What Does Ringworm Look Like On A Dog? Save Your Dog Now

Not only inside the body, like parvovirus, but canines also get skin infections easily, like ringworm. As a pet owner, did you ever think about whether dogs get infected with ringworms? What does ringworm look like on a dog? Is ringworm contagious? How long can your dog live with ringworm? Don’t worry; you get every query’s answer here.

Keeping your pup happy and healthy should be your top priority if you are a good pet dog owner. Dogs have many health issues, including skin diseases, and ringworm is the most common.

This skin infestation can badly affect your furry friend’s health and is neither safe for you. It can be frustrating and uncomfortable sometimes, making dogs open to major issues if left untreated. To deal with this infection, you must know ‘what does ringworm look like on a dog.’

In this article, we will talk about ringworm in dogs and explore some major points that help you to recognize signs of ringworm in your dog and how to deal with it. So, please don’t go anywhere; sit and read this article because it’s time to save your pup.

Ringworm in Dogs

Ringworm is a fungus that is known as “dermatophytosis.” This fungus is not actually a worm like hookworms or tapeworms; instead, it leaves circular or semicircular bald spots or rashes on the skin of the dog. It is a fungal infection caused by infected seeds called spores that make round, raised, red ring-like spots and create skin rashes; that’s why it is called ringworm.

In domestic canines, 20 types of dermatophytes can cause illnesses. Among them, only three are the reason behind ringworm. Thus, the division is as follows; 60 to 70 percent of ringworms are caused by the fungus Microsporum Canis, about 20 to 22 percent are caused by Microsporum gypseum, and only 10 to 16 percent are Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

Infectious dogs' hair follicles, the top layer of skin, and occasionally nails are the places where this particular infection thrives and multiplies. This infection mostly affects a few areas of the dog’s body, like the face, ears, tail, and paws, but the chances are not less in other parts also. Ringworm infection is mostly seen in puppies, immunocompromised, and seniors dogs.

Research has been conducted on dogs in Indonesia, and the findings of one study showed that 34% of dogs in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, tested positive for dermatophytosis. On the other hand, the statement notes that the prevalence of dermatophytosis in dogs in Europe ranges from 20% to 30%. This means that the percentage of dogs that test positive for dermatophytosis is higher in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, compared to some areas in Europe.

What Does Ringworm Look Like On A Dog?

Ringworm has different appearances, it may be rarely asymptomatic, and the most often condition is hair loss with crusty covering. Infected animals have grey scaly patches and, in some dogs, red lesions on the skin. Young, elderly dogs with long hair are most commonly affected by this disease.

Sometimes you may see hair loss and patches of broken hair. These ringworm patches appear on any part of your canine’s body, but the dog’s paws, legs, ears, and head are generally the most affected parts. I hope this helps you in knowing what does ringworm look like on a dog.

Causes and Symptoms of Ringworm in Dogs

As a dog owner, if you see a circular or ring-shaped pattern in the skin of your pup that turn red, loses hair, and swells up, then you should keep an eye on your dog to check the other symptoms that clear your mind about your pet infected with ringworm disease or not. The most common symptoms are

Scales that look like dandruff
Hyperpigmentation (darkened skin)
Dry, brittle hair follicles that break easily
Red skin rash, inflammation
Pruritus (Itchiness)
circular or patchy areas of hair loss (Alopecia)
Erythema (reddened skin)
Scabs or patchy areas of hair loss
Folds of skin around claws or bordering the nails

The major cause of ringworm in dogs is through direct contact with the fungus. When a dog comes in contact with an infected animal or a person, he gets ringworm disease. It is also spread by touching a contaminated object like a couch, food bowl, brushes, bedding, or carpet.

Moreover, your dog may get an infection from outside while going for a daily walk. Outside soil may also contain the fungus, harming your pet’s health.

Remember, the infection depends upon several factors like your dog’s immune system or overall health, his/her age, the type of fungus specie involved, location, climate, specific environmental conditions, level of exposure, hygiene practices, and population density.

How to diagnose ringworm in dogs

If you feel that your dog’s skin gets red rashes or suddenly starts itching and gets circular patchy areas. The first thing you have to do is take them to the vet to get the disease diagnosed. The vets utilize several methods to diagnose this disease, and these methods are as follows:

Veterinarians use an ultraviolet lamp to examine the fur and skin of dogs to reveal the disease. It is the most common, safe, and easy method to check whether your dog gets ringworm or not. Some ringworm shows under such type of light.
The second method is to check the sample of the dog’s fur under a microscope to check for fungus spots.
Moreover, the third one is to take a sample of a dog’s skin, place it in a dish, and check whether the fungus will grow under lab conditions. It is a reliable test that gives better results. But remember, it needs 10 days to give results.

Treatment of ringworm in dogs

After an accurate diagnosis, it is important to treat the disease immediately to be safe from severe conditions, so let’s discuss the treatment method for ringworm on a dog. Treatments of ringworm in dogs include topical medication or oral antifungal medications, as well as environmental management to prevent reinfection.

Topical antifungal medication is a treatment that involves directly applying medication to the infected areas of the dog’s skin. These medications include creams, sprays, and shampoos. The most common antifungal medications to stop dog ringworm disease are miconazole, terbinafine, and clotrimazole.

Oral antifungal medicines are prescribed when the disease is widespread or becomes more severe and are given daily for fast recovery, and these are itraconazole and fluconazole.

As discussed earlier, ringworm survives for long periods of time, so it is important to clean the environment with disinfectants, especially bedding, toys, and other belongings for your dog.

Keep your dogs isolated, quarantine them in a separate room, and call the vet for regular checkups for further treatments.

How To Stop The Spread Of The Infection

Infection spores are hardy and can live in the environment for a long time, about 6 weeks and 18 months. Therefore, keeping your furry friend quarantined and restricted to one room is really important.

Keeping them away from healthy animals for about 6 weeks is best recommended to keep others safe. You can also stop them from contacting another infected animal or contaminated substance directly.

Keep them away from surfaces that aren’t cleaned, including curtains and carpet. Ringworm attaches to uncleaned surfaces of carpets and curtains and is trapped in the fibers of linens, carpets, and curtains.

Your dog could be carrying the disease even if it doesn’t show symptoms and signs of the disease. So, it is necessary to clean the environment and eliminate the virus from your home; otherwise, your pup will be sick again. There are some precautionary measures you can follow to save your dog from being infected again, and these are as follows:

The carpet should be vacuumed thoroughly and frequently steam cleaned to remove the spores.
All the items should be cleaned with disinfectants. It is necessary to destroy or burnt the bedding and toys not washable with disinfectants.
Discuss with your vet about the care safety option for your dog pet.

When to Consult a Veterinarian for Ringworm in Dogs

Ringworm is a fungal infection that can badly affect your dog’s health; therefore, it is necessary to seek a vet’s help in severe conditions that are as follows:

If any of the pet owners notice common symptoms such as patchy hair loss, scaly skin, or red rashes, then it is necessary to take action against the disease and call the vet for treatment.
Taking veterinary care is important if your furry friend’s condition is critical.
A vet should also check dogs at a higher risk of severe ringworm disease. These dogs include immunocompromised dogs with the weekend immune system and senior and already sick dogs.
So, to stop the spread of the disease, it is important to visit the vet so that other pets and you will be safe from this contagious disease.
Make an appointment with your dog’s vet if you cannot handle the disease at home. Ringworm is challenging to treat at home, so a vet should be called for better treatment.

Watch this video to learn more about a diagnosis of ringworm in older dogs and what does ringworm look like on a dog.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9DVg4M7Sag

Potential Complications of Ringworm in Dogs

Ringworm is not a life-threatening disease, but it may be contagious, and the most common potential complications of ringworm in dogs are as follows:

The most common complications are hair loss and scarring.
Inflamed folds of skin and scabby
Claws are brittle and rough
Brittle, dry hair
Circular or semicircular areas of hair loss.

Conclusion

We have discussed in detail what does ringworm look like on a dog that shows them as circular, scaly lesions with hair loss in the affected area. These lesions may be grey or red, have raised borders, and appear on any part of the dog’s body.

These are itchy and painful, making your dog scratch or lick the affected areas. So it is important to take this fungal infection seriously and, after appropriate diagnosis, consult your vet for proper treatment of your furry friends so they recover quickly and enjoy their time with you healthily and happily.