Recognize ringworm, treat it and educate clients fast says Chris Keller, Animal Dermatology Center, Studio City, California. The zoonotic potential of this disease must not be underestimated. Frequent client communication and patient monitoring are the best ways to assure a successful outcome. He discusses how the disease presents, diagnosis, treatment and environmental controls for clinics and clients’ homes.
Source: Veterinary Team Brief, September June 2015.
Ringworm’s classic presentation is a circular area of hair loss and crusted, slightly inflamed lesions that commonly appear on the face, ears, and legs. However, many ringworm cases do not fit this pattern and patients may present with a wide variety of signs (eg, generalized hair loss, nodules, hyperpigmentation [particularly seen in cats]).
INSIGHTS: It’s often not in a ring and it’s not a worm, reminds Kelly. He discusses using a Woods lamp to evaluate suspected lesions and shares in-house sample collection methods.