On Ivermectin and now has sore paw and is limping

[dbetz]

I have a call into her vet and am waiting for a call back. Rudy is 5 mos old and was diagnosed with Demodex Mites 1 week ago. Started her on Ivermectin 7 days ago. This morning she woke up with a very sore paw and is limping badly. I can't see anything wrong but she cries out when I touch it and is crying out periodically just lying in her bed. Is this a side effect or just a coincidence? Vet told me to watch for neurolgical systoms as far as side effects - this doesn't seem like that but I am not sure. She was fine last night, played fetch etc before going to bed...I love her so much and am worried.

 

[dbetz]

I have an appt with the vet in a few hours. After really looking at her paw under bright like she has a red swollen bump that looks like it would be very sore. poor baby. After searching in the internet it appears that she has a secondary infection from the demodex mites - interdigital pyoderma. of couse will see what our vet has to say.

 

[ELubas]

Poor baby-hope she feels better. Keep us posted on her progress

 

[Draymia]

This doesn't sound like it is related to the demodex or the ivermectin. I'll be curious as to what the vet says, but I would guess it is a coincidence. Puppies hurt themselves all the time. A lack of co-ordination?

 

[dbetz]

Went to the Vet on Friday afternoon and he could not say if it was secondary infection from Mites - as this was like a large red swollen bump on her toe and I guess from mites it would not be a big bump. He put her on antibiotics, cephalexin, for 7 days. Later that night, her brother Duke was trying to get her to play and it seems that the bump burst and was full of blood and pus (yum). We cleaned her up and since then she has been fine. I am a little worried as she is supposed to get spayed on the 24th and poor thing has been through so much. We are thinking about post-poning her surgery.

Thanks

 

[nswain]

Glad to hear Rudy's paw is a little better - Grumpy has taken cephalexin before for skin infections and it helped in just a few days of treatment.

I am a little worried as she is supposed to get spayed on the 24th and poor thing has been through so much. We are thinking about post-poning her surgery.

I think postponing her spay might be a good idea - at least worth talking to your vet about. When Grumpy had demodex, I read everything I could find... and learned that one of the most important things to do is boost the immune system so that the dog can eventually keep the mites in check on their own. Surgeries are pretty stressful on the dog's system, so it's really better to avoid that while she's also trying to fight off the demodex. Our vet had us hold off on giving vaccines, flea treatments, anything that could stress or suppress the immune system, until Grumpy was off ivermectin and free of mites for at least 2 months.
Good luck to you and Rudy!!!! Grumpy sends her lots of wiggles

 

[Draymia]

I am a little worried as she is supposed to get spayed on the 24th and poor thing has been through so much. We are thinking about post-poning her surgery.

Thanks

It would be a very good idea to hold off on the spay. The stress of the surgery is not a good idea, while her body is trying fight off the demodex.

Glad she is feeling better and it was only an abcess.

 

[dbetz]

Thanks all - I value your advice. Will discuss post-poning the spay with the vet in the morning. I love her - she is the best most obnoxious puppy ever.

 

[lancesMom]

To spay or not to spay...that is a great question. While working at the rescue we saw a lot of boxers come through with demodex. Now demodex is directly affected by stress and so we have always been advised to spay asap if there is any risk of a heat cycle. Going into heat is just the type of stress that more often than not can cause a complete relapse with demodex. I know the surgery itself can be stressful, but they really do sleep through it all. On the other hand, a heat cycle lasts for quite a while and is very hard on a dogs body. That's why each heat cycle can also raise their risks of cancers. Goodluck in whatever you decide. I hope that her mange clears up so she can be a happy puppy soon.