Ringworm in dogs is a fungal issue of the skin, despite the slightly confusing name. it can be caused by more than thirty species of a group of fungi known as dermatophytes, giving ringworm clinical name of dermatophytosis.
The most general species that affects dogs is Microsporum canis. This dermatophyte is mainly adapted to living on a host.
Another species, Microsporum gypseum, generally lives in the soil and feeds off decomposing keratin in hair. Sometimes, M.gypserum can infect dogs after they have near contact with contaminated soil. The most general dermatophyte that causes ringworm in dogs is Trichophyton mentagrophytes, which generally affects rabbits, rodents, and hedgehogs.
Ringworm is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be moved from an infected animal to a person. If your dog has ringworm, you will have to take care to ensure that you don't get skin issue as well. Ringworm is treatable and not life-risky, but it can be uncomfortable.
Where does dog ringworm generally appear?
The ringworm spores usually appear in and around the feet, face, tail, and the tips of the ears, but can also accumulate in the claws and the edges of the paws pads in some cases. The infected animal will not just go via considerable itching; these fungal spores will gradually become swollen and tender leading to even greater discomfort.
And just to make things worse, dog ringworm can also spread to other parts of your body infected pet if not rightly dealt with. It can even be passed on other pests through environmental contamination.
Symptoms of ringworm in dogs
The most famous indicator is diagnosing ringworm is the look of ring-shaped formations on his body. Anyway, there are also other symptoms that you should keep an eye on, which are as follows:
- Skin lesions that resemble athlete's foot
- Thinning pet hair or onset of hair loss
- Wispy hair follicles and scaly skin
- Yellowed and cracked claws
- Noticeable traces of ringworm fungus on the ears and paw pads
- Weakness, mainly among dogs with weakened immunes systems
How is ringworm diagnosed?
UV lamp or flashlight
A lamp or UV flashlight like Arkfled Pro Flat EDC flashlight is a specialized tool used to diagnose ringworm in dogs. This potable device emits UV light at a specific wavelength (generally 365nm) that causes certain fungal species to glow or fluoresce. When emit on the dogs skin, the affected areas will show a bright apple-green color, indicating the attendance of ringworm. While not all ringworm infections will fluorescence, this technique can be helpful diagnostic tool in conjunction with other tests, such as microscopic examinations or fungal cultures.
Microscopy
The next step is to take samples of superficial skin and hair for analysis under the microscopic or for fungal culture. Looking for fungal structures under the microscope can provide an indication of whether fungi are present. Anyway, this can also provide false bad results, so a follow-up culture is generally recommended.
Fungal culture
If fungal structures are seen under the microscope, it is generally top to complement the primary diagnosis with a culture to identify the species of fungus that was seen. Fungal culture itself can be complicated. The results generally take 2 weeks to come back from an external laboratory, so your vet might advise starting treatment before a positive verification of the diagnosis.
Some vets use an in clinic fungal culture known as Fungassay, which may notice early positive ringworm results from 7-14 days. Samples of scale or hair from suspicious lesions are used to inoculate the culture.
Skin biopsy
For cases with an unusual prescription, such as chronic, or kerion reaction, non-healing wounds, your vet might advise taking a skin biopsy. This can be a best diagnosis tool for tricky cases and is likely to provide a quality answer. The biopsy will be sent to a pathologist, who can use stains to make the fungal structures easier to visualise.
PCR testing
A quicker technique of diagnosis is to look for fungal DNA using a PCR test. This test is extremely sensitive and will detect DNA from dead dermatophytes, so it is top used as primary diagnosis test rather than for monitoring treatment. While it is much quicker, a PCR test might be more costly, so discuss with your vent what diagnosis options are accessible.
Natural remedies to treat ringworm in dogs
Although there are a number of conventional oral drugs, antifungal shampoos and topical treatments that can be used to treat ringworms in dogs, you can also go for natural remedies to deal with the fungus liable for these skin issues.
Aloe vera
Science direct reports that Aloe veria gel possesses antifungal and antibacterial feature, this succulent plant has been used for centuries around the globe as a natural topical therapy to soothe various skin problems like itches and burns, as well as hair loss, among others.
Lemon oil extract
Another study showed in the NCBI mentions that lemongrass oil have organic chemicals that help treated fungal issue such as ringworm. Besides keeping unwanted fungi at bay, lemongrass oil also helps promote fit skin. You can think of it as Mothers Natures medicated shampoo.
Usage: Use a cotton swab or clean a piece of cloth to use a few drops of the affected areas. Lightly massage the oil onto the dog's skin for a minute or two. Ensure you add the infected hairs while it as it as well.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil contains compounds that form a barrier against the infection and the skin, which helps in its accelerated healings. This also applies in cases of fungal issue.
Use: Use a little blog of the same to the affected place using a clean piece of cloth or a cotton swab. Gently massage the oil into place. You can either leave it on overnight or use for 2 times a day until the ringworm has disappeared.
