I’m buying a puppy who has ringworm?

as long as your puppy gets a clean bill of health from a vet, he should not pass the ringworm to you or your other pets. It is only passed by contact and if he does not have it any more, everything should be fine. If he doesn’t have ring worm, smother him in kisses! If you are reeeaally worried about getting ring worm, avoid kissing that one little area. And yes, his hair should grow back ^_^ . Don’t worry!

Ringworm is really not that big of a deal. Although it is highly contagious, it’s not contagious anymore after a few days of treatment. And even if you or your other dogs do get it, it’s easily treated with over the counter lamisil cream.
If you have 2 weeks until you pick up the pup, odds are good that the ringworm will be gone. And the hair will grow back without issue. I’ve had ringworm, one of my dogs have had it….no biggie. If you are worried, you can keep the new pup away from your other animals until you can be sure it’s gone.

Read here, ringworm is not contagious after 48 hours after treatment has started. Getting the pup two weeks from now is well after that time frame.

Added: Okay, to those that are saying ringworm can’t happen with a reputable breeder, that’s simply not true. Ringworm can be contracted from soil, other dogs, at the vet’s office or even people. Reputable breeders are not immune from it since it’s a contagious fungus that can infect anyone anywhere.
Sure, we have no idea how great the breeder is, but champion dogs from excellent breeders can get it. Having a litter get ringworm doesn’t automatically mean the breeder is horrible.

Ringworm is curable; It’s also contageous. You’d better get your clean bill of health from a reputable VET before you commit to the dog. Not from the breeder, who can and probably will certify anything he needs to in order to move the pup. The dog selling business has some mighty unscrupulolus people in it. Do your own checking; don’t take the breeder;s word for it (or the word of HIS vet – use yours)

You should find out exactly what the breeder has been treating with, and get copies of the medical records. I personally would not bring the dog into my home until he’s had a negative fungal culture (the culture generally takes a week and a half to know for sure). You can’t have a “clean bill of health” just by looking at the dog, and the last thing you want is 5 pets in your home with ringworm (possibly giving it to you as well). There are no preventative treatments that I’m aware of. Ringworm is a fungal infection carried by spores that can go from the infected pet to the environment/other animals/humans.

I’m not trying to scare you, as ringworm is very treatable. It’s just also contagious.

I had this happen with a dog. If the vet passes them they should be OK. It is possible that the ringworm was small and caught early enough that hair loss will be minimal. When I worked at the vet I treated a litter of hers that didn’t show much hair loss at all. It will grow back in a month or so anyway. I would be extra sure to not touch the infected area though, at least until you see signs of hair regrowth, just to be sure.

I would take a closer look at the breeder! This is not common for someone who is reputable!

Ringworm can take 6-8 weeks, sometimes longer to clear up. Until a vet says he’s clear I wouldn’t take him home.

Not only are your other pets at risk, ringworm is zoonotic, meaning you can catch it too.

If you have to take him before he’s cleared by a vet you need to keep him separated from your other pets. Preferably in an area that can be easily bleached. Anything not bleachable should be treated with Lysol.

He should wear a doggie shirt to help prevent spore spread, have two one being washed, one being worn. Especially important when you take him outside. Ringworm spores can live in the soil for up to 6 months in even the harshest of conditions. Take him to potty in an area not normally used.

You should change your clothes and shoes right after handling him and wash your hands with as hot of water as you can stand. Spores can be spread by our clothes and shoes. Put your clothes right into the wash. Again you want things that are bleachable.

The hair will eventually grow back.

But really save yourself the hassle and get a pup somewhere else or at least wait until they’ve gotten veterinary clearance.

First, this is really no reflection on the breeder. Ringworm happens. I bred show cats for years. I received a show quality stud male from a well respected breeder and he had ringworm. It happens. Kids come home with it from school. Another dog or cat has it and you set your carrier next to them at the Vet. It happens

The breeder is honest enough to warn you about it. You can use a balcklight to check to be sure the ringworm fungus is gone. I would expect the Vet to have one or you can buy them at Petsmart.

As long as the dog is clean, just watch in the unlikely event that it reappears.It is annoying but certainly not life threatening. His hair will grow back pretty quickly.

I had a foster cat with ringworm, none of my animals caught it from her except my long haired cat (of course..we had to have him shaved).

But, I new another girl who rescued a few pups that had ringworm and she got it all over her arms and face.

Seems like you got your pup from a crappy breeder, after all ringworm is a fungus and with regular cleaning it wouldn’t have been a problem.

As noted by other folks with answers, ringworm is not a worm, It’s a fungus- like a wart or Jock itch and is treated with anti fungals (hey! Monistat! Sound familiar?) topically. Occasionally from irritation the skin may become infected so frequently a combination ointment is applied that has a combination of antibiotic, anti-itch and anti-fungal. It’s truly no big deal. While it is highly contagious, it’s not really that easy to catch. Also, this time of year LOADS of dogs and cats and horses get skin related fungal infections. Spring! It seems to affect the short/thin haired dogs more. I’m on my second Boxer and have a bullmastiff as well, both came down with minor cases of ringworm on their tummies. The mastiff kept at her mess and required topical and oral treatment, but my Boxer is not as fussy and his is going away quickly with little treatment. The hair will grow back. I’d commend your breeder for being honest and treating it right away and making sure that things are in order before you get your puppy. As a precaution I’d ask them to agree to cover the costs of any further treatments should they become necessary in the very near future, which they should not balk at if they truly have done everything they can to properly treat the dog.