General Ringworm Question - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Yorker · 07-10-2008, 01:32 PM

I have done some research and read all the posts here concerning ringworm.

I had placed a deposit on a Yorkie and now have been told that he has a small ringworm spot on top of his head. The breeder, who I checked out, is reputable and brought the dog to the vet for treatment. She offered me my deposit back if I wish.

I did look at the dog the day I put the deposit on it. The breeder did point out the spot on the top of the head, but it didn't heal thus she brought it to the vet. I don't think she knew what it was when she showed it to me either.

I would like get the dog and understand this condition is treatable. I have read posts where Yorkie owners treated the dog for less than a month a rid them of ringworm.

Any thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated.

linda44 · 07-10-2008, 02:16 PM

When I got my Kalani she came from Brazil, she had ringworm on her side a pretty good sized patch. When I took her for her puppy visit they did a scraping to confirm and gave a liquid topical medication. It cleared up in about 3 to 4 weeks.
If your breeder sends you the verification from the vet she took it to, you probably wouldnt have to pay for the scraping, but I would still have your vet take a look for a second opinion. When I was a kid we lived on a ranch and we used to catch ringworm from the cats and cattle.

amr333 · 07-10-2008, 07:52 PM

hey..yes I heard that cats can be a big cause in getting ringworms..and they say they you can get them on you too if you let it go untreated.

The puppy should be fine if it is being treated with it's meds everyday and kept away from other animals..so you don't risk another animal getting it.

mscorgi · 07-10-2008, 08:23 PM

Getting a shampoo with iodine in it will clear it up. I just usually go to a farm store and buy some iodine, mix it with a shampoo and shampoo one every couple of days. I also have taken the iodine and just put it on the spot every day. That really dries it up. Living on a farm , like has been said. you learn how to treat things.

YorkieChick1 · 07-10-2008, 11:16 PM

Brooke got ringworm 2 weeks after I got her and it was not as easy to get rid of as in everyone elses' case. We battled it for over 2 months. She gave it to me and my 2 chihuahuas, but not my husband and my other 2 yorkies!! We had to do stinky sulfur dips and medicated dips and medication. You have to wash the bedding every other day and if you have carpet it wouldn't be good to bring the puppy into your house with the ringworm because it can get in your carpet and start to breed. It is a fungus and can grow in weird places. I would wait until the breeder gets the ringworm under control and the wood's lamp test comes back negative before I would bring the pup home. It is not a fun process or treatment. Good Luck in whatever you decide!

zoeybear · 07-11-2008, 08:18 PM

My big hint for ringworm is rubbing alcohol. My DH got it on his leg and after two different prescription creams, and several months, we finally got rid of it by swabbing with alcohol before applying the cream 2X a day. The alcohol dries it and inhibits growth. As soon as we used the alcohol it went away in days.

TeddysMama · 07-20-2008, 07:13 PM

we had a tough time with ringworm in two little kitten we got, we had to keep them excluded and had to bleach everything, give them medicated baths, and then sulfur dips once a week... for about 6 months until it finally went away!
In the meantime we got it in several places, though with topical stuff it clears up quickly in humans- but keep it covered....thankfully none of the other furbabies got it or that really would have been a mess!
before you get your pup make sure it is completly gone or be prepared for an ordeal-it could be easy and just topcal ointments, or it could be worse.

roxies_mom · 07-22-2008, 06:26 AM

Not sure how many people know this, but ringworm isn't actually worms. It's a fungus on the skin. It is highly contagious but it's completely treatable and not life threatening. Wrestlers often get it from close contact and from the mats at schools. My son came home with it way back in grade school, it was treated with an anti-fungal cream such as tinactin or lotramin. As a hairstylist I know that if it gets on the scalp it can cause breakage of the hair just wear the patch of fungus is. Maybe some of you already knew this, but some of the posts read as if it were some kind of worm instead of a fungus.

Mom to Hot Rod · 07-22-2008, 06:35 AM

We had a ringworm scare. From everything that I researched, it would take a lot to rid yourself of it. My first vet said it would take 2 clear exams before considered cured-which would be 3 months later. It is very contagious and you have to be extremely diligent in cleaning your environment otherwise it just keeps reinfecting. Fortunately it was only a scare in my case. Also she wanted to give an oral medication that she said could involve the liver. I wish you luck with your choice.

AMMARI · 07-22-2008, 07:34 PM

I don't know about in dogs, but in humans if you keep the area covered you are less likely to reinfect yourself on another part of your body or someone else by touching things or other people. Don't know how feasible this would be for your dog.

jennylee333 · 07-22-2008, 09:25 PM

The alcohol thing works....truthfully you can just use the alcohol alone and it will rid you of it. Yes it will spread like wild fire so you do want to keep it covered!

AMMARI · 07-24-2008, 07:18 AM

maybe I wasn't clear, sorry Unfortunately at the school where I teach they say as long as the ringworm is getting treated and is covered when the child comes to school then we can't send them back home. I didn't mean to jsut keep it covered and do nothing. Besides, how could you keep it covered on a dog

07-10-2008, 01:32 PM	#1
Yorker YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baneberry, TN Posts: 1	General Ringworm Question I have done some research and read all the posts here concerning ringworm. I had placed a deposit on a Yorkie and now have been told that he has a small ringworm spot on top of his head. The breeder, who I checked out, is reputable and brought the dog to the vet for treatment. She offered me my deposit back if I wish. I did look at the dog the day I put the deposit on it. The breeder did point out the spot on the top of the head, but it didn't heal thus she brought it to the vet. I don't think she knew what it was when she showed it to me either. I would like get the dog and understand this condition is treatable. I have read posts where Yorkie owners treated the dog for less than a month a rid them of ringworm. Any thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated.

07-10-2008, 11:16 PM	#5
YorkieChick1 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 1,870	Brooke got ringworm 2 weeks after I got her and it was not as easy to get rid of as in everyone elses' case. We battled it for over 2 months. She gave it to me and my 2 chihuahuas, but not my husband and my other 2 yorkies!! We had to do stinky sulfur dips and medicated dips and medication. You have to wash the bedding every other day and if you have carpet it wouldn't be good to bring the puppy into your house with the ringworm because it can get in your carpet and start to breed. It is a fungus and can grow in weird places. I would wait until the breeder gets the ringworm under control and the wood's lamp test comes back negative before I would bring the pup home. It is not a fun process or treatment. Good Luck in whatever you decide! __________________ Nanci 's her furbabies!! http://www.dogster.com/dogs/434890 Brooke Mindy BooBoo And My Chichis: Baby & Bitsy There's nothing that brightens my day more than a puppy kiss!

07-11-2008, 08:18 PM	#6
zoeybear and Chloe too! Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,007	My big hint for ringworm is rubbing alcohol. My DH got it on his leg and after two different prescription creams, and several months, we finally got rid of it by swabbing with alcohol before applying the cream 2X a day. The alcohol dries it and inhibits growth. As soon as we used the alcohol it went away in days. __________________ "Ma Petite Souris" ..............and "Gold Dust's Kissing Machine"

07-22-2008, 06:35 AM	#9
Mom to Hot Rod Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MD Posts: 3,371	We had a ringworm scare. From everything that I researched, it would take a lot to rid yourself of it. My first vet said it would take 2 clear exams before considered cured-which would be 3 months later. It is very contagious and you have to be extremely diligent in cleaning your environment otherwise it just keeps reinfecting. Fortunately it was only a scare in my case. Also she wanted to give an oral medication that she said could involve the liver. I wish you luck with your choice. __________________ Hot Rod Maggie May Always in my Zoe Proud member of the CrAzYcLuB ......"The Little Gentlemen's Club"

07-10-2008, 02:16 PM	#2
linda44 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: napa Posts: 1,635	When I got my Kalani she came from Brazil, she had ringworm on her side a pretty good sized patch. When I took her for her puppy visit they did a scraping to confirm and gave a liquid topical medication. It cleared up in about 3 to 4 weeks. If your breeder sends you the verification from the vet she took it to, you probably wouldnt have to pay for the scraping, but I would still have your vet take a look for a second opinion. When I was a kid we lived on a ranch and we used to catch ringworm from the cats and cattle.

07-10-2008, 07:52 PM	#3
amr333 Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2007 Location: TN Posts: 298	hey..yes I heard that cats can be a big cause in getting ringworms..and they say they you can get them on you too if you let it go untreated. The puppy should be fine if it is being treated with it's meds everyday and kept away from other animals..so you don't risk another animal getting it.

07-10-2008, 08:23 PM	#4
mscorgi Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 37	Getting a shampoo with iodine in it will clear it up. I just usually go to a farm store and buy some iodine, mix it with a shampoo and shampoo one every couple of days. I also have taken the iodine and just put it on the spot every day. That really dries it up. Living on a farm , like has been said. you learn how to treat things.

07-20-2008, 07:13 PM	#7
TeddysMama YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Manassas,VA Posts: 1	we had a tough time with ringworm in two little kitten we got, we had to keep them excluded and had to bleach everything, give them medicated baths, and then sulfur dips once a week... for about 6 months until it finally went away! In the meantime we got it in several places, though with topical stuff it clears up quickly in humans- but keep it covered....thankfully none of the other furbabies got it or that really would have been a mess! before you get your pup make sure it is completly gone or be prepared for an ordeal-it could be easy and just topcal ointments, or it could be worse.

07-22-2008, 06:26 AM	#8
roxies_mom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: central illinois Posts: 226	Not sure how many people know this, but ringworm isn't actually worms. It's a fungus on the skin. It is highly contagious but it's completely treatable and not life threatening. Wrestlers often get it from close contact and from the mats at schools. My son came home with it way back in grade school, it was treated with an anti-fungal cream such as tinactin or lotramin. As a hairstylist I know that if it gets on the scalp it can cause breakage of the hair just wear the patch of fungus is. Maybe some of you already knew this, but some of the posts read as if it were some kind of worm instead of a fungus.

07-22-2008, 07:34 PM	#10
AMMARI Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: New York Posts: 168	I don't know about in dogs, but in humans if you keep the area covered you are less likely to reinfect yourself on another part of your body or someone else by touching things or other people. Don't know how feasible this would be for your dog.

07-22-2008, 09:25 PM	#11
jennylee333 YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 274	The alcohol thing works....truthfully you can just use the alcohol alone and it will rid you of it. Yes it will spread like wild fire so you do want to keep it covered!

07-24-2008, 07:18 AM	#12
AMMARI Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: New York Posts: 168	maybe I wasn't clear, sorry Unfortunately at the school where I teach they say as long as the ringworm is getting treated and is covered when the child comes to school then we can't send them back home. I didn't mean to jsut keep it covered and do nothing. Besides, how could you keep it covered on a dog