My dog has a strange patch. Could it be ringworm? How to tell?

If it looks like ringworm, it is quite possible that Buzz does have ringworm. I would isolate him from any other animals in the home right away, as it is contagious to both other animals and humans. Have him seen by a vet in the morning, who can use a fungal culture and Wood's lamp to confirm he does have ringworm, and can prescribe antifungal treatments for it. Do not use any OTC antifungal treatments on it, such as ointment for athlete's foot because athlete's foot is caused by a different fungus than ringworm and it will not treat it. If Buzz does have ringworm, you will have to check yourself to make sure you don't have any lesions from it, and see if your doctor if you find suspicious spots. You will also need to disinfect your home, and I will give you a link to a website that details exactly how to do this. I hope this advice helps you! http://www.livestrong.com/article/49666-rid-home-ringworm/

The lesion on Chance's face could be due to ringworm, mange, or a bacterial skin infection. The only way to differentiate between these conditions is with diagnostic testing. Since ringworm and one type of mange (Sarcoptic mange) are contagious to people and other pets, I recommend taking Chance to his vet. The vet will be able to perform a fungal culture (to check for ringworm), a skin scrape (to look for the mites causing mange), and a skin cytology (to look for bacteria). From there, medication can be started. I hope that all goes well!

Without seeing it in person, I can't say if it's mange or ringworm for sure. Ringworm is typically a circular lesion that is red in color. Mange can be demodex or sarcoptic, but again without seeing him in person, I don't know which type it is. At the vet, they will likely use a Wood's lamp to see if the spot is ringworm, as infected hairs can fluoresce under the ultraviolet light. Not all cases of ringworm will do this, so a fungal culture may be needed. To diagnose mange, the vet takes skin scrapings, and looks at the sample under a microscope. The demodex mite is typically easily seen with a skin scraping, while it can take several skin scrapings to find the sarcoptic mite. Once the cause is found, the vet can discuss treatment with you. Good luck at the vet's tomorrow!

Hello there. Thank you for using PetCoach and thank you for including photos. My best guess is that this is ringworm. It does not look like a bite. I suggest you get Molekin' to your vet for an exam and to get a proper diagnosis for two reasons. Number one, ringworm is contagious to people and number two, an adult dog that gets ringworm usually has an underlying problem with their immune system. An adult dog should not get it. This is much more common in puppies. Remember, it is impossible for me to diagnose over the internet with just a photo. I am just giving my best guess. Many skin diseases look similar to the naked eye so that is why testing is important. Here is a link to an article about ringworm: ( https://www.petcoach.co/article/ringworm-in-dogs/ ) If you wanted to try something at home first you can buy over the counter athletes foot cream which is an antifungal and apply that twice daily. It may take 2+ months for it to clear completely up but you should start noticing a difference in a .couple weeks. If you don't have any improvement in 2 weeks or it worsens then you definitely need to get him to the vet. Wash your hands thoroughly after touching this spot just in case it is ringworm, you don't want to get it! ( https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lamisil-Cream-0-42-Oz/10294288 ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

It could be ringworm but it could also be some other fungal or bacterial infection, you need to take him to the vet in order to have it checked and diagnose, if it is ringworm he will need an anti fungal treatment for 3 weeks.

From the picture you provided, it doesn't appear to be ringworm, but as you said I can't say for sure without seeing him. It could be a bit of dry skin, or a scab from a previous injury. I'd just keep an eye on it for now. If it becomes red, gets larger, and/or doesn't go away, then I would have him seen by a vet. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

When I hear that a dog like Boo has small, circular sores, the first thing that comes to my mind is ringworm. Ringworm is a fungal infection that is characterized by red circles. I would take Boo into the vet tomorrow. The vet can do a physical exam, use a Wood's lamp, and may do a fungal culture to confirm that he does have ringworm. If he does, every animal in your house will need to be treated for it, as it's highly contagious to both animals and humans. You will also have to disinfect the home. I will link a website that gives details on how to disinfect a house from ringworm. This is very important to do, as the spores can live for up to 18 months in a home. http://www.livestrong.com/article/49666-rid-home-ringworm/