How to Treat Ringworm on a Horse

Ringworm is not actually a worm, but a skin infection caused by a fungus which affects the keratin-bearing tissue. Early symptoms include raised circular tufts of hair which relate to the name "ringworm." These tuffts fall out to reveal crusty patches of skin. Lesions may appear in the affected area when the crusty patch becomes infected. Ringworm is highly contagious and must be treated quickly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Clippers
• Rubber Gloves
• Antifungal cream

1. Isolate the infected horse as ringworm is highly contagious and spreads easily. It is very hardy and can survive for over a year on your tack and equipment, on fencing, in your trailer and in your horse's stall--so disinfect everything. A power washer with a disinfectant is good for cleaning walls, trailers, stalls and fencing. Lysol spray is an easy way to disinfect brushes.
2. Put on a pair of rubber gloves when disinfecting or treating the infected horse as humans can contract ringworm.
3. Clip off all hair from and around the infected area using clippers with a #40 surgical blade. By doing this you're removing the fungus' main food source, the protein keratin, which makes up your horse's hair and outer skin cells.
4. Clean up all clipped hair and debris removed from the infected area, and discard them in a tightly knotted plastic bag.
5. Treat the affected area for two weeks by spot bathing it daily with iodine or betadine scrub. You can also ask your vet to prescribe a Novalsan scrub. Lather the scrub up and let it sit on the outbreak area for at least 10 minutes. Then rinse, and repeat the process the next day.
6. Apply a topically antifungal ointment or spray daily for a week. After a week the scab should begin shrinking and new hair should begin to sprout in the center of the infected area. Once this happens only apply a topically antifungal every other day. A veterinarian may prescribe oral Griseofulvin if the fungus does not respond to over-the-counter topical ointment or if the outbreak is very severe.
7. Monitor your horse closely for two weeks. If there is not improvement or if the outbreak worsens and the fungus is spreading after two weeks, contact your veterinarian.

Tips & Warnings

• Young horses are particularly at risk for ringworm, but it can affect horses of any age.
• Horses are constantly exposed to fungus in their natural environment. Ringworm or other fungal outbreaks usually only occur when your horse's immune system or skin integrity has been weakened.