Dog Community

Oh no, Ring Worm!

Posted : 11/18/2006 7:50:59 PM

I am out of town right now visiting my cousin. Her dog has had ringworm come up while we have been here. We took him to the vet and he is being treated with some sort of lime sulfur wash stuff she is suppossed to dilute with water and put all over him once a week and let dry. His ringworm didn't illuminate under the blak light but she has recently treated her new kittens for it and we are certain that he got it from them since he insists on cuddling with them all the time. They have been treated for about 3 weeks now.

Obviously my dogs have now been exposed to this. I am going to wash them in some other shampoo that the vet suggested (miconzole nitrate 2%, chlorexidine gluconate 2%) before I leave and then watch them. Is there anything else preventative that I can do to help keep them from getting it? Is there anything else I should know about this beast other than to wash my hands and all bedding daily.

She is treating her cats still with the shampoo detailed above and an oral medication called Griseofulvin . They were out of the oral medication for her dog plus it was $100 per bottle and would have required numerous bottles over the course of the month so she is using the lime sulfur bath for her dog once a week and has been spot treating with tee tree oil based on research she did on this board. (I told her she needs to join!) Does anyone have thoughts about the effectiveness of either of these treatments or any other suggestions in treating it?

jennie_c_d

Posted : 11/18/2006 11:15:04 PM

I don't know about the treatments from the vet, but I do know some great antifungals.

Coconut oil contains a substance called caprylic acid. It's a very good antifungal. You can feed it to them, instead of fish oil. It's great for yeasty dogs and people. Make sure that you're getting raw, cold pressed, extra virgin coconut oil. I use Herbs of Light brand.

Tea tree oil is an excellent antifungal. Lavendar oil is also great. They are essential oils, so you'll measure them by the drop, not by the spoonful. For yeasties, I've bathed Emma in Selsun Blue (yes, it's an antifungal

, rinse her well, then added about 30 drops each of lavendar and tea tree to a tub filled a few inches deep with clean, warm water. I pour the essential oil rinse over her, til it cools. It smells funky, but it works.

Recently, I developed a strange spot in the skin on the top of my foot. I had a feeling. You know those feelings where you just know something's up. I mixed up a few tablespoons of coconut oil, with a good 50 drops of tea tree oil. I applied it twice a day, and the spot cleared up within a week. I haven't noticed anything on the dogs, yet. Hopefully, they didn't catch it from me. Eep!

calliecritturs

Posted : 11/19/2006 12:21:56 PM

Jennie's right in everything she says. You can use grapefruit seed extract (NOT grapeseed ... notice I said grapeFRUIT seed extract) orally and oil of oregano capsules both for dogs. Use half the adult dose usually on a dog unless it's a big dog and then use the full adult dose. You can get oil of oregano liquid but it's harsh and honestly the capsules work better.

But just rubbing the tea tree/lavender oil or the coconut oil on topically will help a whole lot. Grisofulvin is typically a kid's medicine -- it's an oral antifungal and yes, you take it over quite a long time.

And btw -- ringworm isn't a 'beast' -- it's a fungus. (plant not animal, in other words). It's not a 'worm' at all -- it's a misnomer. But good call of that vet to realize not ALL fungi show up with a black light. If you have stuff you can't wash -- get some Micatin Athlete's foot spray and spray that on (Tinactin -- any one of those -- just use a spray that is NOT a powder unless you want powder all over everything).

spiritdogs

Posted : 11/19/2006 8:26:48 PM

Disinfect all bedding, collars, leashes. And, humans can get ringworm, as you probably know, so be careful. Dogs are usually given griseofulvin for more severe cases, but if you notice just a single lesion, you can use tinactin (get at the drug store) on yourself or the dog, I'm told.

boneyjean

Posted : 11/20/2006 4:57:26 PM

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I have forwarded them on the my cousin who is very appreciative.

Would you suggest some of these same things as a preventative measure for my dogs? I would think feeding the cocunut oil or the grapefruit seed extract or oil of oregano would be something that might help keep it from popping up on my dogs. Would you agree or should I wait and see if they get it first? If it is a good preventative, how long would you use it for and how long does it typically take for ring worm to show up?

Again, thanks for all the wonderful advice. The thought of spraying tinactin on nonwashable items is a great idea and seems like common sense but it never occurred to me.

calliecritturs

Posted : 11/21/2006 12:15:22 AM

A couple of weeks of the grapefruitseed extract pills might not be a bad idea to help ward off it getting started in the body.

The herbals need to be switched off if anyone uses them for a while. Like 3 weeks on and then switch to something else and give the body a 'break'.

The grapefruitseed extract is effective but not harsh, so I'd start with that.