So my dog Charlie had this weird bald spot on his leg. I thought maybe he scratched it too hard or something. Three weeks later, he had four more spots just like it. Turns out it was ringworm.
Nobody told me dogs could get ringworm. I mean, I knew kids could get it, but dogs? And the worst part – I had no idea what I was looking for.
What Ringworm Actually Is
It’s not worms. I know, dumb name. It’s just a fungus that eats dog hair and skin. Gross, right?
Dogs catch it from other dogs, dirty brushes, or even from soil. Puppies get it a lot because their immune systems suck. Old dogs get it too.
The fungus makes these ring-shaped bald patches. That’s why they call it ringworm.
What Does Ringworm Look Like on Dogs
Those Famous Circles
Most dogs get these round bald spots. The hair falls out in a perfect circle, and the skin underneath looks gross and flaky. It’s like someone drew on your dog with hair remover.
Charlie’s first spot was about the size of a nickel. The edges were red and bumpy, the middle part was just bare skin with white flakes all over it.
Sometimes the circles aren’t perfect. My neighbor’s dog had oval-shaped patches that looked more like someone spilled bleach on him.
Broken Hair Everywhere
The hair doesn’t just fall out. It breaks off right at the skin. So you get these tiny hair stubs poking out everywhere. Feels like sandpaper when you touch it.
I could see all the broken pieces mixed in with the flaky skin. Really nasty looking.
Skin That Looks Terrible
The bald areas get super dry and crusty. Sometimes they’re gray, sometimes they have this white powdery stuff on them. Looks like bad dandruff that won’t come off.
Charlie’s spots always had these thick flakes stuck to his skin. When I tried to brush them away, they wouldn’t budge.
Where Dogs Get Ringworm
Head Area
Lots of dogs get it around their ears or on their face. Charlie got one spot right behind his ear that I didn’t notice for weeks because his hair covered it.
Dogs with floppy ears get it there a lot. All that moisture and warmth – perfect for fungus.
Paws
Paw ringworm is weird. It doesn’t always make circles. Sometimes it just makes the area between their toes look infected and crusty. The nails can get brittle too.
My friend thought her dog hurt his paw. Turned out to be ringworm, but it took months to figure out.
Body
The back and sides are where you see those classic ring shapes. Usually the biggest spots too. These are easy to spot once you know what you’re looking for.
Tail
Check near the base of the tail. Dogs can’t scratch back there easily, so ringworm can get really bad in that spot before you notice.
Early Signs
Different Scratching
Charlie started pawing at his leg about two weeks before I saw the bald spot. He’d never done that before, just kept scratching the same area over and over.
If your dog becomes obsessed with one spot, check it out. They usually know something’s wrong before we do.
Hair Feels Weird
The hair might feel different when you pet your dog. Rougher, more brittle. During brushing, you might notice certain areas don’t feel as soft.
I thought Charlie’s coat was just getting coarser because he was getting older. Nope, it was ringworm starting.
Looks Duller
Sometimes the hair loses its shine in certain patches before it starts falling out. It’s subtle, but once you know what to look for, it’s pretty obvious.
What It’s Not
Hot Spots
Hot spots are red, wet, and smell bad. They happen fast and are usually from too much licking. Ringworm is dry and flaky and doesn’t smell.
Allergies
Allergies make dogs itchy everywhere. Ringworm is just specific spots with those weird circular patterns.
Cuts or Bug Bites
Cuts heal. Bug bites go away in a few days. Ringworm gets worse and spreads if you don’t treat it.
Questions Everyone Asks
Does it always make perfect circles? No. Sometimes it’s just weird patches, especially on bumpy areas like the face. Don’t wait for perfect rings.
How fast does it spread? Depends. Charlie got four new spots in two weeks. My sister’s dog had one spot for months.
Does it itch? Some dogs scratch constantly, others don’t seem bothered. Charlie barely scratched his spots.
Can I catch it? Yes. Wash your hands after touching your dog. I got a small spot on my wrist.
What if it doesn’t look like the pictures online? Any weird hair loss needs checking. Don’t wait for textbook symptoms.
When to Get Help
Regular Vet Visit
If you see round bald patches or multiple spots appearing, call your vet. Don’t wait weeks like I did.
Emergency
If your dog has tons of spots or seems sick, get help immediately.
How Vets Test for It
UV Light
They shine this special light on the spots. Some ringworm glows, but not all types. So if nothing glows, it doesn’t mean your dog is fine.
Microscope
They scrape some skin and look at it under a microscope. Faster than other tests.
Lab Test
They grow the fungus in a dish. Takes three weeks but tells you exactly what kind it is.
Treatment
Special Shampoo
You’ll wash your dog with antifungal shampoo twice a week. Smells terrible and dogs hate it, but it works.
Pills
Bad cases need medication. Your dog takes pills for weeks to kill the fungus from inside.
Clean Everything
The fungus lives on stuff for months. Wash all your dog’s bedding and toys constantly. Use bleach on hard surfaces.
Prevention
Check Your Dog Regularly
Look at your dog’s skin when you brush them. Feel for rough patches or areas that seem different.
Keep Things Clean
Wash dog beds and toys often. Make sure grooming places are clean before you take your dog there.
Healthy Dog
Dogs with strong immune systems fight ringworm better. Good food and exercise help.
Getting Through Treatment
It Takes Time
Treatment lasts 6-12 weeks usually. Don’t stop early even if it looks better.
Keep Dogs Apart
Try to keep infected dogs away from other pets until treatment works.
It’s Not Dangerous
Ringworm won’t kill your dog. It’s just annoying and spreads easily.
What I Learned
Ringworm makes circular bald spots with flaky skin. But don’t wait for perfect circles – any strange hair loss should get checked.
I wish I’d taken Charlie to the vet right away instead of waiting for more spots to appear. Early treatment is so much easier.
Take pictures of weird spots so you can see if they’re getting bigger. Most vets want to see photos anyway.
The main thing is catching it early. Your dog will feel better faster, and you won’t spread it to everyone else in your house.
Trust me, dealing with ringworm on multiple pets is way worse than treating just one dog. Learn from my mistake and get suspicious spots checked right away.
