Kamloops SPCA forced to close its doors due to ringworm outbreak

For the second time in the past 14 months the Kamloops SPCA has been forced to close its doors due to an outbreak of ringworm.

The shelter has now been put on lockdown and all the animals have been placed into quarantine.

Last week a dog and a kitten were brought into the shelter and they appear to be the source of the outbreak.

“We had two sets of animals come in, both from the same home, a dog and a cat come in, initially we thought they were OK, but since then they have tested positive for ringworm,” says Sarah Gerow with the Kamloops SPCA.

Now the other 80 animals all need to be tested.

“Hoping that we’ve contained it to just them but there are about 80 animals in the shelter that we’re going to have to test for and send samples away to the lab to make sure they aren’t infected,” says Gerow.

Ringworm is not fatal but it can be transferred to humans. It is much more common in cats than dogs and can be hard to detect.

“Generally you’d see areas of baldness, Alopecia, these might be ring-shaped or circular, and sometimes could be a bit scabby-looking, and it doesn’t always present that way,” says Dr. Sarah Holden with the Columbia Summit Vet Clinic.

Ringworm can take several weeks to clear up and pets need to be tested twice and be in the clear before they are considered cured.

The Kamloops SPCA has started a treatment routine of a Lyme dip and antibiotics. Adoptions will be on hold for at least the next month and the shelter will take a financial hit.

– With files from CFJC News