How To Treat Equine Ringworm
As large outdoor animals, horses are prone to bumps and bruises. But these minor wounds can sometimes be--or become--serious problems if they aren't treated. Ringworm is not a worm, but a fungus, which lives in dead skin and feeds off the dead cells of areas that are not well cleaned. Symptoms include scruffy coats, flaky skin and irritation. Ringworm is also called fungal dermatitis, and should be treated immediately before it spreads or gets worse.
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Things You'll Need
- Clippers
- Sponge
- Antiseptic antifungal wash (Betadine)
- Water
- Vinegar
- Blow dryer/Towel
- Betadine ointment
Instructions
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1
Diagnose ringworm. It occurs most often in the girth area, and usually presents as irritated skin in dime- to quarter-size circles. These areas may look crusty and flaky.
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2
Clip the infected area to clean it up and eliminate the supply of skin and hair cells for the fungus to eat. Clip an area that is 1/2-inch larger in diameter than the infected area.
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3
Sponge water onto the shaved area. Pour a small amount of Betadine antifungal wash on the sponge and scrub it into the infected area (Betadine is available from veterinarians and at horse supply shops). Leave the scrub on for 10 minutes.
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4
Mix 2 tbsp. of white vinegar with 1 qt. of water. Sponge this over the infected area to cut the soap and kill the fungus.
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5
Blow- or towel-dry the wet areas. Leaving them wet will allow the fungus to continue to thrive.
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6
Spread antifungal dressing over the areas to continue treatment and protect the exposed skin. Use Betadine ointment generously once a day. Repeat for seven days, until the affected areas are shrinking.
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7
Prevent future fungus areas by keeping the area clean and dry. Disinfect the area. Wash the clothes you wore and throw away any grooming implements that were used on the horse during the infection.
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Tips & Warnings
Inform your veterinarian that your horse had ringworm; this will affect the way your horse is treated in the future.
Ointment for athlete's foot can also be used for Step 6.
Ringworm is contagious, and can be passed to other animals.
References
- Photo Credit horse image by Penny Williams from Fotolia.com
