Little Knox gets a lime dip during the first round of ringworm treatment at the B.C. SPCA Kamloops branch earlier this year.
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December 30, 2013 - 3:37 PM
ROUND TWO WITH RINGWORM
KAMLOOPS – Staff at the local branch of the B.C. SPCA are waiting with bated breath for the latest ringworm test results after a dog received a late diagnosis last week.
Animal Care Supervisor Sarah Gerow says a dog was tested three weeks ago and after two weeks the cultures did not show any growth and the test was considered a negative result for ringworm. The cultures are left for another week, she explains, just in case, and it was during this third week the culture started to grow, about the same time the dog started to show signs of the infection.
All seven dogs were quickly quarantined because of the close quarters they are in and staff are waiting for the results of the latest tests on the other six dogs and two cats. One cat started to show signs of infection late last week and is now quarantined with the other cat it is kenneled with.
Gerow says there are still about 30 cats, two rabbits, two rats and a cockatiel available for adoption. The adoption sale on cat, kittens and rabbits continues until Jan. 4. Since reopening two weeks ago 48 cats and kittens have been adopted and staff is now working through the waiting list of people wanting to surrender their animals, though the shelter is again closed to dog surrenders during the dog quarantine.
She asks people wishing to surrender their animals to call first, since there is a waiting list and limited room at the shelter. New toys and blankets for the dogs are also needed with the latest round of ringworm requiring the room to be completely sanitized again.
The shelter is open until 4:30 p.m. today and then from noon to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. It will be closed on New Year's Day and on Thursday will reopen under regular hours, noon to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Ringworm is a fungal infection that can leave patchy, circular areas of hair loss and red rings on the skin. Animals will undergo three lime dips per week until tests show they are rid of the virus. Nearly 80 per cent of the animals in care were infected during the first round of the infection in November.
To contact a reporter for this story, email jstahn@infotelnews.ca, call (250)819-3723 or tweet @JennStahn.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013