Worms Cats Dogs

Exposing the myth – the first thing we need to bust is the myth that ringworms are worms. Ringworms are actually a skin infection caused by a fungus. It was once thought that a worm was causing the rash, and although this has long since been disproved the name was already entrenched in our language as has stuck.

The most commonly known symptom of Ringworm is a circular spot on the skin, however, many of these fungi do not produce the round spot. Ringworm can grow on skin, your scalp, or your nails. It is more likely to be found on children than adults, but is not restricted to children. The most common pet that will host Ringworm is your cat. Dogs also can carry Ringworm.

Ringworm is highly contagious and …

Ringworm is highly contagious and care should be taken to isolate cats or dogs with Ringworm from each other and from children. The transfer of the fungus is by direct contact and by contamination of items such as clothing or bedding.

If your pet has ringworm make sure that you regularly clean the bedding of your pet. The fungus thrives in warm moist areas, so keeping your cat or dog dry and its bedding aired is essential in controlling the outbreak. Minor injuries such as scratches and scrapes should be treated to prevent Ringworm from infecting the area.

Symptoms of Ringworm that you should watch for include:

• blisters or areas of skin that are raised and itchy. Often they will be red in color and have sharply defined edges, with the outer ring being redder than the inner patch. It is the ring like appearance that gave rise to the name Ringworm.
• Nails or claws will become discolored when infected. They will become thick and eventually may crumble if the fungus is not treated.
• Bald patches are common on the coat of your cat or dog when Ringworm is present. They may also appear on the scalp of humans with the fungus.

Ringworm Image Source