working in a kennel, how can i stop myself catching ringworm from the animals?

Question

I work weekends at a dog/cat boarding kennel, which means i am constantly in contact with a circulating bunch of ALOT of dogs & cats.

I am very paranoid, almost obsessive-compulsive, when it comes to contagious things such as ringworm & mange & other hideous little bugs that can be passed to humans...& there are a number of animals at the kennel that have hairless patches on their skin & other nasty looking little skin disorders [my boss just calls it "dermatitis" which could be what the owners have told them it is, & some dogs have medications for dermatological disorders....]

I HATE IT! I mean, I wash my hands alot while I am working there, but is there any other way that I can reduce my chances of getting ringworm from these animals [cats can even carry it without showing symptoms]. I am freaked out...it makes me itchy just thinking about it! it is not practical to wear gloves while working there.

Answer 1

i work in a grooming salon and see a lot of the same stuff. it's been several years since i started and i've not gotten infected yet. i am very observant and refuse to offer service to any pet that has questionable lesions. that not always being an option, keep plenty of antibacterial gel on hand and wash hands and arms as often as possible. good luck.

Answer 2

Fast Ringworm Cure?

Answer 3

I use to work at the SPCA(3 kids and preg with #4 makes it impossible to work anymore) 90% of the animals that came in where strays. One of the best things is most parisites are species specific dog mange only affects dogs, cat lice only feed on cats, fleas don't like human blood, but will hitch rides on us. Worms are the worst part, they don't affect humans like they do dogs(round worms can acually cause blindness in a human!) As a precaution working with the animals I wore coveralls, gloves and rubber boots. I also got human de-wormer tablets from the pharmacy. As for ring worm, it's a nasty one and almost impossible to get rid of(a co-workers son got infected). Just keep washing your hands and using disinfectants. Being a kennel all the animals should be de-wormed and vaccinated right? Then you shouldn't have too much to worry about. Good luck!

Answer 4

Chances of you contracting ringworm are small, but still there. and not just ringworm. Read below.

Another disease we can contract from our dog is ringworm. Ringworm is a fungal skin disease which is highly contagious, especially for children. It is spread by direct contact but can also be airborne. Your vet can diagnose your dog if it has ringworm by cultures. Your dog may have round, hairless, scaly patches on her skin. If you think your dog might have ringworm, be sure not to let your child touch the dog until your vet has finished treating the dog.

Unlike ringworm, which is a fungus, round worm are really worms, and can spread from dogs to children, especially when the dogs are puppy age. Children need to be taught not to pick up or play with animal feces, and to use good hygiene with frequent hand washing when playing with a dog. Puppies need to be wormed early, and as the adult owner of a dog, you need to be responsible for disposing of fresh waste daily out of the way of you and your children.

Be especially vigilant about good hygiene and prevention of potential infections if your family includes people with cancer, AIDS/HIV, organ transplant patients, pregnant women, infants, and children under five, because these groups of people may be more susceptible to infection.

There are some simple steps you can take as a dog owner to prevent potential infections. Hand washing is the one of the most important, especially after handling dog feces. If you have children, you may want to supervise their hand washing.

Try not to directly handle animal feces. Wear a pair of gloves, and wash your hands even after you take the gloves off. Dispose of fresh waste immediately.

If you think you are getting or starting to get ringworm, an anti-fungual will cure you right up. Just like athleats foot.

Answer 5

wear long sleeves, the ringworm is transferred by spores and it likes hair follicles, so long sleeve will protect your arms, and long pants will protect your legs. Only one type of mange is contagious...sarcoptic mange...but hopefully there are no dog with that boarding, they would infect everyone. If you see any dogs with suspicious looking skin, do wash your hands afterwards. You can just wear thin latex gloves, they will still allow you to have some movement but will still protect your hands. I suggest wearing heavier rubber gloves when cleaning out cages.

Answer 6

Wash your hands well before and after handling an animal You will avoid infection.Great hand washing is the single most effective means of preventing the spread of disease. If you hate it, find a job where you can flourish.Have a great year and keep your options open.

Answer 7

wear the gloves and wash your hands with bleach water after every positive animal with ring worm clean last it very contagious

Answer 8

Maybe you should look into a new career?

What will you do if a dog jumps up and licks you in the mouth?

Answer 9

Wear latex gloves and long sleeve shirts and pants to reduce your risk of exposure. It may not be practical but either is getting sick. lol

Answer 10

Best thing to do is discuss it with a vet. And or Doctor. Look for a new job.