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Ringworm is the most common skin fungal infection that affects dogs, cats and humans.
Most cases of ringworm in dogs is caused by Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, or Trichophyton mentagrophytes.
Dog and cat ringworm, like any skin fungus, proliferates in hot humid conditions, however your dog may also become infected in cooler months because ringworm spores can live off an animal for over a year, and multiply in their living quarters.
Ringworm most commonly affects puppies and young dogs, and dogs with suppressed immunity.
Symptoms include small scaly patches without hair, sometimes small pustules are present. Ringworm is most likely to be found on the head, but can also appear on the legs, feet and tail of your dog.
Ringworm infections in dogs is most commonly diagnosed with a Wood’s lamp or blacklight, which when shone on the area, will produce a fluorescent colour. However this test will only work in about half of all ringworm cases, also it will not show if a puppy or dog is carrying spores on his coat.
The most accurate way of testing a ringworm lesion is to take a sample and have it cultured in a lab, but this can be expensive.
Treatment options:
A very simple and safe way to treat your dog or puppies ringworm is with a natural cream formulated with New Zealand Manuka essential oil, or by using Manuka oil diluted in a sweet almond base.
Manuka oil has shown outstanding results in controlling the ringworm fungus in both in-vitro and in-vivo testing on both humans and dogs, and is a highly recommended treatment for all types of dog ringworm.
Another feature of Manuka oil is that it is also highly effective in controlling gram positive bacteria, so it is a very useful product to have on hand for any skin infection that your dog or puppy might suffer from.
Products containing New Zealand Manuka oil also provide an effective alternative to synthetic chemical based products, which have been known to cause allergies in sensitive breeds of dog.
To protect and enhance your dog’s immune system if your dog is suffering from ringworm, a daily supplement of New Zealand Deer Velvet will provide a balanced intake of essential nutrients.
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