PetsBestRx Frequently Asked Questions

Your pet does not have to be dirty to catch ringworm. They can be indoor or outdoor pets and still catch ringworm fungus spores. Ringworm is spread by contact with the ringworm spore in the environment or by touching and infected pet.

It can also be transferred by coming in contact with an object that has come in contact with the infected pet and then come in contact with you or your pet. Some examples of these items are bedding, brushes, furniture or grooming equipment. You will not see the ringworm develop on your pet right away because it can take 10 to 14 days to mature enough on the skin for you to see. A ringworm spore looks like a classic ringworm lesion with patchy areas of hair loss and scalyness. It also usually includes and little inflammation or redness.

Usually ringworm on animals does itch so this is one symptom you can look for in determining if your pet is dealing with ringworm. You can have ringworm diagnosed by a veterinarian. One test they can perform is a fungal culture by adding some hair and skin scrapings into a tube and see what grows on the pieces of skin and fur. The culture can take several days to weeks to mature. The vet can also run a black light over the skin of your pet to see if it glows green. Ringworm fungus spores will glow green under a black light, however this test is not always accurate on pets with lighter fur.