My large chow has ringworm what effective treatments are available to quickly remedy this problem?

Question

My chow that is 10 years old recently had precancerous tumors removed at the humane society hospital. Shortly afterwards his hair started falling out and rings in his skin developed. The vets say he didn't get it there (I question this) and that he probably had the problem for years before the actual eruptions occoured. Since then we have spent a fortune on different medicines, shampoos, etc. We have even began using Lamisil AT. He also has chronic ear infections and eye infections. It is bad enough that he has all these problems but now with the ringworm I am afraid that my other two dogs and two cats may also contract the disease. Years ago I treated my cat with pharmaldihide (a treatment I got from a turn of the century medical book) and just like the book said it treated the ringworm with the first application. However the area on my dog is too great to treat this way. Years ago my dad treated a dog with mange with used motor oil and that worked then but isn't practical now.

Answer 1

you should talk to your vet, he can always recommend the best possible treatment, treating a dpg wotj romgwpr, requires extra caution as the disease can be spread to the humans.

Answer 2

There is no quick easy treatment for ringworm. The hair coat should be clipped short, the dog bathed with chlorhexidine shampoo, and dipped with Lym Sulfa dip. This needs to be repeated weekly for a minimum of 6 weeks. Griseofulvin is an anti fungal tablet that can be given orally with food every day for 6 weeks as well. Both of these treatments should be prescribed by a vet after a definite diagnosis is made (a culture done). If it is ringworm, it is contagious. Most pets have good immune systems so they don't get it easily, but at 10 years of age your dog may be more susceptible. There are two main types of ringworm: Microsporum canis is spread usually from infected cats, and Microsporum gypseum is found in the soil

Answer 3

If you are concerned about the answer the first vet gave you, seek another opinion from another VET! If it is ringworm, your pet could be dangerous to children, elderly or anyone with a compromised immune system, as well as your other pets if they are immuno suppressed. The sooner you get it treated, the easier it will be to clear up, this is not a fatal disease but more of a human health concern. The other problems you mentioned about the eye and ear infections makes me wonder if you have had a thyroid panel done on your dog? if there is a thyroid imbalance, the skin is more prone to disease and would make clearing up ring worm harder. Thyroid disease is a cheap disease to treat, so please don't euthanize unless it is necessary. Once you have this cleared up, your dog could have possibly another 2-4 years of fun living to do! Good Luck and I wish you both the best.

ps I hope you don't mean formeldahyde (sorry I don't know the spelling) as in the fixative for tissues, it is caustic and toxic to pets. Please don't try it on your chow, at 10 yrs old he may not recover.

Answer 4

Fast Ringworm Cure?

Answer 5

Are you positive it's ringworm, did the vet do a fungal culture to confirm this? Animals rarely develop the ring-shaped spots that humans do when infected with this fungus. If your treatments aren't working maybe it's something else. Get a second opinion on these "eruptions", could be an alergic type reaction, skin mites, etc.

Answer 6

Ringworm is indeed contagious. I was going to suggest Lamisil, myself.
It almost sounds as if his immune system has been compromised? Is he on antibiotics? Yeast (ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush) thrives when we are on antibiotics as they kill the beneficial bacteria as well as the harmful ones.
What are you feeding? A quality food without corn or wheat should help work on the problem from the inside out. Canidae and Wellness come to mind, but read your bag.
Also apple cider vinegar should be your new friend - a tablespoon of it in the water bowl, a 50/50 solution of it, along with water, can be used as an earwash.
I would also try giving him a tablespoon of plain yogurt (one with "live cultures") once a day on his kibble to replenish the intestinal flora and fauna.

Answer 7

I agree with KimbeeJ. If the dog has definitely tested positive for ringworm, we usually treat a heavy coated dog by shaving the hair off, and doing lyme sulfur dips at the vet. All the animals in the household can catch it, and so can the people. Got to take the next step to treat it ASAP!!!

Answer 8

NO. ringworm is in the environment. just go to your vet (are you sure it is ringworm?) did you ever get the medication from the vet? generally these work the best.
used motor oil is cruel and ineffective.
if you are really having that much of problem, it may just be your dog's immune system is gone and he can no longer fight anything anymore. maybe it would be kinder to have him put to sleep (especially with all his other problems)

Answer 9

It is best to use what the vet gives you, but athlete's foot cream can be substitued for it. Or the cream for Jock itch. They are all just a fungal infection and can be treated with the same meds.

Answer 10

if it is a ringworm, then my vet told me to use that bluestar ointment that you buy over the counter. you can get it at walmart... i used it for my lab and it went away...