Ringworm: Calf Treatment Ointment and Home Therapy

Ringworm in medicine is also called trichophytosis. This is a fairly common fungal pathology that affects the skin. It provokes a pain syndrome in animals, which quickly affects the entire body. In the absence of adequate therapy, there is a risk of infection and people. Therefore, if ringworm occurs in a calf or an adult, it is recommended to use the ointment for treatment immediately.

What is this disease

The development of this pathology is associated with exposure to harmful fungal microorganisms. Pathology is usually accompanied by dermatitis. At the same time, micromycetes pose a danger to animals and humans. The risk of developing pathology increases with a weakened immune system.

Pathology can occur in young and adult animals. Most often, it provokes exhaustion and causes a decrease in productivity. For calves, pathology is a real danger, because it causes a developmental delay. At the same time, animals stop gaining weight and face disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system.

With the development of trichophytosis, primary skin lesions are observed, which are seeded by staphylococcus and other bacteria. As the disease spreads, its virulence increases.

Factors contributing to infection

If hygiene standards are violated on the farm, the risk of infection increases to 90%. The disease can spread rapidly. It is easily transmitted from infected individuals to he althy ones.

There are a number of factors that increase the risk of trichophytosis. These include the following:

• insufficient disinfection of tools used for calf care and housekeeping;
• excessive humidity;
• Crowded animal content;
• low light;
• lack of vitamins;
• violation of the rules of leaving.

The spread of infection is possible even during the incubation period if there are no symptoms of the disease on the body of the animal.

Unpleasant and dangerous symptoms

Pathology is characterized by pronounced symptoms, therefore it is difficult to confuse it with other ailments. When in doubt, it is worth consulting with a veterinarian who will tell you what ringworm looks like and make the correct diagnosis.

Infection of livestock with a fungal infection can be recognized by the following signs:

• exfoliation of the skin in the area affected by the pathogen;
• the appearance of a gray coating on the coat - subsequently these areas become bald;
• hair loss in the form of cut hairs at the root - this is caused by the defeat of the follicles by fungi;
• appearance of bald spots - they have a round or oval shape and differ in size.

As the pathology develops, animals become more aggressive and irritable. It is associated with constant itching. In addition, infected calves appear emaciated. This is due to loss of appetite and deterioration of digestive functions.

If you do not start therapy in time, your he alth worsens. If a secondary infection joins the lichen, there is a possibility of the death of the affected animal.

Diagnostic measures

To establish the correct diagnosis, it is enough to examine the calf. Ringworm has typical symptoms. Sometimes the exclusion of other dermatological pathologies is required. In this case, you need to take samples of diseased tissues for analysis. For this, it is recommended to use scales of hairs and skin. Usually, differential diagnosis is carried out with scabies, since these pathologies have a similar clinical picture.

When diagnosing, the veterinarian is interested in the form of the course of the disease - it can be erased, deep, superficial, vesicular. It should be borne in mind that in adult animals the disease is characterized by a milder course. This is due to the fact that the immune system is able to cope with the infection. Young animals have weaker immunity.

Because the fungus is able to penetrate into the deep layers of the dermis. This provokes the appearance of a deep or blistering form of pathology.

Rules for the treatment of lichen in cattle

Treatment of trichophytosis is carried out in different ways. Therapy is selected taking into account the type of pathology and its severity. At the initial stage, the use of antimycotic drugs and keratolytics is sufficient. In difficult cases, vaccination is carried out.

Antimycotics

Before treating a calf or cow with antimycotic ointments, remove dirt, crusts and other substances that will prevent the active substance from entering the inflammation site. It is best to clean, soften and steam the skin before applying the ointment.

Usually the following remedies are used to treat CRS:

1. Ointment "Yam" - is an antifungal drug, which contains antifungal and astringent components. Already after 2 treatments, the crusts will peel off within 1 week. The regrowth of the hair testifies to the effectiveness of the therapy.
2. "Zoomikol" - the active ingredient of the product is thiabendazole. Under its influence, micromycetes stop their reproduction. The substance is produced in the form of a spray. It needs to be evenly applied to the sore spot and capture 1-2 centimeters of he althy skin. It is recommended to re-treat the animal after 3-5 days. The course of therapy includes 3-4 applications of the substance.
3. "Imaverol" - is produced in the form of a thick concentrate for making an emulsion. To do this, the substance is mixed with water in a ratio of 1:5. The composition is recommended to be used per day. In this case, the animal is recommended to be treated 4 times with an interval of 3 days.

Keratolytics

Such drugs are used to restore the epidermis. This should be done in combination with antimicrobial agents. The most effective keratolytics include:

• tar ointment;
• 10% iodine solution;
• solution of brilliant green with a concentration of 10%;
• sulfur ointment.

Immunization

Vaccination can be used to prevent and accelerate the recovery of affected individuals. Today, the following means are used for these purposes:

• TF-130;
• SP-1;
• LTF-130.

The vaccine includes a sterile fungal culture. When a calf enters the body, it develops resistance to the causative agent of pathology. Animals should be vaccinated before 6 months of age. Immunity develops in 2 weeks and lasts for 7 years.

Therapy for comorbidities

Sometimes, in addition to ringworm, it is required to treat comorbidities. Under the influence of micromycetes, a significant weakening of the animal's body occurs. In such a situation, there is a risk of infection of the calf with parasites or ticks. Ivermek helps to cope with related disorders.

Disinfection measures

To make the treatment more effective, it is important to disinfect the stall and feeders. Fungal spores persist in the external environment for many days. To avoid their growth, it is recommended to disinfect feeders, equipment, floors, walls. For this purpose, the following may be used:

• formalin solution - its concentration should be 5%;
• chlorine solution - make a concentration of 20%;
• carbolic solution.

Folk remedies

For the treatment of ringworm at home, it is permissible to use the following remedies:

1. Tar ointment - for its manufacture, tar is recommended to be mixed with petroleum jelly in a ratio of 1:5. Apply the composition twice a day - in the morning and in the evening.
2. Turpentine ointment - for this, mix turpentine with tar in a ratio of 2:1.
3. Composition based on copper sulphate - it is mixed with lime and sulfur in a ratio of 1:2:3.

Prevention

To avoid ringworm, do the following:

• keep the pen clean;
• destroy rodents;
• perform inspection of calves from time to time for timely detection of pathology;
• vaccinate animals at risk in a timely manner.

The vaccine is recommended to be administered 2-3 times with an interval of 10-14 days. For infected individuals, a double dose should be used.

Ringworm is a serious danger. This is due to its rapid spread throughout the body of the animal. Under the influence of a fungal infection, the immunity of the calf is affected, which increases the risk of infection with bacteria. Therefore, at the first symptoms of pathology, it is recommended to take immediate action.

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