Dog mycosis: There may be fungi behind those hairless patches on our dog's skin
Mycosis is a very common disease in the animal world which, however, if neglected can cause serious problems for your dog. Are you sure you can understand your dog on the fly by correctly interpreting each of his woos and every time he looks at you with those super beautiful eyes? Watch the video we have selected for you and learn to understand every nuance of the best friend you've ever had!
How to recognize mycosis in dogs from the first symptoms: identify fungi
Mycosis in dogs is a skin disease that affects the skin of our four-legged friend. It is commonly referred to as a fungus, but its scientific name is dermatophytosis. You can tell that your dog has mycosis from the presence of spots on his coat that are circular in appearance, pinkish but hairless areas. The hair falls off because the fungus nestles right on the hair shaft and the dog's body makes it fall spontaneously as it recognizes it as damaged. In general, therefore, the dog tends to lose hair in the area due to the presence of fungi. This condition of alopecia then worsens when itching occurs because obviously the dog begins to scratch and this damages the skin again and causes greater hair loss. If you notice a suspicious, lacking patch, the advice we can give you is to inspect (with gloves) your dog for other similar spots. The areas of the dog's body most prone to mycosis are the head, paws and even ears. They are also those areas where the dog scratches itself with greater frequency and intensity. Most likely the pink areas have a red circle on the outermost part: this clue makes the presence of mycosis in the dog very likely! So in summary the symptoms to watch out for are pinkish and round shaped areas on the skin, without hair, with a red outline. And a dog or a cat that scratches itself because of the itch in those areas!
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Dog mycosis: what to do if your dog has dermatophytosis
Mycosis is not a serious condition, it causes generally mild symptoms and therefore there is no need to be too alarmed. However, it is good to ascertain the presence of contact infection by observing if the spots increase and if the hair falls. In any case, if you caress the dog, wash your hands well also to avoid spreading the mycosis in other places of his body as well as if you want. inspect its fur do it carefully without touching the round-shaped patches for too long. If you have other animals in the house, separating them could be the most effective choice: this fungus responsible for mycosis easily passes from one animal to another complicating the resolution of the problem. If the spot increases in size within a few days and always maintains its round appearance, we can say that there is hardly room for doubt: it is mycosis. There are dog breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier and also cat breeds such as Persians who are more susceptible to mycosis. FILV and FELV positive cats then have a greater risk of developing fungal infections. The lifestyle of dogs and cats can also affect the possibility of contracting a mycosis: so it is always better keep the dog and cat away from possible risk situations and of course from animals that already have a fungal infection. In case of mycosis it is essential to contact the veterinarian who will subject your dog to a series of tests to diagnose mycosis and the presence of the fungus with the utmost precision. An important note: Contact with man in most cases does not involve the risk of transmitting the disease but it is essential to disinfect the environments to prevent the fungus from reproducing, making the resolution of the problem complicated and extending the time of treatment in an important way. ..
The veterinarian: diagnosis of mycosis in dogs and cats
To diagnose the presence of mycosis, the vet uses the Wood's lamp, a diagnostic tool equipped with a magnifying glass and an ultraviolet light bulb. First, the vet turns on the lamp and waits 10 minutes to give the bulb time to warm up. He then scans the areas affected by the patches under ultraviolet light to diagnose the disease. In fact, some fungi in the light of the lamp become fluorescent green: if this happens, mycosis is safe. Some varieties of fungus require further tests in the laboratory, just take a small sample of skin and hair to be analyzed. Wood's lamp can provide the certainty of a mycosis in progress but not 100% exclude the disease because only 50% of the fungi turn green in the lamp. If Wood's lamp does not give a positive result, it is sufficient to continue the tests. An important examination to perform is that of the hair (trichological examination): by observing the hair under a microscope it is possible to notice the presence of fungal spores around the stem. If this result does not offer certain answers, the vet will do a fungal culture. This test takes longer but offers a safe result. The veterinarian with a simple brush takes some material from the hairless skin of the dog and seals it on a fungal culture medium. You have to wait: if the fungus grows on your dog's skin there is a mycosis. Your vet will certainly have an outpatient kit ready: you have to wait a while to see if the reaction generates a change in color (usually 4 or 5 days) but to completely exclude the presence of the fungus you have to wait 2 weeks without changes.
Dog mycosis: the most effective therapy
As with any other pathology of dogs, cats or any animal, going to the vet is essential and resorting to do-it-yourself is always a wrong choice which in some cases can also significantly worsen the situation and the evolution of the disease. First of all, as we have seen it is necessary to ascertain the presence of the fungus that caused the mycosis and to exclude other pathologies and other causes. In healthy subjects, and therefore in dogs and cats in good health, mycoses often heal even spontaneously. The veterinarian to limit the discomfort and itching and accelerate healing prescribes ointments and drugs for systemic use, the most effective active ingredients are based on griseofulvin and azole derivatives. It is essential to proceed with shaving the hair in order to facilitate the application of the ointments and enhance the effects. There are many types of drugs capable of counteracting mycosis: the vet will certainly be able to advise you on the one that best suits your pet's needs! And after having found the right therapy, make sure you also take care of the aspects of his hygiene and his life at home, disinfecting the environments that can represent an important vehicle of the disease and using special products and specific shampoos for cleaning.
Disinfection of environments from fungi: how to remove the risk of relapses
The decontamination of the environment and the elimination of fungi is essential to preserve the health of your dog and limit the risk of recurrence. First, then wash and disinfect the toys and the dog's bed with a suitable product. A good wash at high temperatures and the right products usually suffice. It is good that during the treatment the dog is not with other animals but let us always ask the veterinarian for advice because each subject is different and has their own habits and sudden and sudden changes would risk damaging his well-being perhaps more than contact with another animal. Mycosis in general is a disease that in animals, like humans, affects more subjects with low immune defenses. In dogs it is more frequent, not surprisingly, in young subjects, puppies and very old subjects. It is generally common in adult dogs only if immunosuppressed. The cause is soon explained: if the immune defenses do not work properly, the fungi are free to proliferate and cause infection, precisely mycosis.
As with many other dog diseases, an early diagnosis is essential to give your friend back all the carefree and well-being he deserves (and in the case of mycosis also to get rid of the itch from his fur ... which is quite a lot '' bothersome!)
