Your little furry friends sadly do not wear shoes like you do, which means they can easily get ringworm. And while it is highly uncomforting for dogs, they also risk passing the infection on to any human who gets in contact with them. This is especially true for young people and children. Right from touching the dogs, to simply being around areas with infected hair or even the skin particles shed by them can lead to contracting ringworm.
However, by following certain preventive measures, these nasty ringworm can be easily avoided. Some of these measures are:
Identification of infection:
Firstly, make sure that your pet is infected. If so, give it a long bath with an anti-fungal shampoo. Leave the shampoo on for 10-12 minutes before you rinse it off. Repeat the same, at least 3 times a week. Ensure that you thoroughly dry your pet as ringworm strives in warm and moist environment.
Clean the belongings:
Right from the pet’s beddings, to his toys, and the place where you bathe it, wash everything thoroughly with hot water and bleach to ensure that the infection doesn’t spread. Also clean their food and water bowls regularly. Make sure your kids don’t come in contact with the pet’s belongings too often. If they do, wash them up.
Wash hands frequently:
Make sure you and your children wash your hands carefully using anti-bacterial/anti-fungal soap after each interaction with your canine. Do not forget to dry your hands with a clean towel after washing.
Keep pets away from personal spaces:
It is best that your infected pet doesn’t come to your bed, or enter the kitchen or dining space and come in direct contact with the food you’re being served with.
Stay away:
Although this can be a little hard to keep up, you must keep yourself from snuggling and/or constantly touching or patting the pet, until you’re sure that the infection is gone.
If the infection persists even after 7-10 days, it is highly recommended that you see a veterinarian and get your canine friend treated. In case you catch the infection, apply OTC topical creams on the affected areas and keep your skin as dry as possible.
