i don't know what to do with my dog :(?

Question

he has been diagnosed with demodectic mange, I've been taking him to the vet i've already spent hundreds of dollars and everytime i go the vet gives me antibiotics and tells me he'll be fine he seemed to be ok but the mange came back and now he's losing almost all of his hair, i tried two different vets already and it seems like they just want to get my money every visit is around $150 - $200 between visits and scrapings. Does anybody know about a remedy that i can probably try i love my baby and i want him to be fine.. he's a mix between a rat terrier and a chihuahua, he's about 5 pounds and 6months old.

Answer 1

Yup. Time for a new vet. Mange does NOT respond to antibiotics. They are just to reduce the risk of skin infections. They should either be dipping him in mitaban dip or treating with ivermectin-based drugs. (Now mind everyone...if it is a member of the collie family, NEVER give ivermectin based drugs.)

Answer 2

Last time I checked, mange needs to be treated with a special bath, available from vets. We use one called Aludex.

Diagnosis for demodex is fairly simple, you just take a skin scraping and look for the mites under a microscope. The bath treatments take a while, you have to do weekly baths for so many weeks and be sure to use the correct dilution, and you have to soak the dog for at least 20 minutes, thoroughly sponging all parts of him including the face.

Try another vets. Any new vet you go to should request previous history from past vets so they don't just end up doing the same tests over and over. Ask the new vet if the dog does in fact have Demodex. If so, I don't think this condition is ever treatable with just antibiotics, the demodex mites need to be killed by something insecticidal. By this I mean don't start going in to petshops and buying whatever mange 'treatment' they might have there - it won't work, and you need to be sure it in fact is Demodex.

Chalice

Answer 3

It costs a lot of money to treat mange. Antibiotics and other oral medications can help. Weekly dips (where you bathe the dog in a type of medication) are also very helpful. Your vet is not trying to get loads of money out of you. They are actually trying to help your dog. Mange is very uncomfortable for the dog, and if left untreated, can lead to secondary skin infections. Usually dogs with mange already have weakened or insufficient immune systems.
I don't know of any home remedies for demodex, but you could probably find some online, though I don't know how dependable (or safe) that would be.
Mange is worsened by moisture. Keep your dog from swimming, and only walk him in dry grass. Make sure the areas between his toes and in his armpits (and legpits, where his tummy touches his thighs) are dry. If you give him a bath, you can pat him dry with a towel (don't rub, it will only irritate the skin more) and then make sure he has lots of time to air-dry.
There are special foods for dogs with sensitive skin, and there are conditioners you can use to help his skin stay soft. Of course, these products (especially the prescription food) cost money.

Always make sure you get your money's worth at the vet. Do not leave with any un-resolved questions. I'd recommend asking about dips, and which kind would be best for your dog, or if the vet thinks they would be dangerous due to his size and age. Ask the doctor for tips on how to care for your dog between visits and keep him comfortable. Veterinarians have all sorts of information, but sometimes, if you don't ask, they just won't dole it out. Be pushy about getting your dog the best care.

Answer 4

Demodectic mange is caused by Demodex canis, a tiny mite that cannot be seen without the aid of a microscope. This mange strikes puppies from three to 12 months old.

The demodex mite is commonly present in the pores of puppy skin and usually does not cause symptoms, and it not at all certain what causes them to activate. The mites can produce a substance that lowers the dog's resistance to them and make use of an opportunity to multiply.

It's also possible that some lines of purebred dogs carry lowered resistance to the mites, and that stress can trigger an active infestation. In any case, demodectic mange symptoms include thinning of the hair around the eyes and mouth and on the front legs that evolves into patches of hair loss approximately one inch in diameter. This mange may correct itself within three months or may require treatment.

However, demodectic mange can also begin as a localized infestation and develop into a generalized case with multiple hair-loss sites on the dog's head, legs, and body. This is a far more serious condition and requires veterinary attention. The dog's skin is sore, crusty, and oozing; the hair follicles are clogged with mites and debris. Treatment is extended and requires bathing in medicated shampoo and application of an insecticide to kill the mites.



Try some medicated shampoo, the insecticide and remember, according to this article, it occurs in puppies from 3 to 12 months old...it may get better on it's own!

Good Luck!

Answer 5

I would find a new vet too. When you call, explain what your dog has been diagnosed with, explain how you have been spending all this money, but it is not resolving, and ASK - "IF this vet finds that the dog has demodectic mange, what would his treatment be and what is the cost?" You have a right to know.

Here are some websites that I found - read up - knowledge is power and leverage.

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/demodectic_mange.html
(this says not to treat it, that it will resolve on its own . . .)

http://www.barkbytes.com/medical/med0019.htm
(this one talks about how demodectic can become generalized which means lots of different treatments, prolonged treatments)

http://www.dr-dan.com/red.htm
(this one also talks about treatment)

Answer 6

demodectic mange can take quite awhile to cure, and switching from vet to vet is probably not the answer. to save yourself money, you should stick with the same vet who won't do the same start up diagnostic testing, demodectic mange is a fairly well known problem and most vets are more than capable of treating it. I would stick with one vet and stick with their recommended course of treatment and re-checks and be patient!

Answer 7

are you doing the necessary dips and medicated baths that treat this type of mange?

Answer 8

I agree - find a new vet. Also try feeding him some yogurt with his kibble.

Answer 9

Find a new vet.