Ringworm
Ringworm is not caused by a worm but a fungus. The fungus lives in the outer layers of skin, hair shafts, and toe nails. It invades the hair follicles damaging the actual hair itself. The hairs become fragile and break easily. As the infection progresses, more and more hair may be lost.

Dogs become infected with the fungus by contact with other infected animals such as cats, or contaminated soil. Diagnosis is made by specific tests including microscopic examination of hair shafts, ultraviolet light observation, fungal cultures, and sometimes skin biopsy.

The fungi that cause ringworm can be spread from animal to animal, from animal to human, and even from human to animal. These fungi can also survive in the environment, on contaminated bedding, collars, blankets, and other items that may have been in contact with an infected animal.

Symptoms 

• Itching

• bald patches

• raised sore like areas

• crusting skin

• patchy, scaly skin

Treatment
Shaving the hair in the infected area or the entire coat for severe cases. Following the clipping, medicated anti-fungal shampoos and dips should be used. The pets bedding and kennel should be thoroughly washed . Oral anti-fungal medication can be prescribed by your veterinarian. For local infections anti-fungal ointments or creams can be applied to the skin lesions several times each day. When applying these, wear gloves, ringworm is contagious to people. In fact, athletes foot is a form of ringworm in people.