Woods Lamp
The Woods lamp is a tool used to help detect ringworm and must be a standard part of the intake process for every dog and cat. It is an ultraviolet light with a specific wavelength of light which causes most strains (85%) of Microsporum canis to fluoresce.
Click here for Woods Lamp Procedure training video.

light bulb iconRecommended Woods Lamp: UVL-21 Compact Lamp (115V)


Woods Lamp Protocol: 
  • Always have a second person for extra hands.
  • Warm up the lamp when you initially enter the exam room; needs about 5-10 minutes to warm up.
  • Turn out the lights.
  • Scan the animal all over, holding the lamp close to the skin.
  • Look for an apple-green glow, and the whole hair shaft should glow (especially the base).
  • Doxycycline, Terramycin, dust and carpet fibres are all examples of things that will also glow, in a variety of colours.
  • Don’t forget to check the nose, eyes, whiskers, inside the ears, tips of toes and bottoms of feet.
  • Suspicious lesions should always be submitted for diagnostic testing, as per ringworm protocol.
  • If unsure if the skin or hair is glowing, pluck the suspected glowing hairs, place on a white piece of paper and look under the Woods lamp to look for the typical apple-green colour.

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