It is well known by all that welcoming a dog or a cat as a pet into our home requires a great responsibility, but today there are many more animals that perfectly fulfill the role of pet, including rabbits.
Far from what might initially be believed, taking in a rabbit also represents a great responsibility, since they are animals that also require certain care in order to avoid numerous pathologies that can affect them.
In this article we show you all the information you need to know about the contagion and treatment of ringworm in rabbits, a dermatological disease and infectious disease that affects a great diversity of mammals.
What is ringworm
Ringworm, also known as dermatophytosis or dermatomycosis, is a disease that affects the skin and is caused by a fungus, in In this case, we are facing one of the few diseases that can be transmitted from an animal to a human being. There can be several fungi that cause ringworm in rabbits, although the most common is Trichophyton mentagrophytes.
Sometimes ringworm presents as a self-limited disease, that is, without any intervention it can be cured by itself since its course does not have to be indefinite, but is limited, however, the treatment is always recommended to prevent an extension or aggravation of skin lesions.
Remember that dogs can also get ringworm so if you have another pet in your home you should separate them to prevent your cat from getting ringworm, for example.
Ringworm infection in rabbits
Ringworm is spread in rabbits by a form of the microorganism known as a spore. The spores pass from an infected animal to the environment and can survive in the environment for approximately 18 months.
The spores can infect inert material (cages or accessories), so contagion occurs through contact with this infected material or through direct contact with another animal that is already suffering from the disease. Some animals are carriers of this microorganism but do not develop the disease, so they do not show symptoms, but they also act as a source of contagion.
Young rabbits or those subjected to stressful situations are more susceptible to this type of microorganism.
Symptoms of ringworm in rabbits
If our rabbit suffers from a fungal skin infection and ends up developing ringworm, we can observe the following symptoms:
- Body areas with hair loss and dry, scaly skin
- Dermatological lesions that spread to other areas of the skin
- Dermatological lesions that take on a reddish color
- Symptoms of itching and discomfort
- Wounds from the animal's scratches with possible secondary bacterial infection
If we observe any of these symptoms in our rabbit we should go to the vet as soon as possible so that he can verify the diagnosis and tell us indicate the most appropriate treatment.
Diagnosis and treatment of ringworm in rabbits
There are several methods to diagnose ringworm, however, the most reliable is to perform a small removal of the scales and crusts present on the lesion to later carry out a culture that will indicate what type of microorganism is causing the dermatological disease.
The treatment of ringworm in rabbits may vary depending on each specific case, since on several occasions the rabbit can recover without the need for treatmentPharmacological, only with changes in their immediate environment and proper trimming of the coat, which should always be carried out by qualified personnel.
In the event that pharmacological treatment is required, antifungals will be used, miconazole or clotrimazole will be those of choice for topical treatment, although if the treatment must be carried out orally, itraconazole will generally be used.
Remember that only the veterinarian is the person indicated to prescribe a treatment and he will indicate the duration of the treatment, although generally it should be continued for 2 weeks after the disappearance of the lesions or until the tests of culture are negative for the presence of fungi.
Avoid contagion to humans
Ringworm is a zoonosis, so it can be spread from an animal to a person, being especially vulnerable those people with a depressed immune system, which can occur if you follow chemotherapy treatments or if you have HIV or AIDS.
It is always important to handle the rabbit with gloves and wash your hands properly after each handling.
