How to Treat Ringworm in Horses

Ringworm is caused by a fungus which eats the root of hair follicles and spreads, causing hair loss that spreads from a small spot to potentially the rest of the animal. Ringworm can spread very fast, can be present in horses and is seen in very cold weather as easy as warm, humid climates. If not treated and the source identified, ringworm can spread from one horse to another, and to everything---and everyone---who touches them. Ringworm is more easily treated than most horse people or even veterinarian realize.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Barbicide
• Paper towels
• Disposable latex or rubber gloves
• UV or 'Woods' lamp

1. When you first see clumps of hair loss on your horse, particularly if it is patches (rather than 'lines') consider ringworm as a possible cause and keep in mind that it is contagious to other animals, and to you. A sure fire way of detecting ringworm on the farm/ranch which gives you results right away is shining a UV or 'Woods' lamp on the area in a dark area and seeing 'green' on the hairless area or regions around it. However, only half of the species of fungi that cause ringworm are identifiable with the UV lamp. So...if in doubt, consider that it is ringworm. Ringworm, or fungus, often hides within bails of hay and wood next to it...thus it can be a 'winter' disease.
2. Obtain Barbicide from a beauty supply shop or a hair styling place. Dilute the Barbicide five fold in warm water(one part Barbicide to four parts water).
3. Soak a paper towel in the Barbicide:water solution while wearing rubber or latex gloves and apply a generous supply of it to the areas of skin that have lost hair and the areas around it. Avoid contact with the eyes and mouth or open wounds or skin that was inflamed. Clean all tack you have used with Barbicide as well.
4. Wipe Barbicide off the horse a five minutes after applying it. Toss out gloves you used. Fungus is killed by the Barbicide solution within a minute after it is applied. But since if has copper in it, which is toxic, it should be washed away with fresh water if at all possible.

Tips & Warnings

• There are other treatments for ringworm in horses, but this is one of the cheapest...and in many people's experiences, the most effective.
• Barbicide can be toxic if swallowed, very irritating if it gets into open wounds or eyes.
• Once you've treated ringworm on the horse, it will come back unless you identify the source of the fungus. Often rotting wood, old clothing in the barn and moist hay are the culprits.