demodectic mange

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gmacleod

Elusive Moderator
Staff member
How long really depends on how the mange progresses. It is likely to look worse before it looks better. That's quite logical if you think about it: hair loss occurs long after the follicules are irreversibly damaged. Damage that happened to hair follicules last week (for example) won't show as actual hair loss for a month or two. So what happens over the next month is going to be predominantly the result of what damage (or lack of damage!) happened last month. Does that make sense to you?

Put another way, if it starts looking better straight away, then it's because her immune system has already started recovery.

Thus, you need to monitor her condition. If it starts to look a little worse, don't panic - that's to be expected, and is the result of damage incurred before this point. If it starts to look dramatically worse though, then you should consult with your vet and consider treating it. And, of course, if there is no sign of any improvement at all in 3-4 months time, then that could be another reason for considering treatment.
 

Maniago

Crafty Moderator <br><img src="/forums/images/modp
The vet had me feeling like TaTanka would die without it.. Just scared the heck out of me...

K~Walkssoftly~

That is the same feeling the vet tried with me, when Grace had DM
 

skemball

Boxer Buddy
Cookie has demodex too!!

Cookie was diagnosed with demodex about a month after I recused her, --clearly her immune system was nothing due to the poor care she was getting before I rescued her. I work for a veterinary practice as a veterinary nurse and my vets there told me absolutely to try to avoid the dips unless as a last resort. She had very bad generalized demodex and since she was also have issues with her lungs etc we put her on Ivomec once daily as well as Cephalexin (Keflex), cod liver oil, b-vitamins, nutri-cal, and immuno support capsules from Rx vitamins. She is still on the Ivomec now 2 and 1/2 months later even though I wish she wasn;t. I tried taking her off and she broke out again with pyoderma from the demodex. She seems to have finally turned a corner now though and hopefully she will be off the antibiotics and Ivomec soon. I have just added another nutritional support put out by Rx vitamins called NutriPro which is basically a high power antioxidant formual which simply contains vitamins A, C, and E which have the biggest effect on boosting the immune system. I also switched her from Nutro Ultra to Natural Balance. I honestly think the Cod live oil, B-vitamins, Immuno support and Nutri Pro probably have more of a chance of helping her immune system than the Ivomec and I am just hoping eventually she will get better enough to be off. She is 8 1/2 months old right now and still not spayed which worries me but I don't want to take a chance of going backwards. All I have read and from everything the vets have told me the best thing I can do is get her immune system stronger. I have been trying everything I can think of but any suggestions are more than welcome. This poor little girl has had more than her fair share at her young age due to the neglect she had for the first 5 months of her life. She has had horrible kennel cough that turned into pneumonia and damaged her heart maybe permanently (we have had two echocardiograms in the last 4 months), food allergies, and this terrible bout of mange. I love my little girl to bits and she has steadily improved since I got her but she still dosen't seem 100%. She is also tiny at only 32 lbs, but as active and loving as you can imagine. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them!!! Thanks!
 

BasilBox

Super Boxer
what is Cephalexin exactly? Basil is on that now after her skin scraping... i cant remember what the vet said though- i was too worried about her! she was shaking from all the nerves!
 

terrip

Boxer Booster
Eggs twice a week (raw is fine) and cheese and cottage cheese. We also started Yogi on ground meat with his Candiae Kibble. He had d-mange at 5mths and with in 30 days it was gone. We did switch him to heartguard at his monthly heartworm treatment and used Goodwinol twice a day on the spots. He had it on his forehead also between his eyes. A patch on his shoulder. It looked horrible before it got better.
I also started a daily dose of Vitamin C Ester c. My vet couldn't believe this difference in two weeks or so. He still takes it a few times a week to this day. He is a year old now and is fine...

Don't worry your baby will be fine......it takes time but the boosting the immune system helps so much.
 

BasilBox

Super Boxer
thank you everyone! - I am going to by some of that goodiwol stuff- and ive started to give her two cherry tomatoes a day, along with some cheese for treats - and cottage cheese- (she also had a peice of brocolli and carrot last night) and ill comtinue with plain yogurt for reakfast- and egg once a week- I hope it gets better!
 

Walkssoftly

Completely Boxer Crazy
EeeeeeYUP!

How long really depends on how the mange progresses. It is likely to look worse before it looks better. That's quite logical if you think about it: hair loss occurs long after the follicules are irreversibly damaged. Damage that happened to hair follicules last week (for example) won't show as actual hair loss for a month or two. So what happens over the next month is going to be predominantly the result of what damage (or lack of damage!) happened last month. Does that make sense to you?

Put another way, if it starts looking better straight away, then it's because her immune system has already started recovery.

Thus, you need to monitor her condition. If it starts to look a little worse, don't panic - that's to be expected, and is the result of damage incurred before this point. If it starts to look dramatically worse though, then you should consult with your vet and consider treating it. And, of course, if there is no sign of any improvement at all in 3-4 months time, then that could be another reason for considering treatment.

Just what Gmacleod says here.. I can vouch for first hand.... As my TaTanka started out w/ LOCALIZED and went full blown Generalized after the vet missed the demodex in FOUR scrapings! ... It will get WORSE looking before it gets better..
Everyone in here told me this when I first posted, and gave me sooo much helpful input.. of which I am very greatful for.. And now? TaTanka is improved greatly!!! I am so very relieved.. and.. I HAVE taken him off the Ivomec.. Just scares me keeping him on it.. I am watching verrrrry closely, and if I think it looks like it's reversing.. then I will put him back on it.. It's hard to do this, because you just don't know whats right.. And you sure don't want to make any mistakes.. *sigh* BUT.. I am following all the advice to INCREASE the immune system, and working hard to make sure he has supplements.. and he seems to be doing great.. His coat is filling in and looks soooo improved!
I honestly think his raw diet has been the best contributor to all this... and hope I can afford to continue this for both my pups...
Anyway, for those of you that think that your boxer may have Demodex... or are curious to compare.. (I know I did alot of photo research when TaTanka came up w/ this, and this is how I KNEW It was demodex, even when the vet poo poo'd it) Here are some previous pics of Poor little TaTanka.. He was just miserable! The two benadryl every 3-4 hrs helped him alot.. but he doesn't need ANY now! *yeaaaaayyy*...
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...Picture506.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...Picture496.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...Picture501.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...ly/booboo3.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...Picture500.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...Picture499.jpg
And thank you all for helping alllllllll of us that are dealing w/ the demodex! Good Luck Basilbox..... Hope your baby clears up fast...

PS.. Gmacleod.. thank you once again for your VERY informative answers.. Your words are always comforting to read...

K~Walkssoftly~
Momma of two lil white terrors...
 

Walkssoftly

Completely Boxer Crazy
Bless her heart...

. This poor little girl has had more than her fair share at her young age due to the neglect she had for the first 5 months of her life. She has had horrible kennel cough that turned into pneumonia and damaged her heart maybe permanently (we have had two echocardiograms in the last 4 months), food allergies, and this terrible bout of mange. I love my little girl to bits and she has steadily improved since I got her but she still dosen't seem 100%. She is also tiny at only 32 lbs, but as active and loving as you can imagine. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them!!! Thanks!


Bless her little heart... Literally... and yours too.. for loving her so much and giving her so much love and help... Your both in my thoughts and prayers.. Be well Cookie....

K<~Walkssoftly
Momma of two lil whities
 
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