Hi everyone! I need some advice. yesterday, when I took Bentley to the vet, they did a skin scrape on her, due to a bald, itchy spot on her head. To my dismay, she has Demodex Mange! Poor baby! I did a search on here, aand I can't decide which way to go with treating her. My vet wants me to bring her in for a dip, but I read that dips aren't good for them. I don't know what else to do, though. The vet said that this outbreak probably occured due to the stress she went through with her 1st heat. We used to think she was itchy because of a possible food allergy, and swithched her over to Veterinarin ID Duck & Potato diet. Do you think it is ok to switch her over to a new (less expensive) food, since it isn't an allergy to food? How often can I expect her to have these outbreaks? I feel so bad for her discomfort! Also, what causes it? I dont know much about it, and any info. would be great. Thank you in advance for your help!
Demodex Mange! Yikes!
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Sabrina Jay
Boxer Insane
If she only has the one spot (or 5 or less smaller spots), I would try boosting her immune system first with Vit C & Vit E. If she *self-cures* by boosting the immune system, then she has a temporary supressed immune system. If by giving her the Vit C & Vit E doesn't work, then you could be dealing with more of a severe type supressed immune system, and she should NOT be bred. (providing she would pass the other health testing for heart, hips, thyroid, etc).
I personally would not do dips first. If you do, you will never know if she would self-cure by boosting the immune system.
Another method of treatment (before the dips) would be liquid Ivomectian, in higher doses daily. Again, if you must do this, she should never be bred, as her immune system problem would be hereditary.
Do a search in the FORUMS and you will find a wealth of information on demodex.
Good luck and keep us posted.
I personally would not do dips first. If you do, you will never know if she would self-cure by boosting the immune system.
Another method of treatment (before the dips) would be liquid Ivomectian, in higher doses daily. Again, if you must do this, she should never be bred, as her immune system problem would be hereditary.
Do a search in the FORUMS and you will find a wealth of information on demodex.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Albie
Completely Boxer Crazy
Our vet prescribed an ointment called Goodwinol for a few spots Lacy had, although we eventually had to treat with Ivermectin. I can't remember the dosage, but it was a liquid that we gave her every day for about two months. And yes, it is what they give to horses. I think Ivermectin is also in a heartworm preventative, but the dosage is different than what you use to treat demodex.
My neighbors boxer had mange and he added chopped fruits and veggies to the diet along with prescribed oral meds. The vet was impressed with the quick results. By the time the follow up scraping was done there was no evidence of any living mites. He said it was the first time he had ever seen that happen. Usually it takes a few follow up scrapings before the mites are all dead. My neighbor is just 14 years old and he cares for his boxer on his own. Evidently, the supplement of fruit and veggies to the diet boosted the immune system.
In researching mange for my neighbor I came across serveral threads that recommend flax seed as an immune booster.
Hope Bentley has a speedy recovery.
In researching mange for my neighbor I came across serveral threads that recommend flax seed as an immune booster.
Hope Bentley has a speedy recovery.
courtney323
Energetic Moderator<br><img src="/forums/images/mo
Bay -
I just went through this with my Boxer girl. She just had one spot also (on her cheek). My vet stated that they would never do a dip unless it became generalized mange?
He prescribed goodwinol to rub on the area once per 24 hrs. It has been almost 2 months and it looks to be clearing up on its own (yea!!)
I would advise against the dip if I were you (doesn't seem necessary). From what I have learned here, I would also advise against antibiotics if he prescribes them, unless she has a *very* visible infection on the area.
Anyway - good luck
I just went through this with my Boxer girl. She just had one spot also (on her cheek). My vet stated that they would never do a dip unless it became generalized mange?
He prescribed goodwinol to rub on the area once per 24 hrs. It has been almost 2 months and it looks to be clearing up on its own (yea!!)
I would advise against the dip if I were you (doesn't seem necessary). From what I have learned here, I would also advise against antibiotics if he prescribes them, unless she has a *very* visible infection on the area.
Anyway - good luck
I am so confused about what to do! I have called 3 different veterinarians in the area, including an Animal Dermatologist, and they all say they use the dip. They said that I should also build her immune system to prevent future breakouts, but that I should dip her to get rid of it 1st. I don't know what to do! I want what is best for her, and what won't hurt her. Please give your opinions. Thanks so much for your help!
sbartels
Boxer Booster
About 90% of cases that are localized, as your's seems to be, will cure themselves. Currently the only FDA approved treatment for canine demodicosis is amitraz dips every two weeks. But if it's only one spot, that doesn't quite seem necessary, does it? Ivermectin is generally effective when given at high doses (0.6 mg/kg) for an extended period of time. There are side effect though, such as ataxia, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea. Again, one small spot doesn't seem to warrant such severe treatment. I guess I'm in agreement with everyone else. The dip doesn't seem necessary. I would work to build her immune system and she should recover from this. That's my opinion.
Thomas Liggin
Boxer Insane
mangy cures
Do not try this at home. This thread reminded me of two cases of dogs with mange from my youth.
The first involved our dog Wits. He was a mongrel, slightly bigger than a Cocker Spaniel. He began to lose hair on his eyebrows. Then the ears became involved. I remember the skin looking like leather where the hair was gone.
My Dad knew what it was, so off to the vet. He didn't offer much hope, but gave us a clear glass gallon bottle containing the treatment. Some older members will remember Kormon Water. It was a bleach. The bottle had a glass ring on the neck for carrying. The old moonshiners used to drink from them with a pinky through the ring and the bottle perched on their arm.
In this bottle was an opal colored liquid which looked and smelled suspiciously like motor oil. At the bottom of the bottle an inch or two of white powder had settled out of suspension.
Two or three times a day, we had to mix the contents, then take a small paint brush and apply this concoction to the affected areas. Within a few weeks, Wits was back to normal and the hair was returning.
Fast forward about ten years. I was working on a dairy farm summers and after school. One of the farmer's dogs came down with mange. He had a pail with a black gooey substance in it that he used on cuts and scrapes and minor injuries to the cows.
He had a Yankee Ingenuity brush. A stick with a rag wadded, then knotted and secured at one end. He liberally daubed the gunk on the mangy areas. Like Wits, within a matter of weeks the mange had been beaten and the hair began to return.
I asked him what the wonder elixir was. He told me used motor oil that he saved from oil changes. Now we know motor oils contain carcinogens. Back then, he never had a cow get an infection after being treated with the drain oil.
Regards, Tom
Do not try this at home. This thread reminded me of two cases of dogs with mange from my youth.
The first involved our dog Wits. He was a mongrel, slightly bigger than a Cocker Spaniel. He began to lose hair on his eyebrows. Then the ears became involved. I remember the skin looking like leather where the hair was gone.
My Dad knew what it was, so off to the vet. He didn't offer much hope, but gave us a clear glass gallon bottle containing the treatment. Some older members will remember Kormon Water. It was a bleach. The bottle had a glass ring on the neck for carrying. The old moonshiners used to drink from them with a pinky through the ring and the bottle perched on their arm.
In this bottle was an opal colored liquid which looked and smelled suspiciously like motor oil. At the bottom of the bottle an inch or two of white powder had settled out of suspension.
Two or three times a day, we had to mix the contents, then take a small paint brush and apply this concoction to the affected areas. Within a few weeks, Wits was back to normal and the hair was returning.
Fast forward about ten years. I was working on a dairy farm summers and after school. One of the farmer's dogs came down with mange. He had a pail with a black gooey substance in it that he used on cuts and scrapes and minor injuries to the cows.
He had a Yankee Ingenuity brush. A stick with a rag wadded, then knotted and secured at one end. He liberally daubed the gunk on the mangy areas. Like Wits, within a matter of weeks the mange had been beaten and the hair began to return.
I asked him what the wonder elixir was. He told me used motor oil that he saved from oil changes. Now we know motor oils contain carcinogens. Back then, he never had a cow get an infection after being treated with the drain oil.
Regards, Tom
I guess I should have been more specific about her spots of mange. She has 1 rather large one (about 2 1/2 inches long) at the base of her left ear, 1 (dime size) on the top of her ear, 1 (dime size) under her left eye, 2 (dime size) on her right shoulder. Sorry about that. I guess I made it sound like only 1 spot. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
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