What is ringworm?
Despite its name, ringworm has nothing to do with worms—it is a common fungal skin infection. In animals, ringworm infection can show up as skin lesions, and it could cause dry, grey, scaly patches and hair loss.
Is ringworm contagious?
Ringworm is contagious to people, especially people with compromised immune systems (children, elderly people, pregnant women, people who are HIV-positive, people on chemotherapy or recovering from a transfusion or transplant, and highly stressed people are most at risk.) We highly recommend that only one person in your household care for your new kitten until their infection has cleared up.
Ringworm is also transferable to other animals, especially young or elderly animals. Do not let your new kitten interact with other animals until they are cleared of the infection.
How long does a ringworm infection last?
The infection period varies by animal. With continuous treatment and proper management of the space the infected pet is living in, the infection should clear up within 8 weeks.
How do I care for a pet with ringworm?
Ringworm spores are very hardy and can survive in the environment for a long time. We recommend that adopters adhere to a strict, thorough cleaning routine in order to keep your infected pet and your family safe.
- Confine your pet to one room (ideally a bathroom) so that they do not come into contact with other family members—human or animal.
- Thoroughly clean the room three times a week with anti-bacterial disinfectants.
- A 1:10 ratio of bleach to water should be used on bleachable surfaces. The surfaces must stay wet for 10 minutes to kill the ringworm spores.
- If the room contains any rugs or carpeting, they should be thoroughly vacuumed for a minimum of 10 minutes. If possible, we recommend purchasing a cheap vacuum and discarding it after the ringworm episode is over.
How do I know if I caught ringworm?
On humans, ringworm appears as an itchy red mark on the skin. If you suspect that you’ve caught ringworm, contact your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Do I need to take my pet to the vet for ringworm?
Yes. You will need to reach out to your community veterinarian to establish care, continue testing, and refill medications until your pet is cleared of ringworm. Our average duration for the treatment of ringworm is 6-8 weeks. OHS provides adopters of ringworm animals with 30 days of treatment, but there is no guarantee that this infection will be resolved within 30 days. Multiple factors, including reinfection, can prolong treatment outside of this average. We recommend you reach out to your community veterinarian soon after adoption as it can be several weeks before your veterinarian has availability to see you and your pet.
OHS adopters receive the benefit of a free veterinary exam for their newly adopted pet. Learn more here.
Find comprehensive information about ringworm from veterinarians here.
