Here is the problem: There are thousands (and more unknown)types of fungi in the environment. They all cause different symptoms and can require different treatment protocol. The key to treatment is finding out the particular strain from which you are suffering. I have been dealing with kerion lesions all over my body for the last few months and I'm very quickly discovering that doctors and vets are CLUELESS in Mycology. They learn the very basics in med school and don't further their education. You have to be proactive with your health and do the research yourself. There are fungi out there that are zoophilic as well and you can pass infection between your pets and vice versa. You really have to see a doctor, preferrably a dermatologist and ask for a fungal culture. They will take a scraping of your skin, a biopsy, or hair samples and send it off to a lab to culture. There it will grow in a dish and go from there. Some fungi grow relatively quickly, others, it may take weeks for results. I just can't believe that the medical community isn't better educated. I went to the ER because I don't have insurance. I told the doctor about my symptoms, ranging from fatigue, hair and skin problems, all the way to arthritic joints. I also mentioned my 3 dogs have the same type lesions. I told him I thought I might have a systemic fungal infection and his response was "First of all, I'm not a vet, so what your dogs have is of no concern" and "Systemic fungus won't present this way". STUPID!! So...what does he do? Takes a skin scraping, goes and looks at it under the microscope and says to me that he didn't see anything crawling but he did see something that looked like it had 'branches'. Ummmmm, HELLO?!! Branches=Hyphae=FUNGUS!! So he prescribes LAMISIL and Bactrim (antibiotic). Well, if he knew anything about fungi, he would have known that antibiotic are the worst treatment for fungi. They kill bacteria and then the fungi have all the room in the world to grow. Making your infection even worse. Don't let a fungal infection spread, they can be very dangerous and I believe are the source of a lot of major illness. The post above me mentions the light and dark spots and not being able to get rid of them. I'm not a doctor but it sounds like Tinea Versicolor, which is a non-invasive fungus that can be treated with over the counter preparations with active ingredients such as clotrimazole or miconazole. You have to treat this for a long time and may never completely kick it. Don't start and stop any treatment because it can become resistant and stronger and your condition may get worse. Probiotics are readily available at any health food store or pharmacy. There are food products out there with them in it also. Not just any yogurt will suffice. It has to have live cultures in it and if it doesn't say that, it doesn't. I think Activia is a popular brand that has lactobacillus acidophillus in it. Just do your own research and take your findings to your MD. Hopefully, he/she is open to learning and listens. If not, seek out another doctor that is!!

This is long but very IMPORTANT info. Don�t treat your athletes foot with anything except antifungal medication until you have been had a skin test by a dr. The reason behind this suggestion is that what you might think is athlete�s foot, may not be at all. It could very well be eczema, and other home remedies like: Clorox water, Lysol spray, Listerine, etc. will make eczema worse! I know very well how that plays out because I suffered and fought with what I thought was athlete�s foot for one year. I think that taking some time to read my story would be of tremendous benefit to all who have been suffering for a long time. Started last July. 1st dr. said it was so bad that only Lamisil tablets would work. Took them for 3 months. Only got worse. Went to another dr. who said I didn�t take the tablets long enough so gave me more for another 3 months. Only got worse. Started treating it myself from suggestions I got on natural health forums: tea tree oil, vinegar, salt water, Lysol spray, bleach water, together with antifungal creams and sprays. Only got worse until I started using coconut oil at night. Still not better though. Tried another dr. who said it wasn�t fungus at all, but eczema. Gave me some dermovate cream, as well as cetaphil for hydrating. Started to heal in 3 days. Has been 2 weeks now and almost gone. Dr. said coconut oil very good as well as olive oil. Can�t believe 2 other drs treated me for a fungal infection for one year without reconsidering what it really might be. By the way, mine was caused by stress. Bottom line is you are treating what you think is a fungal infection, and it doesn�t get better in a reasonable amount of time, then find another dr. And sometimes fungal home remedies can make another condition worse! Hope this helps.

I understand completely that temperature and moisture can trigger fungi in the environment - I've been gardening for a while. What I don't understand (and neither does my vet) is how the same fungus, which is not contagious, can turn up on BOTH my dog's feet within a few days of each other. That's the question. My dogs have experienced temperature changes and rain before in their five years ;) Why now? What kind of fungus is this and how did they get it? I have to assume that the fungus came from the environment...fungus doesn't just randomly happen, right? For example, let's say I get athlete's foot. It may be because I was walking barefoot in a shower (hospitable environment), but just walking barefoot in a shower isn't enough to contract this fungus. I am barefoot in my shower every day, yet have never had athlete's foot. I would have to walk barefoot in a shower where the fungus was present. I also realize that allergies can develop at any time. I'm just saying it's not likely it's a food allergy. It could be an environmental allergy (much more common than food allergies in dogs). But again, what are the chances of them BOTH developing an allergy within four days of each other? Allergy was the vet's first guess, with a secondary yeast infection caused by licking the paws, keeping them wet and therefore creating a perfect environment for yeast to flourish. But that was his guess before both of them showed symptoms. Too coincidental.

Athlete's foot is caused by a parasitic fungus and is a communicable disease. It is typically transmitted in moist environments where people walk barefoot, such as showers, bath houses, and locker rooms. It can also be transmitted by sharing footwear with an infected person, or less commonly, by sharing towels with an infected person. ItÂs not the pool water, assuming your chlorine levels are ok it was the damp pool deck that should have been the concern. Don't worry its treatable and at one time or another most males will get/have it. Ask you husband, he may have had it shared a shower with you and you never knew it. ItÂs not passed on 100% of the time due to normal contact