Can i catch ringworm from my dog

Remember, you can get ringworm from people as well. Avoid sharing clothing, towels, or other items with any individual that has ringworm. Wear sandals or slippers when in public locker rooms or shower areas. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. How Ringworm Spreads. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dermatophysosis Infection. Roshanzamir, H. Comparative Clinical Pathology, 25, —, , doi Fungal Diseases. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Humans can get Microsporum canis, too , which is another reason why it is important to take this condition seriously. Young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are at an increased risk of contracting ringworm from dogs, but anyone can contract this unsightly and uncomfortable parasite.

In humans, ringworm presents as a roughly circular rash that is often red and itchy. If you or a family member notices a rash on your body after your dog has been diagnosed with ringworm, contact your primary care physician. Your vet will diagnose your dog with ringworm by performing a diagnostic test, as well as a physical exam. Once ringworm is diagnosed, your vet will discuss a treatment plan for your dog.

This treatment plan depends on the severity of the case, the number of pets in the household, and whether or not there are children or immunocompromised adults in the home. Your vet might also suggest clipping long-haired dogs to speed up treatment and shaving the hair from affected areas. Topical therapy can take several months to fully eliminate the infection, but does help prevent environmental contamination. Oral therapy is usually used in conjunction with a topical therapy. Anti-fungal oral medications help fight the infection and, like topical therapy, need to be administered for a minimum of six weeks, but in some cases could take months to take full effect.

Your vet will most likely ask you if you have any other pets in the household and might advise that you test and treat them for ringworm, as well, even if they are not currently showing signs of a ringworm infection. It is also very important that owners continue to treat for ringworm for the prescribed period of time.

The spores that live inside the hair follicles remain contagious for months at a time, surviving on couches, grooming tools, bedding, furniture, and clothing. Cleaning up all this hair is a part of treatment, but as many dog owners know, also a bit of a challenge.

Some owners keep their dogs in rooms that are easy to clean during the time they are infected with ringworm. This makes it easier to eliminate stray hairs and to mop with a disinfectant recommended by your veterinarian.

The best ways to prevent reinfection of ringworm in dogs are to fully cleanse the environment of the home and any tools and bedding that the animals regularly come into contact with, and to follow the instructions of your veterinarian. Knowing the symptoms of ringworm in dogs can help you prevent the spread of ringworm from dogs to people or other pets.

For more information about ringworm or if you suspect that your dog might have ringworm, contact your veterinarian. Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes are responsible for the rest. Infected pets are generous and like to share with others. Infected pets can transmit ringworm to people or other pets. There have even been reports of cows, goats, pigs and horses passing ringworm to people! Many studies have shown that children are most likely to get ringworm from a pet, due to a combination of closer contact with their pets and hygiene.

Pocket pets also can get ringworm, with Trichophyton mentagrophytes responsible for almost all documented cases. Known species infected include guinea pigs, gerbils and hamsters. Although there is no sex or age predisposition to infection, Persian, Himalayan and Rex cats, and Yorkshire and Jack Russell terriers, are overrepresented in published studies looking at the dynamics of ringworm infections. Although ringworm fungi are everywhere, there are conditions that predispose a pet to infection.

Interestingly, in cats, many studies have shown that infection with feline immunodeficiency virus FIV or feline leukemia virus FeLV alone does not increase risk of disease. A good medical history for your pet can help your veterinarian make a diagnosis of ringworm. Skin abnormalities in a newly acquired pet, especially if accompanied by skin lesions on a pet owner or other member of the household, are common historical findings.

Some infected cats and dogs have no clinical signs but can spread the disease to other pets. Unfortunately, similar signs are seen with other common skin diseases of cats and dogs, such as superficial bacterial skin infections, mites and allergies.

Additional testing is needed to sort through all these potential diagnoses. Once a veterinarian suspects a pet might have ringworm based on history and physical examination, a few specialized tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Another test that your veterinarian can do in their clinic is examination of hair and skin under the microscope. In cases where a diagnosis is not confirmed by either of these tests, a fungal culture is needed to definitively diagnose ringworm. Results can take from a few days up to four weeks.