Refractory Dermatophytosis in a Spitz Dog Successfully Managed with Posaconazole in India: A Case Report
January 2026
in “
Preprints.org
”
Studysummary In this study, a case of a Spitz dog with refractory dermatophytosis demonstrated marked clinical improvement and complete cure with Posaconazole, highlighting the potential of antifungal susceptibility testing to guide effective treatment in persistent infections unresponsive to standard therapies. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
This case report details the successful treatment of refractory dermatophytosis in an eight-year-old Spitz dog using posaconazole, a second-generation triazole antifungal. The dog, previously treated with itraconazole and topical antifungals, suffered relapses and hepatotoxicity. Fungal culture identified Microsporum canis, with antifungal susceptibility testing indicating resistance to common antifungals but sensitivity to posaconazole. Administered at 10 mg/kg daily for three weeks, followed by 5 mg/kg for another three weeks, posaconazole resulted in significant clinical improvement and complete symptom resolution by eight weeks. This case underscores posaconazole as a viable treatment for resistant dermatophytosis in dogs, highlighting the need for antifungal susceptibility testing and monitoring for hepatotoxicity.
