Vet finally diagnosed Lexi HELP!!!

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natesmom

Boxer Booster
I called the vet again today and finally got her biopsy results. Lexi has ringworm, and they want to dip her. Please keep in mind Lexi is still undergoing her last month of Ivermectin for the mange. I am really against dips,especially since she is so small and weak. I would really appreciate anyone's help with this, I do not want to put Lexi, Nate or my family in harms way.
 

luvroxy

Banned
When Roxy had ringworm ( in 3 spots) I was given medicated shampoo from the vet called Malaseb. She had to have a bath once a week and also he gave me a liquid or an ointment to put on it. I think. I am not sure about that though. It took a couple of weeks for it to finally go away but it did. I would go that route instead. Hope this helps.
 

boxer

Boxer Insane
Why on earth do they want to dip her for ringworm? Ringworm is just a fungus - same as you getting athlete's foot (same fungus), and really not a big concern at all. It can usually be solved pretty easily and quickly (like in two or three days) just by the application of lamisil cream from your pharmacy.
 

natesmom

Boxer Booster
I appreciate it. lexi is on some medicated shampoo for the mange, but I have not used it lately because of her staples (biopsy). Thanks for your imput, I am a stressed out Mommy.....I wish I could find a good vet. I thought it was a pre-requisite that person likes dogs to be a vet? I am not getting that vibe from this guy.
 

cmarnell1

Boxer Booster
Debbie is totally right (not that that is unexpected). Ringworm is easily taken care of using her advice.
 

natesmom

Boxer Booster
Debbie,
That's what I was thinking when he said it. I also do not understand why she needed a biopsy to find ringworm? Is it ok if she licks the lamisil cream? Am I to use the human kind? -thanks-amy
 

Jan

Reasonable Moderator
Staff member
Please don't dip her. Ringworm is a fungus and has nothing to do with the demodex mange. Ringworm is fairly easily dealt with. How bad is her mange?
 

natesmom

Boxer Booster
Jan,
The last three scrapings for mange came back clear, but they told me to finish out the month with the ivermectin.
 

boxer

Boxer Insane
She shouldn't have needed a biopsy to diagnose ringworm (hope it wasn't expensive!). Although it's not completely accurate, ringworm is usually diagosed by the simple method of shining a black light on the dog (the lesions will glow). Takes about a minute. Which means that treatment can begin a few minutes (not weeks) later.

Treatment by antifungal cream (of which lamisil is a good one) is the best and least invasive way to get rid of it. I don't think it's a great idea to let the dog lick though (pretty sure there'll be a warning on the packet about not ingesting it). You can get topical creams from your vet too - but they're not actually any different from what you'd get over the counter at your pharmacy - except possibly in price ;)

For severe cases - meaning generalized, where the lesions are covering much of the body (which I don't believe is your case) then medicated shampoos are a more appropriate treatment, followed as a last resort by dipping. And those are different dips to those for mange.

Since your dog is recovering from mange, I wouldn't even consider dipping her. That's just going to weaken her immune system further, and make her vulnerable to a recurrance of the mange (which is far worse than ringworm). Try the gentle option of topical cream first ;) It's usually the successful one anyway.

Here's a short article on ringworm that you might find useful: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1557&articleid=471
 
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