
While many pets with ringworm experience nothing worse than a bald spot or two,sometimes the infection can spread over the entire body,causing large,red,weepy sores.
   If this happens,see your vet right away.Your pet may need griseofulvin (Fulvicin P/G tablets)-a powerful prescription drug,taken orally,that attacks fungal infections from the inside out.
   Griseofulvin does more than stop infections in progress.Because it's actually absorbed into the growing hair,it also helps prevent infection (or reinfection) from occuring.

You can go to google.ca  under these search words

           "Ringworms in pets"
           "Ringworms in cats"
           "Ringworms in dogs"

Or you type in any other search words you would like.After you type in the search word,click the search button.Then a whole bunch of links will come up.Each link will have a lot of information for you.You can just click on the links you want!

I hope this answers your question!If you have anymore questions,please feel free to ask!
Nicole