Although some of the strains are species specific, they will only infect one species of mammal, other are zoonotic, meaning they will spread between species and to humans as well. There are several distinct forms of dermatophytes. Ringworm gets its name from the appearance of a round red raised “ring”, making the boundary of inflamed lesions on humans infected by the fungus. This infection can occur in humans and all domestic animals. The common name “Ringworm” is given to a fungal infection of the epidermis (outer non-vascular layer of skin), nails and hair. This can lead to hair loss on dogs and can spread to other pets in the home and people too. It is caused by fungus and is a highly contagious infection. It occurs more common in younger animals and less often in older.Īlthough it is called ringworm, it is not a parasitic worm at all. These diseases can occur in dogs, cats and other warm blooded animals. There are three common forms of Dermatophytosis - Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum and Microsporum Canis (most often called ringworm). Your veterinarian may also advise bloodwork while your pet is on these medications to look for internal side effects (especially liver problems).The medical term for the parasitic fungal infection that affects the hair, skin, and/or claws/nails is called Dermatophytosis. Side effects may include: stomach upset, appetite loss, or diarrhea. Pets on oral medications should be closely monitored for side effects (especially common in cats). Severely affected animals may need oral anti-fungal medications. Be prepared that some topical therapies may stain hair and clothing or have a bad odor (ex. Gloves should always be worn when handling infected pets for these procedures. Topical therapies are advisable for some pets- these may take the form of medicated dips or shampoos. Talk to your veterinarian before having your pet shaved or groomed.
RING WORML TUMOR IN DOGS SKIN
Close clipping can also result in microscopic skin nicks which can encourage the spread of infection. Without proper sanitation, clipped hairs and contaminated grooming equipment can act as a means of disease transmission.
Total hair clipping used to be part of standard treatment, but this should only be done under certain circumstances and in a very controlled manner. Some long haired pets may need to be shaved. Infected pets can remain contagious for several weeks even with aggressive treatment, so these pets should be quarantined whenever possible. Immediate results will be hard to see- many pet's actually look worse before they start to look better. Never apply bleach to your pet's lesions- you could severely injure your pet!! Be prepared that the treatment course is long no matter which method is chosen (usually several weeks at least). Dilute bleach (1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water) can be used in areas deemed appropriate to help kill fungal spores. The first step involves trying to decontaminate the pet's living environment. Ringworm therapy takes many different forms depending on the pet and the severity of the lesions. Most ringworm cultures will turn positive within 10 days, but may take as long as 2 to 3 weeks. These hairs are placed in a special gel which is then monitored for fungal growth and color change. During this procedure, hairs are plucked from a skin lesion or a representative sample is brushed from the pet. Culture of infected hairs is the true method for diagnosing ringworm (especially in cats that may appear asymptomatic).Not all types of the ringworm do this, so a negative Wood's lamp test does not officially rule out the possibility of ringworm. Under a Wood's lamp, infected hairs and crusts will fluoresce or glow a bright apple green color. A Wood's lamp can be used to test for some forms of ringworm.Identification of a typical ringworm lesion (however, there are other skin diseases that may have a similar appearance).Ringworm is diagnosed using a variety of methods. You should consult a physician if any family member develops skin lesions.
Adult humans are relatively resistant to infection unless they have a break in the skin or are immunocompromised. Children are most susceptible to ringworm they can become infected from exposure to pets or other children. Ringworm can be passed from dogs to cats and vice versa. The ringworm fungal spores can cling to bedding, carpet, or in soil for several months. Ringworm can be transmitted by direct contact with infected pets or fungal spores in the environment.
0 kommentar(er)
