I have a black lab who was bitten by a brown recluse spider when only weeks old. Her imune system has always been weak. She is also a very small lab (full blooded). When she was about a year old, she started getting this mange. Over the years, it gets worse and worse. I have taken her to several vets and they have treated her orally and with Mitoban dip. None of these vets have been able to clear it all up, even with weekly visits. Now when she is in heat, she gets much worse and looses almost all her hair. I want to get her spayed to help this problem, but haven't been able to because of her condition. I know she is itchy and miserable. Can anyone help me? I just can't stand to see her suffer. I appreciate any suggestions or help.
2006-07-09 15:01:47 · 12 answers · asked by Vicm0322 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I have only had success with long term use of Ivomec. I have had two dogs that took 2 months of daily treatments of Ivomec, and antibiotics to resolve secondary infections. Demodex is very common in Rotties, and so I see it often.
BUT, never use Ivomec without vet supervision. It is VERY easy to overdose a dog. It is a cattle wormer, and therefore very strong in even small doses. Once overdosed, there is no cure and no treatment. Some vets will not use it at all. If your vet won't, or won't ok long term usage, then find a vet who will. Please do not try it yourself!
Also, when you do get her spay, expect an outbreak from that stress, and if you have to board her, or travel she may get bad again. Like someone else said, any stress can set off an episode, try to start treatment BEFORE any stressful event, and it will help keep it more in control!
2006-07-09 16:51:32 · answer #1 · answered by jenn_a 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
** DO NOT USE DIESEL FUEL OR USED MOTOR OIL ** BOTH are toxic to dogs and only make a mess and will not cure the mange!
Any cause of stress can compromise the immune system. Coming into heat is definitely stessful on your girl. If there is an association between her having a heat cycle (and there almost always is) and return of the demodex, have her spayed to avoid the problem in the future. There is no reason to keep her intact since she will pass along the genes that cause the mange to her puppies. Put her on antibiotics (for the secondary skin infection) for 2 weeks before the surgery to prevent infection of the surgical site. Ask your veterinarian about Ivermectin or Interceptor therapy as well. It can take months to clear this problem and some dogs will have relapses all of their lives. Spaying her and treating her for 3 months or more with the recommended medications will probably be her only chance to be as healthy as she can be. Do not stop the treatment until there have been at least 2 negative skin scrapings 2 months apart.
2006-07-09 15:16:34 · answer #2 · answered by agilecollie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Demodex mange takes awhile to get better, in fact the dog will look worse before looking better. The mange mite eats the hair follicle under the skin and it takes awhile for that hair to come back. A weakened immune system is usually the reason the Demodex mange mite takes over. Keep your dog on a good quality dog food and a quality supplement for skin and coat. It will take awhile but the hair will eventually come back. Hang in there, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
2016-03-26 23:07:02 · answer #3 · answered by Rosa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having a chronic problem with demodex is not unheard of, it's more common though in bulldogs. We treated them with Ivermectin orally for 6 weeks past a negative skin scraping. For those that had chronic recurrences we had them on regular intervals of the Ivermectin every 3 weeks (sometimes this changed depending on the animal)forever after.
2006-07-09 15:12:57 · answer #4 · answered by lolipoplili 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my dog has allergies that cause her to have the same symptoms as the mange. my mom works in a hospital and thought to bring home a vial of solu-cortef to give her an injection. once we gave her the second dose the scratching stopped and she stopped losing hair. we also used hotspot treatments in between doses to soothe the burning and itching. we still use the solu-cortef and it works great. my dog is chocolate lab, also pure bred, and i have a feeling that if you talk to your vet about giving her the injections, it should work the same.
2006-07-09 15:11:30 · answer #5 · answered by Ally L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I take it your talking about generalized and not localized? My best advise is to put her down, the secondary skin infections will only increase and get worse as her condition progresses. If putting her down isnt an option for you then switch her diet to raw.
2006-07-09 15:42:50 · answer #6 · answered by romance_german_shepherds 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never had one that bad. The only one I had with it was cured after 3 dips. Sorry that she is having this problem. Wish I could help.
2006-07-09 15:05:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
my dog does not have a severe case, but he got it around his eyes they gave me this medicine called Ivomec you give it to them every day for 30 days, you will probably have to do this 2 times but it cures them most of the time, my dogs hair started growing back with in days.
2006-07-09 15:07:51 · answer #8 · answered by Mydogsrcute 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont remember what kind of mange my aunts dog had, but she cured the dog in no time flat with burnt motor oil, yes, the oil that has been circulating in your engine, you apply it to the dog a couple times a week and the mange is gone, hair will return = happy best friend!!!
2006-07-09 15:07:27 · answer #9 · answered by babygurl 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Could it be something else if the medication isn't working? Have her see a dermatological veterinarian.
2006-07-09 15:08:25 · answer #10 · answered by CC 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋