Dog's ringworm test positive, but vet says disregard. Still itchy?

Question

The IDEXX labs test came back negative for Microsporum canis RealPCR, also negative for Trichophyton spp.Real CPR, however it has come back POSITIVE for microsporum spp RealPCR,after 9 sulphur dips and a previous Negative score on that same metric ....does this mean the Ring Worm is gone, or should I continue therapy...also the dog is still itchy......is this one part of the test relevant...my vet says to disregard but i am not sure i believe him. Pet's info: Dog | Havanese | Female | spayed | 2 years and 2 months old | 14 lbs

Justin Plunk, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Izzy has one of the most frustrating dermatologic issues we face with our pets. Fungi are notorious for taking a very long time to kill or at least have managed. Unfortunately, there are multiple factors that contribute to a dog getting ringworm, and part of it is inate susceptibility that Izzy has. Inflammation of the skin will make skin infections of any kind more likely, so that should be a priority to get under control. There are shampoos available with a prescription, so ask your vet about them. Also, on rare occasion, oral antifungal therapy is warranted. This is less than 5% of cases from my experience, but if it is widespread on her body, it could be necessary. As she is susceptible, using a topical anti-fungal shampoo would be beneficial to minimize chances of recurrence once Izzy's skin has cleared-up. The itching needs to be explored further because it is what leads to skin inflammation and thus a higher chance of having an infection. Without being able to examine her, it is difficult to say whether the ringworm is under control, so continue to follow up with your vet as it can take weeks to months for it to clear up completely. Hope this helps!

Dog's ringworm test positive, but vet says disregard. Still itchy?

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