Ringworm?!

[LILYgirlandTAKA]

So Taka has this weird circle flaky area on his incision site the size of a nickel and it was just getting bigger so I took him to the vet yesterday and he did a skin test and found out it was ringworm. so here's my questions:
1. How did he get it when he hardly ever goes outside, he actually hasn't been outside since his surgery except to go to the vet and back.
2. I showed the vet this area on him when i took him for his 1 week post op appt and he just said if it gets bigger bring him in, shouldn't he have known it was ringworm then?
3. The vet did give me some meds but I was wondering if there was anything else I can do to speed up the process since I don't want it spreading to Lily or to us!

any advice would help!!!

[sucker4ayorkie]

I found this ......


thoroughly wash and prep your dog in an isolated area. Most dogs don't like bathing. But this time, put your foot down. Close your dog off from exiting; preventing them from potentially spreading more spores. You will need the following items: a disposable sponge, 2 buckets, a plastic cup, a disposable towel, miconazole shampoo, vinegar and Betadine. Fill one bucket with lukewarm water to use for your pet's wash. Fill the other bucket with a mixture of white vinegar and lukewarm water, 4 parts water to every part vinegar, for your pet's rinse. White vinegar is a natural antiseptic. If you can't withstand the pungent odor, add Eucalyptus for a more fragrant scent. It is important not to cross-contaminate both buckets with your one sponge.

Moisten your pet's fur with water and soap them up with miconazole shampoo. This shampoo can be found at any pet store; it does not require a prescription. If you are using human grade shampoos for dandruff that is not 100% organic, remember to dilute. The existence of harsh chemicals may aggravate the symptoms. Use the sponge, lather from toes to tail and from back to head. Ringworms tend to travel up the body, so lather and rinse in the same direction. The symptoms of infection may not be visible on the day of bathing, so wash thoroughly. Once finished, discard the sponge. Now with your cup, scoop rinse water from the second bucket to wash away lather, and continue on until all soap has been removed. Use the same direction, from toes to tail, from back to head, to ensure thorough rinsing. Any residue of soap may cause further irritation. Immediately dry your pet with a clean throw-away towel. Ensure he is properly dried before applying Betadine. Betadine is a topical antiseptic. It doesn't sting and doesn't stain the skin or natural fabrics. This also does not require a prescription. Treat the infected areas with Betadine twice a day by dabbing it directly on the inflammation.

Finally, on a nightly basis, coat your pet with Lamisil or any over the counter Athlete's Foot infection cream for two weeks. The key ingredient in each product is the same - Miconazole. There are variations of Miconazole like Tolnaftate but Terbinafine works most consistently in my opinion. Terbinafine is being marketed in the U.S. as Lamisil. You may also rub your pet with Organic Tea Tree Oil, for it has proven effective to relieve human scalp irritations.

It is very important not to confuse antifungal cream with anti-itch creams; there is a difference though shelving displays may make it hard to discern. Anti-itch will only relieve the itchy symptoms of ringworms but not the problem itself. You have to cure the infection or you will run a risk of progressing the dog's condition.

It is equally as important to ensure you choose anti-fungal creams and not anti-yeast creams. Fluconazole is prescribed for yeast-causing dermatitis. Therefore, it is not an effective treatment to cure ringworms. If your pet is not responding to the anti-fungal treatments, than perhaps your pet is suffering from something other than ringworms.

Use this regimen to help your ailing puppy or dog from the nasty wraths of Ringworms and he or she will love you for it. Nothing hurts more than watching your helpless friend wander around aimlessly wondering why they can't seem to get any relief. Monitor your dog for the next two weeks for any signs or symptoms of their condition progressing worse than expected; but most likely, if you catch it on time, you won't have to visit the vet to cure this one.

[sucker4ayorkie]

I have also heard Selsun Blue shampoo! is good for getting rid of ringworm.

[teasell]

Also please where gloves when you do the treatment as we humans can also get ringworm

[Wylie's Mom]

Ringworm can come from anywhere. My Marcel caught it from his Vet as a pup! The med regimen is 6wks long, after which time you have to do another culture to make sure / confirm it's now gone. My other dog never caught it, btw, and we didn't keep them separate at the time.

[LILYgirlandTAKA]

thanks everyone for the advice! I believe it came from his vet also, Wylie's Mom. I noticed it right after we took him for his 1 week post-op appt. It just got bigger after that. I haven't been able to keep Lily and Taka separate from each other... :/