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How do I recogonise Fungal and Skin Disorder?

Preventing fungal infection is easier than curing it, but in most cases, prompt diagnosis and effective management will make your dog fungus free. Dogs are susceptible to a variety of fungal infections, the most common of which is dermatophytosis. Superficial fungal infections are caused by one of three specific organisms; those that live on animals (ringworm), those that live specifically on people (athletes foot) and those that live in the ground. Dogs with fungal infections can experience a variety of clinical patterns based on their immune status and sensitivity to the organism. Young dogs are most susceptible, as well as those with marginal or inadequate immune systems, concurrent diseases or those on a poor nutritional plan. Many dogs can be carriers, yet show no signs of infection.
Dermatophyte organisms don't penetrate the living part of the skin. They are confined to the dead surface skin layers and the nails. Dogs with dermatophytosis may develop patchy areas of hair loss, some may develop sores similar to bacterial infections, some may just have dandruff while others may appear entirely normal. Occasionally, dogs will experience allergic reactions to the organisms, but this is quite uncommon. In general, the healthier the animals immune system, the milder the clinical signs. When a dog is mildly affected, it is best to trim the hair and nails from the problem areas and do whole body anti-fungal baths at least every 10 days. We have had great results with a product called Zymox Shampoo and Zymox Rinse. We recommend that you ask you veterinarian for this. Treatment should be done for a minimum of six weeks. When multiple animals in a household are affected, or when the clinical signs are moderate to severe, more drastic measures are necessary. In these cases, it is necessary to actually shave the entire body, including the whiskers. Because the spores are present on the hair shafts and the skin surface, this gives better access to anti-fungal shampoos.
If your dog has a fungal infection, all brushes, bedding, transport cages and other contact items should be disinfected completely or discarded. This might seem like overkill, but if the fungal spores get into carpeting and furniture, they can survive for as long as 18 months and be a source of continual reinfection. Fungi have been cultured from dust, heating vents and furnace filters. Environmental decontamination is a critical part of therapy and often the most difficult to manage effectively. If a dog resides in a kennel, disinfection is much easier. A combination of one part household bleach to nine parts water will kill the fungi and spores on contact.
The best way to prevent dermatophytosis is to limit the exposure of dogs to any infected or potentially infected individuals and contaminated environments. A newcomer bought into a home or kennel should be considered a potential carrier and kept isolated until its' infection status is known. Dermatophytosis can vary from a mild inconvenience to a devastating skin infection. In most cases, prompt diagnosis and effective management result in a cure. However, animals do not become immune to dermatophytes and reinfection from the environment is commonplace if a holistic approach to fungal eradication is not followed.