Located in the San Fernando Valley, 16907 San Fernando Mission Blvd. Granada Hills Ca, 818-363-8143
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“Ringworm”
is a skin disease of
warm-blooded mammals properly termed “Dermatomycosis.” It
can be a major problem in multiple animal households and kennels/catteries.
It is caused by a fungus-type
organism. It is NOT a “worm!” The fungus lives in the outer layers of
skin, hair shafts, and toe nails.
It invades the hair follicles damaging the actual hair itself.
The hairs become fragile and break easily.
As the infection progresses, more and more hair may be lost. After
appropriate treatment, the hair will grow back though sometimes discolored.
Ringworm may result in secondary bacterial infections of the skin causing
destruction of the hair follicles-so that hair may not grow back.
It is important to initiate treatment early. Dogs and cats become infected with the
fungus by contact with other infected animals, infected people, or contaminated
soil. Diagnosis
is made by specific tests including skin scrapings, ultraviolet light
observation, fungal cultures, and sometimes biopsy. Ringworm is contagious to people.
In fact, the disease
“Athlete’s Foot” is a form of ringworm very common in people. It is important that we culture suspected
cases of ringworm to determine the specific fungus due to the possibility of
family members and/or other pets contracting the infection.
16907 San Fernando Mission Blvd. Granada Hills, Ca. 91344 818-363-8143
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