The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Esublime (New York, Ny) on 01/07/2016
★★★★★
My cat Leo contracted ringworm recently. There are a lot of strays in my neighbourhood and the unusually warm winter we are having contributed to damp dark areas in my yard where fungus thrives. Leo must have contracted the day he ran out of the house unexpectedly when I opened the door to let the dogs out. The vet immediately told me it was ringworm and gave me chlorihexidine wipes (an antiseptic) and told me to use Lamisil. I did that for one week and the one spot above his eye spread to his lips, head and neck. I was freaking out because I've had ringworm before and it is itchy, gross, uncomfortable and EXTREMELY contagious. I have 3 other cats and 2 dogs so you can imagine my panic. I turned to Apple Cider Vinegar and, although Leo hates the smell, I have to admit that the raised, angry, red welts of ringworm all over his neck, head and face are quickly subsiding. I have kept him confined to a small room and I keep an e-collar on him to prevent him from scratching or spreading the fungus.
Twice a day, I make a 50-50 mix of ACV and water in a small bowl, wet a couple of cotton balls in it and dab it all over the afflicted spots. I then let the area air dry and immediately apply Lamisil to the spots. So far, it seems to really be working but no matter what you use, it takes about 10-20 days of aggressive treatment to completely rid the animal of ringworm. ACV is great because, despite the harsh smell, you can use it not only treat the ringworm but also to disinfect the room where the cat is being kept. It is extremely important to keep your cat's living quarters disinfected and, just for good measure, I dampen a paper towel and wipe his body down with the ACV mix to make sure that no ringworm spores have been passed to other parts of his body. Also, I have been using an antifungal shampoo for cats/dogs and I wash Leo with it once or twice a week...depending on how slimy he gets with the Lamisil.
I've still got about another 5-10 days to go. It's been a struggle but I honestly cannot recommend a better natural and safe treatment for ringworm (as well as many other ailments) than ACV. It's the best thing for so many applications...especially ringworm!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Alva (Nashua, Nh) on 06/24/2012
★★★★★
I've been giving my 12 cats ACV for more than a year now. I put 5 drops of ACV in a gallon of distilled water for their drink. Ever since then none of my cats have fleas, zero & I comb all of them everyday. They actually love to be combed. Saying that ACV can kill a pet is nonsense. I even put it on my eyes when my eyes gets itchy from allergies.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Tink's Family (Southern, Missouri) on 11/20/2011
★★★★★
I just wanted to repost my results with the ACV I used! Our cat has completely recovered and has no ringworm! I treated her by using 1/2 tsp water mixed with 1/2 tsp ACV and dipping a cotton ball in it and applying it to the spot 3x daily! I started noticing results after about 2 days! The treatment took 10-12 days top complete get rid of it! After doing this I bathed her one time in Selsun Blue shampoo! I used a very small and amount and washed her entire body except for her face! I made sure to rinse her really well! I read the Selsun Blue shampoo would remove any other fungus from the ringworm that could be lingering in her coat! I then blow dryed her on the lowest setting and with warm not hot air! Before bringing her back in the home I washed everyones bedding and vaccumed vigorously! I also bleached any surface she had come in contact with! (window seals, tile, food bowls, litter box) I threw out her old bed and just bought a new one and new toys! No one in our family got the ringworm and she never had more thanone spot! She is happy, healthy, and won't return to the vet that she got this from! Sanitation is very important and cleaning their surfaces with bleach water would've prevented this from happening! Good Luck and hope this helps someone else! We will happily celebrate Christmas with our kitty inside to enjoy it too!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Linda (Yucca Valley, Ca, Usa) on 01/30/2011
★★★★★
I've fed apple cider vinegar mixed in food to cats with no problems. It works well to help older cats digest food. The claim that apple cider vinegar ate through a dog's stomach is ridiculous. Stomach acid is a lot stronger than any vinegar.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gdsmkg (Las Vegas, Nv, USA) on 12/24/2009
★★★★★
After adopting a very sick cat from SPCA, he had ear mites, mange, ring worm. I first tried the borax mixture that I found on here, saw a little improvement but not much. Tried olive oil in the ears, was very soothing but didn't seem to do much.
Then I tried one capful of natural apple cider vinegar to a cup of water. I took a cotton ball, dipped it in the mixture, rang it out good. Then cleaned his ears with a slightly moist cotton ball. Within a couple of days I saw a big difference in his ear grime.
So then I thought I would try it for the mange and ring worm, I took the mixture, and soaked his ear good. I also wet the areas where there was the most flakiness and crusty flakes. Again within a week, big improvement! I highly recommend anyone to try this, but for him I couldn't use full strength. Just the smell made him puke on the spot.
One capful is all you need to one cup tepid water, it worked so well. I imagine you could also use it in a spray bottle and spray around the house, wherever he hangs out. They also liked me, so I used full strength on myself for ring worm and mange mites.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lililebron (Pocono, Pa) on 08/22/2009
★★★★★
i've used avc for my dog for other reasons in the past so i can testify to the usefulness of it. i was pleased to find out that the solution also worked on my puppy's ringworm within a matter of two days! just rubbed some on a paper towel and rubbed it on the ringworm spots on her belly once a day and its nearly cured in no time
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Angie (Titusville, FL) on 04/30/2009
★★★★★
I have an 11 month old English Bulldog named Diesel. He came down with a terrible case of ringworm after being on steroids and antibiotics for an inverted tail. I read on-line that most of the medicine given internally for ringworm can be damaging to their liver. I came across this site and decided to try the ACV. Let me tell you, it works awesome. It's been 2 weeks and his ringworms are completely gone and the hair is already coming back in.
I gave him a bath in Selsun Blue dandruff shampoo and then put ACV (diluted with water 50/50) in a spray bottle and sprayed him all over with it and rubbed it in with my hands and let him dry naturally. I sprayed him with the ACV everyday for the first week, and then gave him another bath in the dandruff shampoo and sprayed him every other day for the second week. He looks amazing! I just started using it in his ears for the chronic ear infections he gets, so I'll let you know if it works!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Pedro (Campinas, Brazil) on 11/24/2008
★★★★★
Hi Vera,
I don't have any experience and getting rid of ringworms in pets, but I have gotten rid of it on me! I'm assuming ringworm and athletes foot are the same thing (I'm talking about "frieira", in portuguese).
What I did was soak a cottom ball with ACV and place it on the area (with a bandaid if you have to) a couple of times a day for 30 minutes. I did this while on the computer or watching TV. Once done, clean it with H202. Even better if you can leave H2O2 in the area for a while too.
Do this for a few days and the infected skin will peel of. You can stop doing it once everything is good again, but keep an eye on it as it may take a few cycles to get rid of it.
I did it once, and it never came back.
I also take ACV orally, and I think that is key. Skin problems need to be addressed from the inside as well as the outside.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Romana Welch (Chaparral, New Mexico) on 07/01/2008
★★★★★
Apple cider vineger has cured my puppy's bad case of ringworm. Now I will be battling a bad case in a new puppy we just rescued off the streets. Thanks for being here for folks like us. The good ol ways have always been the cheapest and the best cure.
R.L.W
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Dianne (Haines, Alaska) on 08/08/2006
★★★★★
I remember once as a child I had ringworm and my mom used cider vinegar on it. It burned but it sure beat that ringworm out. We had used it on our cats and other farm animals also. When I was older I worked in animal care and a vet had me take photos of a huge ringworm on a goat and she had trouble curing it. I told her to try the cider vinegar and the goat was cured in no time, she now keeps it on hand. Vinegar is the only thing I will mop floors with now and it also takes the burn out of sunburn!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Judy (Tallahassee, FL)
★★★★★
I recently found a kitten with spots of ringworm on its body. It frantically chewed its paws so I poured a pint of natural ACV in a small dishpan and soaked the kitten twice a day for several days, sponging the liquid all over its body. Within 24 hours, the feet chewing stopped and in a week's time, new fur was beginning to grow on the bare areas. Sure beats typical 3-4 weeks treatment vets want to use.
