I have 2 dogs and one has demodectic mange, how can I stop the spread?

Question

My 7 month old Dandie has just been diagnosed with demodectic mange and will soon be under the vet's care. Now, I just read online that it can be contagious, how can I stop it from getting on my Chad? What can I buy? Please help.

Answer 1

TREATING DEMODECTIC MANGE NATURALLY

Demodectic Mange (Demodex canis), also called Red Mange, is a non-contagious skin disease caused by a tiny, eight-legged parasitic mite that lives in the hair follicles and skin glands of dogs. Puppies are infected with mites from contact with the skin of their mother while nursing. The disease is seen in two forms:

· Localized mange, which is confined to a few small areas such as the face or front feet,
and is relatively easy to treat, occurs in puppies under one year of age.

· Generalized mange is much more severe, and treatment is not always successful.

Most dogs have a microscopic mite population hitching a ride on their body, but the dog's immune system handles it all very nicely. When the immune system is no longer able to control the mites, they begin multiplying, then attacking. It is thought that dogs infected with demodectic mange are immunodeficient. In other words, they are not able to fight off the mites like a healthy dog would. Heredity is believed to play a part in dogs that show signs of demodectic mange so it is strongly recommended that infected dogs be spayed or neutered. Signs of disease appear only when mites reproduce unchecked and occur in unnaturally high numbers. Outbreaks are seen around the eyes, lips and/or lower limbs when the numbers of these mites increase.

Because the immune system does not mature until 12-18 months of age, a dog with demodectic mange may have relapses until that age. It is important for treatment to begin promptly to minimize the possibility of developing uncontrollable problems. Demodectic mange in dogs over 2 years of age is classified as adult-onset, and usually occurs secondary to an underlying cause. Successful treatment of adult-onset mange relies upon identifying and correcting the underlying cause. Dogs with immune suppression due to illnesses like hypothyroid disease, and Cushing's disease, are also candidates for demodectic mange. Demodectic mange may also occur in very old dogs because function of the immune system often declines with age.

Some dogs infected with demodectic mange may have secondary skin infections. The skin becomes dry, crusty, and brittle, it will ooze serum, blood or pus. A strong, offensive skin odor may be present due to a bacterial infection. The secondary infection responds to antibiotics like cephalexin or clavamox.

Conventional treatment depends upon the severity of the disease. Generally, veterinarians recommend treatment with a dip containing Amitraz. The dip is repeated every 7-10 days. Although the dog may respond well to the dip and look normal, dipping must be continued until negative skin scrapings are found consistently for a few weeks. The dipping may have side effects. Sleepiness and itching are common for 24 hours after the dip. Some dogs many experience decreased body temperature, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite, excitability, staggering, or other personality changes. If any of these side effects occur you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

Amitraz can reduce the function of the hypothalamus, which helps regulate the body's metabolism by controlling hormone release in the body. In animal studies, amitraz caused episodes of increased aggression, as well as some central nervous system depression. In addition to the dip, to treat more generalized cases of mange, many veterinarians are now prescribing daily doses of Eqvalan, which is liquid ivermectin. Dr. Jean Dodds has written extensively about ivermectin as a trigger for immune-mediated diseases. Ivermectin should not be used in combination with Amitraz dip nor with Amitraz tick prevention collars. These medicines are all members of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor group; when they are used together their effects combine together creating sedation and adverse neurologic effects.

Conventional treatments do work but at what expense to your dog's health? Since conventional veterinary medicine relies heavily on a highly toxic method of treatment, and suppressed immune function is the cause of demodectic outbreaks, you should consider an alternative. Using a combination of natural diet, vitamins, minerals and herbs, you support the immune system while treating the skin.

Food selection:

Immune suppressed dogs require a high quality, all natural food. Select a raw food diet, a cooked diet, or an ultra premium dry food with lots of raw pulverized vegetables. Select organically grown vegetables or use one of the pesticide cleaners available in supermarkets for use on fruits and vegetables. Add leafy dark green vegetables, cruciferous vegetables — broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, watercress, bok choy, and carrots (carrots should be blanched one minute to release the carotenes). If you feed raw foods, increase the veggies.

To each meal: sprinkle a teaspoon of sesame seed oil--on the food. This is an important oil for immune function and skin repair. Also add a variety of dried sea vegetables like wakami, nori, dulce and kelp. The sea vegetables should be offered at least 4-5 days a week or even every day if your Akita likes it. Feed fish, boneless poached or canned fish. Do not use tuna, tuna and swordfish are laden with mercury; sardines, salmon, mackerel or fresh water fish are good choices. When giving fish, cook some white rice and mix with the fish. Avoid grains like wheat or rye--rice, barley and oats are okay.

NO VACCINES. Not even one. The immune system in these dogs is already severely stressed; they do not need additional viral components circulating in the blood. Stop using all chemicals including dips, flea/tick spot-ons, pills, or flea collars. You are attempting to reinstate immune function not add to the collective damage.

The following supplements are for the immune system and should be given daily. If you find a product that combines these antioxidants in one capsule, use it:

· Zinc: 50mg (chelated type)
· Selenium: 200mcg (There is a product called Selene E from Twinlabs. It contains
the right amount of selenium and Vitamin E)
· Vitamin E: 400 IU twice daily
· Cod liver oil capsules: 3 gel caps twice daily
· One gel cap daily: 25,000 IU of Marine carotene (it is available in health food
stores—another Twinlabs product.
· Vitamin C with bioflavonoids: start at 500mg and work up to 3,000mg by increasing in
increments of 500mg weekly. If your dog develops a loose stool, back off by 500mg
and maintain the level.
· Nutritional yeast: one tablespoon daily
· Lecithin granules: one teaspoon daily
· Milk thistle: follow directions on bottle for an adult human.
· One-half teaspoon of bee pollen (optional but great nutrients)
· Hokamix 30, a vitamin/mineral/herbal supplement: follow directions on container

The following herbs are to boost her immune system and fight bacterial infections. Wherever possible purchase organic herbs that are "Standardized."

· Olive Leaf Extract: Follow directions on bottle.
· Astragulus: Follow directions on bottle.
· Cat's Claw: Follow directions on bottle.
· Kyolic garlic: Follow directions on bottle.
· Pau d'Arco: 4 capsules twice daily.
· Grapefruit Seed Extract Capsules or tablets: 225mg daily.
· Flax seed oil (organic) gel caps: one twice daily.
· Plant based digestive enzymes available at health food stores. Give two
capsules per meal.

Add a few tablespoons of plain yogurt to each meal or give acidophilus supplements. It is very important to maintain good intestinal bacteria when fighting parasites.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
I have 2 dogs and one has demodectic mange, how can I stop the spread?
My 7 month old Dandie has just been diagnosed with demodectic mange and will soon be under the vet's care. Now, I just read online that it can be contagious, how can I stop it from getting on my Chad? What can I buy? Please help.

Answer 3

Demodectic mange is an autoimmune disease. Unless your second dog has the same genetic weakness, he won't get it. Now the counterpart-- sarcoptic mange-- is contagious. You just have to separate and don't let them intermingle in that case. Large doses of ivermectin is the acceptable treatment for demodectic mange. It certainly wouldn't hurt to give it to both dogs if you are worried about it.

Answer 4

my step-daughter's dog has this and the vet resorted to corti co steroids. i don't know if this is good but it helps her 100%. when they stopped it the desease came back, the vet did warn it could shorten her life span, so i'd try some of the other guys answers about natural remedies first. nothing worked for my step but the steriods and she said they rather her be out of misery and live a little shorter life happy and in comfort. it is the immune system and not like regular mange so it doesn't spread to others so the vet said. my step spends much on her beloved Angel. they have to be careful what they feed her as well, she's even alergic to turkey!!!!!

Answer 5

Your vet will sell you shampoos and such, but there is no way to keep it from spreading to your other pet unless they are quarantined. This is something your vet should help you with.. Call them and ask, and no dog food isn't gonna help with mange>< but if your dog has been left running around with the other pets, (i say this because skin slofts off all the time) then maybe think about having your other dog checked and ask what you can do to prevent it..

Answer 6

Demodectic mange is not contagious to other dog. It comes from the mother and father dogs. Talk to your vet he will tell you this also.

Answer 7

Your dog has the hereditary type, meaning it does not spread to other animals, as it is genetically passed. There is no cure for this and all you can do is keep up on the medicated shampoos, etc... that your vet gave you to treat it. It can be managed pretty well.

Because it is genetic, no dog with this should ever be bred as it will likely pass this on to produced litters. Sadly, backyard breeders don't care and breed them anyway and sell the pups to unsuspecting buyers.

Answer 8

Demodectic mange is not contagious... It is scarcoptic mange that is contagious.

All dogs have the demodex mite on them, but some with weaker immune systems are unable to keep the mite population down, so the mites take over areas of the skin.

You need to make sure your dogs are eating really high quality dog food (something without grains). You need to add Salmon Oil for the Omega 3's. Then you need to look up a really good vitamin supplement for your dogs (something like Missing Link).

Demodectic mange is something that can be gotten rid of by boosting the dogs immune system and making the dog healthier.

Personally, I tried all kinds of things for our foster dog (who came to us with large patches of hair missing from demodectic mange)... She would get a little better, but then not get well....So I finally did tons of research and put her on a prey model raw diet... Meat, bones, and organ meat... Within 3-4 weeks all her hair grew back. I switched all my dogs to a prey model raw diet, and they are SUPER healthy now.

Good luck.

http://www.naturapet.com/brands/evo.asp

http://timberwolforganics.com/pet-omega-oils

http://www.rawmeatybones.com/

http://www.rawfed.com/myths/

http://www.rawfeddogs.net/

Here is a yahoo group on prey model raw feeding:

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/rawfeeding/

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Keep your dog in quarantine away from the other dog. use a cage to keep the animal in until it is clear of mange. This can be a long process because it can reinfect the dog if you are not stoic with the quarantine.

Answer 11

holistic foods can cure skin issues from ALLERGIES not from mange!

I don't understand why the dog isn't getting vet care immediately?

google "blue powder ear treatment" you can try the one off the bichon web site