Signs, symptoms and treatments of ringworm in horses

If left untreated, ringworm can become a serious problem for your horse. Therefore, it’s important to be able to spot the common ringworm symptoms that may help you decide on a course of treatment. In this guide we take a look at the ringworm warning signs and offer advice on finding a cure for ringworm.

• Before deciding whether you need ringworm treatment for horses, you must diagnose the infection. Examine your horse for irritated skin patches that appear crusty and flaky. Pay particular attention to the girth area, as this is where horse ringworm commonly begins. 
   
• Once you have found the infected areas, clip the hair in these places. Clean it up so that the dead skin and hair cells can be eliminated. Ensure that you clip around the areas too. 
   
• Now sponge some water onto the shaved parts. Use a ringworm treatment for horses such as Betadine. This is an antifungal wash that can be purchased from your vet or horse supply shops. The scrub should be left on for about 10 minutes.
   
• Horse ringworm treatment continues by mixing 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with some water. Apply this to the treated areas in order to wash the soap off thoroughly and kill fungus. 
   
• Towel dry or blow dry the wet patches until they are no longer moist. If you leave the areas wet, fungus can thrive easily. 
   
• Dress the areas with an antifungal dressing so that the exposed skin is covered and protected. The Betadine ointment should be used daily for a week until you see the infection is reducing. 
   
• To continue ringworm treatment for horses, always make sure these areas are kept dry and clean. Disinfect the area your horse dwells in and wash your clothes.