Has Anyone Else Had Problems With Demodex?

[Loves Dogs]

Hi there,

Sorry just getting really frustrated that my 6 month old staffy has developed demodex. My 3 yr old had it when I got her and it took 6 months to treat! Im hoping Austins isnt as bad as that and because I have recognised it early Im hoping it will move along quickly, with treatment. The other staffies at my training club have also had it in there puppy months. Is there something I am doing that could be causing it to come up? I know the ins and outs of it and how they tend to flare up when the immune system is low but Austin has been a healthy pup until now and you would think his immune system would only be getting stronger? Just wondering if anyone has had problems with it aswell coming up on alot of there dogs. I also know staffies are prone to it but out of the gazillion that are out there how come I got 2 that have gotten it?Its so frustrating watching your pets be uncomfortable :nahnah:

[Clyde]

Esme had a tiny bit over her eye as a pup. SBT123 recommended aloe from memory. Perhaps shoot her a PM to be sure, or even better ask in the Stafford sub forum. :nahnah:

[Loves Dogs]

Thanks, sorry Im new to this where do I go to the SBT sub forum?

[The Ark]

I've just had a min pin recover from a bout of demodex. He developed it after having a general anaesthetic to have some puppy canines removed, and lost hair from his throat, shoulder and neck regions (just in patches).

Our vet treated him with weekly ivermectin injections for 6 weeks - it had cleared up by about the 4th needle, but we kept going with the 6 as I didn't want to have his skin scraped again to check for mites (too long for the hair to grow back!). He is glossy and lovely again. We also gave him a Chinese herbal mixture, and supported him with Vet's All Natural Health Booster when the Chinese herbs ran out. He was also getting sardines, fish oil capsules etc to maximise his coat condition.

The ivermectin treatment wasn't expensive - the first consult & needle (including scrape) was about $60, then $7 each week for the injection.

Deb :nahnah:

[SoL]

Demodex is most common in juveniles and older dogs - anywhere where teh immune system is repressed, so as a supporting treatment to whatever you use, research natural immune boosters. Usually if you can catch it early on it won't take that long to treat but the treatments given by vets can be extremely harsh on teh system. If antibiotics are given, supplement diet with natural yogurt with cultures. Also oily fish to help out the skin. Just don't wait for treatment, as you know, if it gets a grip it take ages to get rid of. Good luck :nahnah:

[Clyde]

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=50264

It started back in '06, so just jump in on the last page.

[puggy_puggy]

We have Frankie, the pug, in care. His demodex mange was so bad, when he first came to us, that most would have looked at him and thought that he should be PTS. He has proved them all wrong and has made an amazing recovery over the past three months.

His mange treatment is 1.8mL of moxidectine orally daily and twice weekly malaseb baths. He was on antibiotics for two months to clear up his skin infections. We have him on a totally raw diet with flaxseed oil, primrose oil and green tea added.

This is his story...

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...l=demodex+mange

Hormones can be a trigger to demodex mange. Dogs that have had demodex mange should never be bred from as it is thought to be genetic.

[WreckitWhippet]

If it's localised, leave it alone, put the dog on an all raw diet and use board certified aloe.

It often gets worse before it gets better.

There are a range of products you can use depending on how severe it is and if it's become generalised.

Stafford puppies will often get it after their first or second vaccination. They can also be prone to break outs as they teeth and also around the 7-9 months, when their hormones are raging, they have just been through the stressfull time of teething and some major growth spurts.

Avoid any vet that is gunho with the moxidectin, ivermectin and demodex wash.

[Loves Dogs]

Thanks everyone. I feed him sardines once a week for his coat and also use an evening primrose oil cap squeezed over his food everyday. The vet has put him on a low dose of ivomectin just to help it along but she said I had caught it early so it shouldn't be a problem. The aloe sounds good so I will give it a go. At the moment I am using betadine on the lesions as some of them have erupted and broken the skin, this should help keep the nasties out and dry out any weepy ones also the vet scraped him and the poor thing was bleeding everywhere:( so I put some on those aswell.