How to Prevent and Treat Ringworm in Your Pet

Just like children, pets are susceptible to ringworm. Ringworm is a fungus that causes severe itching and can result in your pet losing hair. Pets of all ages can get ringworm. Ringworm causes patches of baldness to occur on the ears, paws, or back. It goes away on its’ own in a month or two but your pet itches constantly. Also, ringworm can pass from your pet to you or your child. So, here are a few things you can do to help get rid of your pet’s ringworm fast.

Trimming your pet’s hair around the bald spots can help prevent the ringworm from spreading and also make the area easy to reach for treatment. Depending on how fast your pet’s hair grows, you may have to trim it often. Plus, a razor would be better than scissors to make sure the hair is trimmed properly and safely. Make sure you wash the area daily with an over the counter antiseptic soap or cleanser to keep the area clean and free from infection. Your vet can help you with the best type of medicated soap to use.

Rub a small amount of the treatment on the skin twice a day and wash the area with antifungal shampoo to get rid of the ringworm and prevent it from spreading. If you have more than one pet, make sure you wash them with the shampoo to prevent them from getting the infection. If you can, try to keep other pets away from the infected pet. Soak your pet thoroughly for fifteen minutes, then make sure you rinse off the shampoo thoroughly.

To prevent the ringworm from spreading, make sure you brush your pet regularly, but make sure you clean the brush each time you brush them. Clean the brush by dipping it into 1 ounce of bleach and 32 ounces of water. Clean comb or brush, blades, or scissors with the solution after you finish grooming your pet. This will cleanse the items and prevent the ringworm from spreading the next time you use them. While your pet has ringworm, always wash your hands after petting or feeding them. And keep the kids from hugging your pet while infected. When washing your hands, use antibacterial soap not just water and soap.

If your pet stays in the house, make sure you vacuum and shampoo often, better yet, you may want to set up an abode for your pet outside until the ringworm is gone. Another thing you can do to help quickly get rid of the ringworm or prevent it from spreading is to cover up their bedding and on carpets and furniture, or anywhere your pet roams, and wash the covers in hot water with a small amount of bleach.

Most ringworm will not cause serious problems, but if the infection spreads over the entire body causing huge, red sores, visit your vet right away.