Question: My dog has sores that are black in the middle and a red ring around them. Is it ring worm or something could it be something else?
Answer: Ringworm is a fungal infection that can affect the skin, hair, or nails of dogs and cats as well as people. Ringworm is actually rarely diagnosed in dogs. This is primarily because its true incidence (in dogs) is very low. Typically the fungal spores need to penetrate a thick coat of fur to enter a crack in the skin surface or to populate hair follicles. Although ringworm is not commonly diagnosed in canines, it is more likely to be a problem in shelter populations as well as in puppies and other individuals with a lower functioning immune system. The classic appearance in humans is a circular, red lesion, but in dogs it usually looks like a circular patch of hair loss with some degree of redness, flaking or crusting. It is impossible to diagnose ringworm based on its appearance alone, however. The diagnosis is verified by a positive fungal culture or by visualizing the organism under the microscope.
In general, if your dog looks like it has ringworm, it probably doesn’t. It is far more likely that the lesions are something else – specifically a staphylococcal bacterial infection. Staph skin infections are extremely common among dogs and are typically secondary to another problem such as hypersensitivities (ie allergies) or hypothyroidism. Treatment typically involves either a topical antibacterial product or a systemic antibiotic and addressing the underlying medical issue.
Primary location: Green Lake Animal Hospital
Dr. Heeren earned her degree from Iowa State University. She interned in small animal medicine and surgery at Denver Veterinary Specialists in Colorado and earned a B.A. in Medical Biology from Beloit College in Wisconsin.
She has a strong passion for surgery and emergency medicine, and volunteers her time spaying and neutering feral cats with the Feral Cat Project. She also provides veterinary care at the Doney Clinic.
She has one pet – a white feline named Dexter – and likes to spend time gardening or exploring the hiking trails in the Seattle area.
Ask the Vet is all a part of the incredible website http://www.seattledogspot.com/. This website is great for dog owners and gives a wealth of information from dog services to supplies. Check it out today!
http://www.seattledogspot.com/blog/2012/05/14/ask-the-vet-does-my-dog-have-ringworm
Answer: Ringworm is a fungal infection that can affect the skin, hair, or nails of dogs and cats as well as people. Ringworm is actually rarely diagnosed in dogs. This is primarily because its true incidence (in dogs) is very low. Typically the fungal spores need to penetrate a thick coat of fur to enter a crack in the skin surface or to populate hair follicles. Although ringworm is not commonly diagnosed in canines, it is more likely to be a problem in shelter populations as well as in puppies and other individuals with a lower functioning immune system. The classic appearance in humans is a circular, red lesion, but in dogs it usually looks like a circular patch of hair loss with some degree of redness, flaking or crusting. It is impossible to diagnose ringworm based on its appearance alone, however. The diagnosis is verified by a positive fungal culture or by visualizing the organism under the microscope.
In general, if your dog looks like it has ringworm, it probably doesn’t. It is far more likely that the lesions are something else – specifically a staphylococcal bacterial infection. Staph skin infections are extremely common among dogs and are typically secondary to another problem such as hypersensitivities (ie allergies) or hypothyroidism. Treatment typically involves either a topical antibacterial product or a systemic antibiotic and addressing the underlying medical issue.
Dr. Valissitie Heeren, Greenlake Animal Hospital
Valissitie Heeren, DVMPrimary location: Green Lake Animal Hospital
Dr. Heeren earned her degree from Iowa State University. She interned in small animal medicine and surgery at Denver Veterinary Specialists in Colorado and earned a B.A. in Medical Biology from Beloit College in Wisconsin.She has a strong passion for surgery and emergency medicine, and volunteers her time spaying and neutering feral cats with the Feral Cat Project. She also provides veterinary care at the Doney Clinic.
She has one pet – a white feline named Dexter – and likes to spend time gardening or exploring the hiking trails in the Seattle area.
Ask the Vet is all a part of the incredible website http://www.seattledogspot.com/. This website is great for dog owners and gives a wealth of information from dog services to supplies. Check it out today!
http://www.seattledogspot.com/blog/2012/05/14/ask-the-vet-does-my-dog-have-ringworm
No comments:
Post a Comment