Natural Remedies for Ringworm in Dogs and Cats

Thankyou so very much for your wonderful advice Xxxxxxxxx

I still do not have diagnosis but I think my cat has got ringworm. I am applying Apple Cider Vinegar three times a day 50/50 and Lamisil morning and evening. It's a big struggle to disinfect the area twice daily. I hope that my cat will be ok soon.

Thank you Esublime for your post. Fingers crossed!

Esublime,

Thank you for your detailed explanation!! Even though I have not taken my cat Princess to the Vet (appt Monday), I suspect she has ringworm. After reading your report, I have begun to use ACV, made a mixture for spraying carpet, etc., rinsing my hair with mixture, trying to cover my basis, so to speak. Again, thanks!!

Betty - what specific mixture did you use for your carpet? I'm going to need to disinfect the room my cat is quarantined in and would like to use your suggestion.

Can Apple Cider Vinegar help get rid of ringworm on kittens face? We just adopted two kittens, and both have it. They are being treated with antibiotics from vet, vet says they need to be quarantined for 21 days. Can I speed up this process somehow? I have started Apple Cider Vinegar in their water already.

Hey Jessica,

You can use a cotton ball dipped in the ACV to carefully apply to the face. And your vet is correct, you do need to quarantine to avoid contaminating your entire house. I rescued a kitten that had ringworm - I didn't know this until after I had sent the kitten to rescue, and then found all of my DOGS now started to have funny bald spots! The vet confirmed the ringworm with a black light - it glowed bright apple green under the light. So I came up with a battle plan: I bathed the dogs daily in Selsun blue/anti-fungal shampoo. Since I sleep with my pets it meant washing my bedding daily also. I got a black light and used it on the dogs daily - when I found faint green spots under the light, I painted them over with fingernail polish [to seal out the air and smother the fungus]. I used the black light to go over every inch of the house where the dogs could roam and used duct tape to sticky-up anything that glowed green. I had the outbreak quashed and eliminated in 2 weeks.

I've heard you can also put ACV in the cats food. Have you tried that? I have 3 cats infected 😢 and I've been trying everything. Vet prescription was a waste of $75. I typically Dab 100% ACV on the spot and put about a teaspoon for 3 cats in their wet food. Only one of my cats, however, will eat it! I thought I had this gone and now it just came back. So far, though, they've only had a couple around their forehead and I believe their lips. 😢 I'm just not sure what it looks like on the lips so I'm not sure if it's ringworm or if they're biting each other on the mouth when playing. Do you have a picture?

Dawn,

Invest in a black light - this way you can SEE the ringworm spores and areas that are about to break out. If you have 3 cats with ringworm, you have a HOUSE infested with ringworm spores and you will never effect a cure if you do not sterilize your environment and treat the ringworm outbreaks on your cats skin before they bloom.

Wow,

Great move. I love the black light idea. Excellent and also the Duct tape. Thank you so much. I also think the ACV internally and externally will be a key. Will know soon.

hi. My cat may have ringworm on her arm but culture came back negative. I'm treating with ACV but it is not really working. Now I think my other cat may have something. Red and crusty ears. I'm treating her with calendula cream. But if I put clotrimazole won't she link it off? And isn't it toxic to cats?

I just wanted to repost my results with the ACV I used! Our cat has completely recovered and has no ringworm! I treated her by using 1/2 tsp water mixed with 1/2 tsp ACV and dipping a cotton ball in it and applying it to the spot 3x daily! I started noticing results after about 2 days! The treatment took 10-12 days top complete get rid of it! After doing this I bathed her one time in Selsun Blue shampoo! I used a very small and amount and washed her entire body except for her face! I made sure to rinse her really well! I read the Selsun Blue shampoo would remove any other fungus from the ringworm that could be lingering in her coat! I then blow dryed her on the lowest setting and with warm not hot air! Before bringing her back in the home I washed everyones bedding and vaccumed vigorously! I also bleached any surface she had come in contact with! (window seals, tile, food bowls, litter box) I threw out her old bed and just bought a new one and new toys! No one in our family got the ringworm and she never had more thanone spot! She is happy, healthy, and won't return to the vet that she got this from! Sanitation is very important and cleaning their surfaces with bleach water would've prevented this from happening! Good Luck and hope this helps someone else! We will happily celebrate Christmas with our kitty inside to enjoy it too!

My name is Ana and I'm sixteen years old. I have a one and a half year old dog named Lola. She hasn't had any medical problems so I didn't know what to think of this until my boyfriend said it was ringworm. It's located on her belly. I told my mom and she also didn't know what to do. I told her we were ganna have to take her to the vet but she isn't able to pay for that at the time so I looked for something that I can treat her with here at home. I went to walmart and found her some dog medicine that was for hookworms and large round worms so I got it. I've been giving her 1tsp a day and don't know if it's working. It looks as if she has been scratching at it and it has been peeling off. So I'm not sure. Should I keep giving this to her and wait to see what happened or should I try the ACV remedy?? Help please.!

Ana... Ringworm is not a worm... It is a fungus. Do not keep giving your pet the intestinal dewormer. You will need anti fungal cream and shampoo. Neither are very expensive.

... and refrigerate the worm medicine because Lola won't be needing any of it for about 6 mo.

I read online that turbinate cream is good for dogs. It is an athlete's foot cream for people. My dog had horrible ringworm and the cream clears it up. He has two spots though on his legs that are lingering, so I ordered Betadine solution on Amazon because I have read it is excellent remedy. Getting ready to use it for the first time tonight. Will let you know how it all works out.

Too many people make this bad mistake, Please DO NOT use products for DOGS on CATS...it could be toxic and could lead to seizures and potential brain damage. It can also kill your cat.

you can get the over the counter anti fungal topicals and apple cider vinegar usually at the dollar store! mix the vinegar 50/50 with water and dab on with cotton balls or cotton rag that you will wash in hot water.

Spray colliodal silver on it

I tried giving my dogs (9 months, 10 and 12 years old, respectively) ACV in their food. I only gave them 1 tsp. per day. After two days, they all started hacking, and kept my husband and I awake all night. I stopped the ACV, gave them some cold pressed barley pills (three each), and they have slept through the night since. The hacking completely resolved in a day. A friend told me that ACV actually ate through the stomach of another friend's dog and killed him. I am going to try the ACV TOPICALLY and diluted for my 9 month old's ringworm, but would caution anyone against giving it orally to any animal.

Sorry, but I really question this post and wonder if its appropriate content for this website: that "apple cider vinegar ate through the lining of a dog's stomach and killed him". Unless you are torturing a dog by making him drink large quantities of undiluted apple cider vinegar, this just ain't going to happen. I have been giving dogs diluted apple cider vinegar in small quantities for years without any problems.

Please have your friend send us the autopsy results proving that apple cider vinegar killed the dog and I will pay more attention.

Regarding Michael's comment: The information about the dog dying from ACV was obtained from a friend who knew this person. Obviously, the dog has since been buried and an autopsy is out of the question. However, given the fact that MY dogs suffered from incessant hacking from only 1 tsp. of ACV in their food (well-diluted, mind you), I would not recommend it for internal use in dogs. Nevertheless, I would be interested in knowing at what dose Michael uses for his dogs.

I've always heard of a ACV treatment for topical means but I've never seen it in oral mean.I'd imagine ingesting ACV would be pretty disgusting and would cause this. I've been fighting a fungal infection in my cat and Verbac shampoo seemed to work right off the bat but then it came back during treatment. Then we switched recently to terbinafide hydrochloride (Lotramin) and that just turned my cat into a zombie. I switched vets and he gave her griseofulvin 250mg (30 days) and Prednisone (20 days) for for the itch. That looked like it was working for a little over a month with new hair growth. We decided to keep two more weeks with the griseofulvin pills but she shortly developed more spots. So, 20 days of prednisone again and keeping the griseofulvin 250mg.That's where we are 1 years in. Maybe after this I'll try the ACV topically. However, by all account she should have been cured by now.

I am sure the treatment is topical. I would never give it to my animal to drink. Use common sense!

I can't imagine anyone saying Apple Cider Vinegar is not good to ingest for anyone. My mother in law has been drinking it for years and diluted for pets helps with so many issues. If the pet is coughing it is more likely a smell issue, back of the throat kind of thing. Try a more diluted solution. Try sticking your nose in a bottle and taking a whiff their senses are many times more sensitive. I hear things like this from conventional users all the time. One capful to a cup should work for most issues in a pet.

If you think that apple cider vinegar can't be fed internally you need to do more research. Just read a bag of dog food it is an ingredient in alot of high end and holistic dog foods... Come on learn a little before you open your mouths... If you aren't a vet don't act like one...

I've fed apple cider vinegar mixed in food to cats with no problems. It works well to help older cats digest food. The claim that apple cider vinegar ate through a dog's stomach is ridiculous. Stomach acid is a lot stronger than any vinegar.

just wanted to tell you have been giving my two english bulldogs organic raw Apple Cider Vinegar. And it is the best thing I have ever used I put a tsp 3x day in there food or you can put a tsp in there water.. I also clean there ears out with it.. It keeps them so clean... I also use it for tear stains it is clearing both of my dogs from the tear stain.. I even take it myself.. For acid reflux.. I haven't had an episode sense I have been taking it..... And it's all Natural.. Love it!! It does a whole lot more stuff too... Just google _____s Apple cider Vinegar... It will tell you about it.. you can get it at any health food store or Kroger grocerie store..:)

Wow.. This is a wonderful site. My questions/concerns come from a diagnosis from the doctor that my daughter has tinea versicolor. I asked her where this comes from.. She said it's a form of fungus and then she asked if we had pets. I told her we have 2 dogs and she said it most likely came from them. My daughter is taking topical treatment, but my search on the internet for a more cost effective treatment for my dog, brought me to this site.

My question is.. Is tinea versicolor the same thing as ringworm? I want to try the ACV treatment and wonder if it is ok to apply even if I havent had him diagnosed by a vet? He is a 3 lb chihuahua and I see hairloss on his underside and a lot of "circles" on his bare skin, although they are not raised or flaky (just like my daughter's symptoms). So, any feedback would be great to let me know if it is ok to apply ACV to his areas. Thanks!

I give my dog organic acv, everyday in her meals. Two teaspoonful and she loves it. after a bath with malaseb shampoo that can be order at 1800petmed. Com, after she is completely rinsed then I pour the Apple Cider Vinegar and half water over her fungal infections. Dry her off completely(blow dry low heat) then I apply the vaginal cream, miconzole, ( I buy at target or any store) infected areas.

I also, with a cotton ball, 1 cap full of Apple Cider Vinegar and distilled water, I clean the inside of her ears and make sure all the liquid comes out , I apply a dab of clotrimazole 1% athlete's foot cream inside her ear outer ear miconozale. Of course her yeast or (ringworm) is caused by food allergies, it was really a battle changing her food to holistic and organic (vitamins to built her immune system. Sometimes I prepare her meals. The outcome she is clear of all that black crusty mess (malassezia) when she was given to me, she was 4 months old, notice that dark discharge in her ears. I took her to the vet and he prescribe ton of antibiotics which at the time, I did not have a clue that later it would cause havoc on her and me. Antibiotics mess her immune system plus her allergies. Another thing that I have learn, her sugar intake in food even if they are organic. Yeast, or fungal feeds on it.

Apple cider vinegar will not destroy your animal, it will help it inside out.

With regard to the fungal infection and steroids; The steroids actually feed the infection, so it is possible that the steroids would be exacerbating the problem. There does seem to be a case for the ACV. Also, try bathing the animal in a diluted form of phisahex solution. I'm going to try the ACV. We have been using topical antifungal cream, available over the counter at any supermarket or pharmacy with good results.

I've been giving my 12 cats ACV for more than a year now. I put 5 drops of ACV in a gallon of distilled water for their drink. Ever since then none of my cats have fleas, zero & I comb all of them everyday. They actually love to be combed. Saying that ACV can kill a pet is nonsense. I even put it on my eyes when my eyes gets itchy from allergies.

Have two foster kittens, 4 mnths old just diagnosed with ringworm, so am going to try the ACV for a few days - week before moving over to the vets Lime Sulphar treatment. I was interested to read the suggestion to use this as a spray to decontaminate my house so my own cats don't get it. (so far so good).

Re good dry food for your cats/kittens, my holistic vet told me to find a food with no corn/byproducts in the first 5 items, which seemed to mean expensive brands like Wellness - actually no, Costco's own brand fits the requirements and is way cheaper, and my cats and kittens like it. I also add some of the advocado dry cat food which has given my cats and the kittens lovely soft healthy hair and got rid of that black cat dandruff!

Now off to try the ACV..... How long before i'll see results?

Apple Cider Vinegar is FOOD and is perfectly safe in small quantities. I agree that there's NO WAY it ate through any dog's stomach lining unless the animal was tortured with large amounts of it. Start by putting a little in his/her water bowl (which will also kill fungus in the bowl) and do NOT give antibiotics which CAUSE Fungus to grow. Look into Candida (yeast overgrowth) dietary treatments for your dog and you if you get it too. :) Good luck!!

The case with dogs coughing from ACV could be because they bought conventional Apple cider vinegar - that is white apple cider with a caramel color. That stuff could be harmful. They need to know the difference of real-Raw ACV with mother (preferably organic) versus what's called ACV by some manufacturer.

humans consume Apple Cider Vinegar all the time, I do in water almost every day.

Glad I found this site. I am not sure if my cat has ringworm or not. About 5 days ago I noticed a ring around his mouth. At first I thought he was under my car in the garage and the mark was from oil. It looks like he has a black smile ring under his mouth. A little above his mouth also. It is the weekend so the vet is closed. I looked at picture online of ringworm and it doesn't look like that. I am stumped. I will try applying apple cider vineger for the next two days. I imagine it is safe because he may lick it being near his mouth. Has anyone else ever seen this? He is otherwise healthy and flea-free.

You might want to look into acne. Feline acne looks like sooty black stuff, usually on the chin. If you think that might be it, stop using plastic feeding bowls, they harbour the bacteria that cause the acne. Use metal/glass/china bowls and it should clear up.

i do not see any signs of ringworm on my cat but I have them on my body, can cats carry it but not show it ? I am going to try the Apple Cider Vinegar and tea tree oil on myself seeing as the creams dont work.

The reason Selsun Blue is used for ringworm is because it contains Selenium. To treat ringworm you must use Selsun Blue with Selenium otherwise you are just treating dandruff or dry scalp.

To Billy with his pet pit bull and all his puppies. Don't panic! Malaseb shampoo is back! I just bought it at 1800petmed.com. 2% miconazole 2 % chlorhexidine Gluconate. It doesn't say not to use on puppies. I would use it on the older dog and maybe dilute with the puppies. You must change their diet to holistic, organic or raw organic food. I gave mine raw organic vegetable, like string bean, parsley, broccolli, butternut squash, chop carrots for vitamin A, 2 teaspoon of ACV, biotin, aciddophilus to clean to yeast (fungus) from the gut. Two for each meal twice a day. Also nordic omega -3. Nordic brand is pure and clean no mercury. What we have to do is build their immune system from being broken and weak, to fight the yeast infection from the inside out. Once you have under control and understand that when the immune system is weak from antibiotics or not consumming the right food. I started bathing my dog twice a week, she had in her ears, underarms, legs, her private parts, behind her legs, on back. Now , I bathe her once a week with malaseb shampoo rinse her off with organic apple cide vinegar, dry her completely then apply vaginal miconozole cream, I buy at target for 4.99. Usually yeast infections start with allergies. It is alot of work, but it's better than spending hundreds and hundred of dollars at the vet and bury her after, because the shot and medication they administer is deadly.

Hey, I just found a stray with, fleas, horrible ticks completely embedded in the skin and I think he has ringworm but I am not sure. His whole tail fur is gone and his face and eyes look very tired. What should I do. I am scared that if I also use the apple cider vinegar, it will burn and he will run off. I can't let him inside my parents will not let me. What advise or thoughts do u guys have?

Hi, I am having a bad outbreak of fungus, that I am begining to think is ringworm which came with a very bad shaped young dog I rescued from the street. The dog has been elsewhere for more than two months, and my poor cat (and I!), and the the whole home are still contaminated... What about the Apple Cider, should we use it topically, or drink it, or both; and how? Many thanks. We are going to homeopathy and some herbs as well right now; but anything that helps which may make our lives easier. Vera

Hi Vera,

I don't have any experience and getting rid of ringworms in pets, but I have gotten rid of it on me! I'm assuming ringworm and athletes foot are the same thing (I'm talking about "frieira", in portuguese).

What I did was soak a cottom ball with ACV and place it on the area (with a bandaid if you have to) a couple of times a day for 30 minutes. I did this while on the computer or watching TV. Once done, clean it with H202. Even better if you can leave H2O2 in the area for a while too.

Do this for a few days and the infected skin will peel of. You can stop doing it once everything is good again, but keep an eye on it as it may take a few cycles to get rid of it.

I did it once, and it never came back.

I also take ACV orally, and I think that is key. Skin problems need to be addressed from the inside as well as the outside.

Did you dilute the ACV? It's too acidic (and smelly for a cat! ) to be used full strength. It's meant to be diluted.

In comment to Katie from Bismarck, ND stating that she used a TOOTHBRUSH to apply the apple cider vinegar: no wonder your kitten cries! How would you like someone to use a toothbrush on YOUR sores? DAB the vinegar on with a cotton ball twice a day--make sure it gets to the skin and not just the fur. Vinegar changes the PH balance of the skin and the fungus cannot grow and spread.

My 5 week old kitten has a horrible case of ringworm and I have been using Lotrimin ultra on him and it seemed to be slowly working but i am afraid he was licking it off of a spot on his leg and i don't want him to get sick so I tried dabbing on apple cider vinegar. It apparently stung him so badly and he was so upset that he cried and vomited 5 times, poor baby. I was very excited to try it as I know vinegar won't kill him but I don't think I have the heart to put it on him again. I feel horrible that I put the poor little guy through that. I plan to cross my fingers and hope for miracles that it clears up overnight!

To begin with you wrote that you used "apple cider" and NOT apple cider "vinegar" which leads me to believe that not only did you torture your kitten with the toothbrush scrubbing but it was all for not since you didn't pay attention to the details and use the proper product. Also if you had paid attention to other advice about applying the ACV (and other products methods) you might have noticed that you are supposed to dab the affected area or spray it directly on the area but DO NOT rub it on (or in) and certainly DO NOT scrub the area with a brush. This will disperse the spores and make the problem worse and spread.

So far I have treated my two kittens in the following manner. I place them in the bath tub. I have a small generic spray bottle which I fill with undiluted ACV and then address (spray) the infected areas directly. After I have done this I then spray the rest of their body avoiding their eyes mouth and nose and then sort of "pat" it into their coats. I try to avoid rubbing them as much as possible. I have only done this for 3 days at this point and can't really claim success yet, but it does appear to be making progress and I will post more info as things develop.

P.S.- Wear leather work gloves while doing this, trust me you will appreciate them..! Not only do they protect you from catching the fungus, but they prevent you from being shredded by the patient.

Regarding the use of green walnuts for ringworm in cats posted on 07/06/08: My understanding is that walnuts are toxic to cats. Are green walnuts exempt?

And remember to dilute it 50/50 with water...

Tisha,

Calcium is very problematic in human adults. It is the first thing I learned about when we began to heal our family and pets.

Here is my 2 cents worth.

Guinea Pigs eat nearly identical diets to horses. The difference is horses have a more complicated digestive system. There are some things I have observed that may help.

Guinea pigs get calcifications in their scrotums, mammary glands, necks. In humans it is cysts and calcified joint problems, circulation problems as unabsorbed calcium has no where to go. It can gather up to be stones in kidney and bladder. Dogs absorb calcium pretty well. But everyone is subject to calcifications.

Going through how we handled this one huge problem amongst 20 guinea pigs, 6 people and 4 dogs.

First was water, if the horse is getting fluoridated water you might look into defluoridated water, or adding a pinch of borax occasionally. It keeps the body defluoridated. Just a little bit.

Sodium thiosulfate, I can take one crystal myself harmlessly, it is high in sulfur. Our method for all of us, 1 gallon of dechlorinated water, or 1 crystal of sodium thiosulfate. 1/4 tsp of borax. That was the added as a splash in all the pets water and used as a fraction in each human, 4 days out of seven.

Topically DMSO is a carrier, rich in sulfur. If you use MSM for your horse. That is DMSO with hydrogen peroxide added.

Topically I have used DMSO liberally on all of us. You can make sure your hands are clean. But gloves might take toxins in the skin. I usually use hydrogen peroxide to wipe the area to be treated. Then add the DMSO.

DMSO carries remedies directly to the problem. If I were going to treat my pets. I would take a thick folded cotton, apply castor oil, DMSO, magnesium oil ( to displace calcium effectively) wipe down the area with peroxide and stick that pack on there for 20 minutes. Maybe a Velcro strap.

There was a woman taking care of wild horses somewhere on e.c. she would throw DMSO on injuries as they would not allow her near.

I use DMSO as part of my inhaled remedies. It cleared a clot in my husbands leg and 1000 other things.

Spray bottles are handy for cleaning with peroxide. At least where it won't discolor fabrics and such.

The guinea pigs bumble foot, tumors, general health were improved. I just had to keep them away from dirt after applications. They potty a lot.

The cause of the calcium problems I think. Especially in the strict vegetarian diet. With nearly all hay. The quality of the water given them. The fruit. The less than stellar ingredients in some commercial pet foods. Glyphosate exposure.

The last two were fed no fruit, clean water, Oxbow hay and feed. Although I am suspicious of the glyphosates in their products. They did not have any issues. No tumors, cysts, bumble foot, cloudy eyes or pneumonia.

Here is Teds DMSO chapter.

Janet

https://ted.earthclinic.com/supplements/dmso.html

DILUTE the ACV first, 50/50 with water!

And do NOT rub ANYTHING into a wound with a brush!

Be CAREFUL to read all the positive experiences & learn from them! And the articles above them, too!

I have a senior cat (16) who has ringworm and the pills have not worked. I'm going to try the diluted ACV but was wondering if it will sting her? Anyone have any issies w/side effects topically. I hated giving her the pills anyway b/c I was worried especially with an older cat the damage that might be done to the liver. Thanks for the tips!

Also, her littermate died about a month and a half ago and she has been licking a patch of her belly to the skin. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance to any response. She is an indoor cat if that makes a difference in regards to any suggestions.

Heather, my two cents. Many reports of ACV successful for many condition, start with diluted, then increase. Also for topical treatment, otc povidone iodine can kill the fungus. No need to dilute, apply with q-tip. For internal, colloidal silver in water or food will kill infections. 2 or 3 drops 3% H2O2 in water will increase the depleted oxygen body levels and restore health and vigor.

My kitten recently returned from being spayed with ringworm1 I was told athletes foot meds would work! Before I tried this I researched and read ACV was much better! I used 1/2 tsp water and a 1/2 tsp ACV on a cotton ball 3x Daily and my cat never acted as if she was in any pain! It took about 10 days and she was ringworm free! I also suggest a deep cleaning of your home! I read to bleach anything that was bleachable and discard what wasn't! We bleached her litter box and bowls and bought new toys and bedding! After the treatment was complete I read to bathe one time in Selsun Blue shampoo! Use a very small amount and keep away from the face! Make sure you rinse really well and dry completely! Our cat is healed, healthy, and will never return to the unsanitary vet she used before! Also be careful of your self and children because it is very contagious! Our cat actually was quarantined to our garage because we have small children! No one in our family ended up getting the ringworm!

If the ACV isn't helping, I would then try the remedy on this site for mange, which is peroxide and borax. You should read up on the feedback on that page first to see how many people have used it on their cats as it is a dog remedy from the few posts that I have read. The vet should be able to give you an anti-fungal remedy. If you can't afford it, see what Over the Counter meds people are using on cats with ringworm. Not sure this helps, but please let me know how it goes.

Turmeric works like a charm. Apply dry, do not wet. I have used it for years and maybe one needs to follow up, depending on the individual animal. If they lick it, it will benefit the liver. Very cost effective. It is being used now in a local shelter with great success. If an animal is full of ringworm, put the kitty in a small box and work the powder into the fur after which keep it caged so the powder is not spread everywhere. This should cost you pennies. Love, Om