What should I do if my pet mice have ringworm and I caught it?

I am sorry to hear about your kitty! I would recommend a visit to your vet for a test to see if this is truly ringworm. You do want to know if this is ringworm because it can be transmitted to people if so, and to other pets. Your vet can use a special light to examine the area and if it doesn't show any infection they may pluck some hairs to do a ringworm culture. Griseofulvin used to be the common treatment for ringworm but now there are other medications we often use which we feel are more effective with fewer side effects. Here is an article with information on ringworm http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=559 . It is possible this is ringworm, but we can also see bacterial infections or insect bites that can show circular bald areas like you are seeing so it is best to find out for sure!

Can be but may not be. Your vet can use a woods lamp to see if it glows green. If it does then it is ringworm. If it does not then it still can be ringworm but may not be. There is a fungal test to confirm if it is or not. Does anyone in your home have lesions? I would also recommend skin scraping the area looking for mites if it is just hairloss and not scabbing also. Mia needs to have a vet physically examine this area and the rest of her to see exactly what is going on. Ringworm can be treated topically if just one location with an anti-fungal cream. I also recommend ecollars after applying the cream so they do not lick the areas. If it is more than one location then I recommend oral anti-fungal medications. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there! Fur mites are relatively common in mice, especially if they are from a pet store. There are other conditions that can cause hair loss and skin lesions, but many times the most damage done is self-inflicted. I strongly suggest trimming little Rosy's rear toenails if you can, especially if the skin lesion is at a location that she can scratch at (like the back of her neck, or between the shoulder blades). A tiny scissor or a human fingernail trimmer is good for this. In albino mice, you should be able to see the small, pink vein in the nail - avoid cutting past this. If you do accidentally nick a toenail, don't worry - a small bit of corn starch should stop this up. In a pinch, scratching a bleeding nail on a bar of soap can help, too. Usually, simply putting pressure on it for a minute or so is enough to stop the bleeding, too. Once her nails are trimmed, I suggest cleaning up any skin lesions with a mild soap and water solution, then placing a protective ointment (like the antibiotic ointment you have) on the lesion before applying the mite spray. Most rodent mites live in the fur, so protecting the skin lesions shouldn't decrease the effectiveness of the mite treatment. Do avoid the eyes, nose, and mouth, and follow the directions on the box or bottle carefully. If the toenail trim and mite treatment doesn't help, it might be time to visit the vet to check for ringworm. This is unlikely, but possible, especially if the skin lesions have a crusty or flaky center. Be sure to practice good handwashing after handling Rosy as ringworm is contagious to humans. Good luck, and I do hope that Rosy recovers quickly!

Thanks for reaching out. Scratching to the point of bleeding and wounds, is likely fur mites, which are difficult to see with the naked eye. A veterinary visit is recommended to take a skin scraping and examine under the microscope. If positive, both mice need to be treated. Good luck.

Antifungal medication (most likely a topical ointment based on itraconazole or similar) is required. Your vet can prescribe that when diagnosis has been correctly established by some skin testing for ringworm. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I would recommend treating both cats because up to 20% of ringworm affected cats can be asymptomatic carriers, meaning that you will not see any symptoms but they are still carrying the ringworm and can spread it. It will not hurt to treat the other cat. If the ringworm is spreading and not resolving, a different treatment needs to be considered and I would discuss this further with the prescribing veterinarian. Griseofulvin and topical treatments like ketoconazole can be used to treat ringworm but sometimes this depends on the ringworm species for which medication is most effective. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

IF you think shadow has ringworm on his head I would recommend anti fungal baths and possibly an oral anti fungal depending on how severe the infection is. The best idea would be to take Shadow to a vet for confirmation and treatment. Ringworm is contagious to people so make sure you are washing your hands and if you detect an abnormal rash go directly to your doctor. IF you are referring to ringworm on a person I would consult a human doctor. hope that helps! thanks for using pet coach