| If you suddenly notice a bald spot on your dog’s | | | | serious issue that signifies a severely low immune |
| coat, chances are it is not because he is getting older. | | | | system. |
| Sudden hair loss in dogs as well as cats could indicate | | | | But unless your dog has a low immune system, |
| the presence of ringworm. And although your dog | | | | ringworm normally goes away on its own within one to |
| may catch ringworm from time to time, he may | | | | three months. In the meantime, you may still want to |
| experience nothing worse than a bald spot and mild | | | | relieve the itchiness and discomfort that is associated |
| itchiness. | | | | with this parasite and also reduce the odds of infection |
| Ringworm creates ring-like, flaky, bald patches on your | | | | to humans and other animals. |
| dog’s head, ears, back, nails, and paws. Although | | | | To effectively treat ringworm, the first thing you must |
| the name ringworm sounds like some sort of a curly | | | | do is clip the hair around the area of your dog’s |
| worm, it is actually a type of fungus that is similar to | | | | bare spot and up to about one half of an inch past it. |
| athlete’s foot. Ringworm can be easily seen and | | | | You may need to have someone help you keep your |
| looks very similar to a ripple forming when you throw a | | | | dog still or preoccupied in order to prevent you from |
| stone in a pond. The growth begins at a middle point | | | | accidentally injuring the skin. Clipping the hair will reduce |
| and gradually spreads out in a ring shape. As the | | | | the chances of spreading the ringworm by confining |
| fungus grows in the skin cell and hair, the skin may | | | | the infection to just that area and also make for an |
| become irritated, reddened, and thickened and the hairs | | | | easier application of the treatment. |
| may break off leaving course stubble behind. | | | | Remember to carefully dispose the infected hair once |
| The ringworm is contagious to humans, especially | | | | you remove it, burning it if possible. Ringworm can still |
| children, and other animals. The extensive spread of | | | | feed on the hair even after it is off your dog and is |
| this parasite could indicate that your pet’s health is | | | | contagious on contact. Vacuum the area where you |
| not doing well. Actually, it is usually the sick, stressed, | | | | did the clipping to catch loose hairs. You also need to |
| and weakened ones that acquire serious infestation. | | | | vacuum carefully and regularly if your pet has dog |
| Ringworm that spreads throughout the body is a very | | | | ringworm. |