How to Treat Ringworm Without a Prescription

Ringworm is not a worm at all but a fungus called Dermatophytes, which is Latin for "plants that live on the skin." This fugus causes a circular lesion on the skin. It is common for cats and dogs to contract ringworm. In the early stages of this fungal infection, it may simply appear as small areas of thinning hair on the animal. As the fungus progresses, all of the hair will disappear in round patches as small as a dime and larger. It is common for pets to transmit this ringworm fungus to children and adults in the household. It is best to treat ringworm aggressively as soon as you suspect infection. Ringworm can be treated effectively with over-the-counter antifungal medicines commonly used to treat athlete's foot and jock itch.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dandruff shampoo containing zinc pyrithione
• 1 aerosol can of Tolnaftate 1% antifungal powder (generic for Lotrimin, Tinactin, and other brand names)

1. Using liberal amounts of dandruff shampoo and comfortably warm water, thoroughly lather the animal from head to toe, but avoid the eyes. Allow the shampoo to remain on the skin for 5 minutes before rinsing. Be sure to rinse thoroughly with warm water.

2. Towel dry your pet. If you can do so without causing undue distress, use a blow-dryer on a warm (not hot) setting to thoroughly dry your pet's coat.

3. Holding your pet by the scruff of the neck, spray the entire body of your pet with the Tolnaftate antifungal powder. Be sure to cover the belly, legs, feet, and tail. With your hands, massage the powder into the fur, working it down to the skin as much as possible.

4. Every day for 3 days, repeat the Tolnaftate spray procedure in Step 3.

Tips & Warnings

• Complete this treatment on your pet and re-examine the coat for signs of ringworm in two weeks.
• If the condition has not cleared and you see no evidence of hair growing back in the bald spots, you may repeat the treatment.
• If the condition has not cleared after two treatments, consult your Vet.
• If the skin condition worsens or your pet is scratching or biting at the skin, consult your Vet immediately. Some very serious skin diseases can appear to be simple ringworm in early stages. These require immediate treatment by a professional.