Ringworm in cats, ringworm in dogs, rabbits or other animal is a fungal infection, not an actual worm. Many pets owners don’t realize what ringworm really looks like and will usally bring their pets to the Vet for diagnosis. Here is more details on how ringworm usally form. They usually appear as a small pimple-like growth that can begin growing into a scaly or crusty, red, raised area that sometimes can cause blisters and pustules. Hair around the ringworm areas can become thin and brittle in turn causing hair loss and bald spots in animals. As the ring start to grows, the center of the rash will usually turn into a more normal skin color, and you will be able to see the ring-shape or almost circular-shape.
Here are some of the most common symptoms of ringworm in animals:
Sometimes a patche of hair loss, matted wools, discoloration, crusty, thick lesion, pustules, thickened, red, oozing skin, if hair growth happened, it might grow back black, scarring can occur, hair becomes brittle, and swollen lesions.
As a CSR at Q-Based Healthcare, it’s very typically to get a call about ringworm in cats and dogs. Most of the customers that have pets with ringworm have either treated with something over-the-counter, an athlete’s foot cream or prescription from the vet. Many found that what they are using is not working or just keeping the ringworm at bay. Some even say the medication that they used caused the ringworm to spread. As I have tried to explain to many customers the medication cannot spread the ringworm, it’s the spores of the ringworms that spread if not treated correctly.
Many people have tried home remedies such as tea tree oil on their cats not knowing that this is very toxic to them. Some use sulfur based products that are made with HARSH yellow (lime) sulfur that STINKS and STAINS. Pet owners are required to use gloves and use in a well ventilated area, (Yellow sulfur is very corrosive to skin and can cause serious injury) it is also not recommend for small animals under 12 weeks of age.
What PetsBestRx use as their treatment is the White sulfur (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane)-it’s safe, non toxic, and non-staining, plus has a pleasant smell to them as well and they do not contain tea tree oil. This method has been proven to be 98% effective. Another product that is used in conjunction as a double protection is our Healing Spray/Infection Protection Gel which has anti-fungal properties to attack many fungal strains deep in the dermal layers. Beside the actual treatment, please remember that the treatment of your environment is also very important to sanitize to eliminates any spores, otherwise, you might constantly have ringworm outbreaks from one pet to another or even yourself. Good Luck!
Nan, CSR