Parasitology (Worms, Mites & Ticks) Dog Cat

Hair Pluck Examination (Trichogram)

A trichogram is a microscope check of hairs plucked from a dog's or cat's coat. It can help your vet see whether hair loss comes from licking or scratching, mites, ringworm fungus or a problem with how the hair grows.

Sample: Plucked hair
Quantity: As advised
Report: Confirmed when you book
Collection: Free in Bhopal

What this test checks

Hair tips, to show whether hairs are being broken by licking, chewing or scratching
Hair roots and shafts, for signs of a problem with how the hair grows
Mites such as Demodex, and ringworm fungal spores, on or around the hairs

When your vet may advise it

Patchy hair loss, a thinning coat or bald spots on your dog or cat
A cat that seems to over-groom, with hair loss on the belly or legs
Round, scaly or crusty patches where ringworm or mites are a worry
Hair loss around the eyes or paws, where a skin scraping is hard to take

About this test

In a trichogram, a small bunch of hairs is gently plucked, roots and all, from the edge of a bald or thin patch and checked under a microscope. Broken or frayed tips suggest the hair is being licked, chewed or scratched off. The roots and shafts can show changes in how the hair is growing, and mites or the spores of ringworm fungus may be seen on the hairs. A normal result does not always rule out mites or ringworm, so your vet may also ask for a skin scraping or a fungal culture. A registered veterinarian interprets the findings together with your pet's history and examination.

How to prepare

Do not bathe your pet or put any cream, spray or shampoo on the patches before the sample, and tell your vet about any skin products used. The lab confirms the method, sample needs and reporting time when you book.

Questions about Hair Pluck Examination (Trichogram)

What can a trichogram show in a dog with hair loss?

A trichogram can show whether hairs are being broken off by licking or scratching, whether mites or ringworm spores are on the hairs, and whether the roots suggest normal growth. It gives clues rather than a final answer, so your vet reads it with the skin examination and other tests.

Can ringworm from my cat or dog spread to me?

Yes, ringworm can spread from pets to people, so wear gloves when you handle a pet with skin patches, wash your hands well, and see a doctor if you get an itchy, round patch on your skin. A trichogram or a fungal culture can help your vet find out whether the pet has ringworm.

Before you book this test

Why this notice: so you know, before you book, how a test is done, what its limits are and who is responsible.

Where it is tested. Some tests are done wholly or partly by an independent partner laboratory. The lab tells you before booking if this test is sent out, and the report names the laboratory that did it.
What a result can and cannot tell you. No test is right every time. A normal result does not rule out every disease, and an abnormal result does not prove one. A registered veterinarian should read the report with the animal’s signs and history before any treatment is started, changed or stopped.
The sample. A sample that is clotted, too small, wrongly labelled, leaking or too old may be rejected or reported with a note, and the lab may ask for a fresh one.
Reporting time. Confirmed when you book. Times are estimates, not guarantees, and the lab confirms the time when you book.
Emergencies. A booking or a pending report must not delay urgent care. If an animal has collapsed, struggles to breathe, has fits or bleeds heavily, call a veterinarian at once.

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