Mites And Antibiotics

[minimax]

After three visits to the vet, I finally found one that listened to me and did a skin scraping on my dog and confirmed mites (demodex). The first two vets (same vet practice, but not my usual vet person as she was away) dismissed my concerns of mites as the hair loss was localised near his eye, and they claimed mites was always in more than one area (which was not my experience) and not around the eyes (also not my experience).

The first vet didn't treat it at all because it wasn't that bad yet (and wouldn't do a skin scraping), but put him on a two week course of antibiotics for an ear infection.

I went back about three weeks later as his eye was getting worse, a little bit puffy and more hair loss, which made me suspect mites even further. Another vet said no it wasn't mites for the same reason as the first vet, but again didn't do a skin scraping and gave him an antibiotic cream as well as a 10 day course of oral antibotics. The area around his eye was a bit puffy, although I hadn't seen him rub it at all, so I imagine it was just a side effects of the mites being untreated for so long. The vet said if this course of antibiotics and cream didn't fix it, then perhaps I'd need an eye specialist and consider surgery as something may be wrong with the eyelid etc

Fast forward a few more weeks and we are at vet for something unrelated and I say "these are all the things we've tried, what else could it be?" and the first thing she suggested was mites

I was relieved and furious at the same time, so she did a scraping and confirmed it, and it's finally being treated. But I love this vet, she actually listens to be and knows I know my dogs, it's just sad she needs holidays and days off :laugh:

Anyway, my point is: his eye got dramatically worse, very quickly, when he was on antibiotics. Can antibiotics make mites worse, or make the body a better environment for mites to live and grow and multiply and take over?

[Rappie]

The antibiotics themselves wont make the sin worse, but you certainly can get a flare up in the few weeks after starting treatment for the mites. Dead and dying mites cause irritation to the hair follicles and it is not uncommon for skin to look worse before it looks better.

[Clyde]

1369013546[/url]' post='6205565']

After three visits to the vet, I finally found one that listened to me and did a skin scraping on my dog and confirmed mites (demodex). The first two vets (same vet practice, but not my usual vet person as she was away) dismissed my concerns of mites as the hair loss was localised near his eye, and they claimed mites was always in more than one area (which was not my experience) and not around the eyes (also not my experience).

Both my Stafford and the Pug had localised demodex around their eye(s). When nursing I have also seen the same thing, I don't know what planet they are on to discount it so quickly. I hope you let them know!

[minimax]

1369013546[/url]' post='6205565']

After three visits to the vet, I finally found one that listened to me and did a skin scraping on my dog and confirmed mites (demodex). The first two vets (same vet practice, but not my usual vet person as she was away) dismissed my concerns of mites as the hair loss was localised near his eye, and they claimed mites was always in more than one area (which was not my experience) and not around the eyes (also not my experience).

Both my Stafford and the Pug had localised demodex around their eye(s). When nursing I have also seen the same thing, I don't know what planet they are on to discount it so quickly. I hope you let them know!

I'm trying to get a copy of his notes so I can see if they even mentioned it, and I do intend on writing to the practice manager just an FYI.

I also hope PetPlan don't have a tantrum and refuse to pay for the first two consults/medications etc for some reason.

Poor little dude now answers to "Pirate" because of his eye looking so wonky :laugh:

[minimax]

The antibiotics themselves wont make the sin worse, but you certainly can get a flare up in the few weeks after starting treatment for the mites. Dead and dying mites cause irritation to the hair follicles and it is not uncommon for skin to look worse before it looks better.

Thanks Rappie, that makes sense. I also wondered if the antibiotics could suppress the immune system a bit and allow the mites to increase.

[Erny]

The antibiotics themselves wont make the sin worse, but you certainly can get a flare up in the few weeks after starting treatment for the mites. Dead and dying mites cause irritation to the hair follicles and it is not uncommon for skin to look worse before it looks better.

A rinse over with Calendula Tea might help in removing the dead/dying mites. It is a natural anti-inflammatory agent but is gentle and soothing to the skin.

Edited May 21, 2013 by Erny

[tdierikx]

I know that Canestan cream helps a lot with getting rid of ringworm - would it be effective with localised demodex also?

Also minimax... Annandale vet clinic has awesome vets... if they are close enough to you.

There are also a couple of other medications that are quite strong that we have used with great success on a rescue girl we got in with the worst case of demodex I've ever seen (all over her entire body).

I'll ask lillypilly what the meds were that we used, OK?

T.

[minimax]

I know that Canestan cream helps a lot with getting rid of ringworm - would it be effective with localised demodex also?

Also minimax... Annandale vet clinic has awesome vets... if they are close enough to you.

There are also a couple of other medications that are quite strong that we have used with great success on a rescue girl we got in with the worst case of demodex I've ever seen (all over her entire body).

I'll ask lillypilly what the meds were that we used, OK?

T.

I was using canesten when the patch was undiagnosed and the antibiotic cream and oral antibiotics hadn't had done anything. I figured if it wasn't bacterial, the vet insisted it wasn't demodex, then fungal was one of the only things left, but it didn't seem to make much difference (although it didn't make it worse). When the good vet finally did a skin scraping she said the canesten wouldn't have been doing anything so I stopped it.

We're currently treating him with Adovcate and I'm hoping that works before going to the hard stuff.

I'm going to add Annandale vets to my list, they are about 10 minutes from me. My vet is awesome, but if she isn't there it seems no one else in the entire place has a brain cell

[tdierikx]

Our rescue girl had an extreme case of demodex - not one part of her body was spared. All of the regular treatments didn't put a dent in the problem, so the vet suggested Ivomectin injectable in a large dose... that worked for our girl, but it's a last resort treatment, as some dogs don't cope well with large doses of Ivomectin.

I will say that Advocate/Revolution, etc, DID have a small positive effect on our girl - but her demodex was extreme, and needed something much stronger to finally help her turn the corner and recover.

Crossing fingers that little man Boston's eye comes good quickly and never comes back. Give him some kisses and cuddles from me too please.

T.

[Clyde]

The antibiotics themselves wont make the sin worse, but you certainly can get a flare up in the few weeks after starting treatment for the mites. Dead and dying mites cause irritation to the hair follicles and it is not uncommon for skin to look worse before it looks better.

Thanks Rappie, that makes sense. I also wondered if the antibiotics could suppress the immune system a bit and allow the mites to increase.

I'm no vet, but I would say that you are correct. Not necessarily allowing the mites to spread but definitely muck her system up enough for the a/b's not to have a positive effect.

Gladesville Vet is an extremely good clinic, not sure if that area suits you.

Alvin had to have oral ivermec and then follow up treatment with Advocate. He had to be slowly weaned on to the ivermec to make sure there was no reaction as he was on Comfortis at the same time.

[minimax]

The antibiotics themselves wont make the sin worse, but you certainly can get a flare up in the few weeks after starting treatment for the mites. Dead and dying mites cause irritation to the hair follicles and it is not uncommon for skin to look worse before it looks better.

Thanks Rappie, that makes sense. I also wondered if the antibiotics could suppress the immune system a bit and allow the mites to increase.

I'm no vet, but I would say that you are correct. Not necessarily allowing the mites to spread but definitely muck her system up enough for the a/b's not to have a positive effect.

Gladesville Vet is an extremely good clinic, not sure if that area suits you.

Alvin had to have oral ivermec and then follow up treatment with Advocate. He had to be slowly weaned on to the ivermec to make sure there was no reaction as he was on Comfortis at the same time.

Gladesville vet is also very near me, I'm in Five Dock, so I'll add it to the list of potentials.

I'm hoping we don't need to go the ivermec, but advocate is quite a slow process so we won't know for a while if it's working (And I'm not the most patient person in the world!)

He's now starting to get little pimple things around the area, so I don't know if that's a reaction to the mites or unrelated, but I've put a bit of the antibiotic cream on the last few nights but that's all used up now. Can't be ingrown hair as the hair won't be growing back yet, and whilst the latest pic I have shows the hair loss you can't see the pimple/bump things I don't think.