Demodectic Mange - Page 3

smartguy,
If I understand your question, I would ask how many in this one litter developed this condition.  With genetics and stress you have too many variables to come up with exact formulas.  This is one that I would research on the internet, you can get some real good up to date info if you pic and choose what to read and look for consistancy in reports.  Often Vets have old information that is not based on facts, even wives tales.  There are Vets that do however specialize in some areas, so check it out.  I think you will have better luck doing this type of research than relying on a lot of opinions that may or may not be correct. JMO

 I try that thank you

my rescue aussie had it, vet told me it takes hold becasue of a weakened immune system usually brought on by stress.

he gave me some shampoo stuff and i had to bathe her every day for 10 days, it went a way and has not returned.

it caused the skin near her nose to turn purplish and the hair fell out. one the mange was gone, the hair came back and all was fine.

LMH,

I was very interested in the supplements you are using but the link did not work.

Michele

Old, resurrected thread.  This one survived...but the one in which I detailed my supplement regimen didn't----what's up with that?

OK......here goes:   DAILY

COLOSTRUM.......................................500 mg
B-COMPLEX (with biotin)....................  35 mg     (inclusive with vitamin is thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, B12, and folic acid)
ESTER C...............................................750 mg     (at least)
KELP......................................................   50 mcg   (thyroid function)
VITAMIN E..............................................200 IU        (with selenium)
OMEGA's................................................amino acids are involved
WHOLE RAW EGG...............................yolk, white PLUS shell

Wash dog bedding regularly in VERY hot water-----hot enough to kill dust mites.  Use a borax soap.  Shampoo your carpets often with allergin products.

Demodex is not always easily detected.  A negative diagnosis from scraping can be wrong.  Most pups laden with the condition are home-free from symptoms within a year.  This, though, is not always the case.  There are degrees of involvement, (and truthfully), IMO, Demodex is a far bigger problem.......so widespread......it's brushed off as nothing unusual.  Need I really point out this condition be taken seriously?

Hope this helps, Michele. Remember.....YR is correct.  It's all about the immune system. My supplements seem to mimic her's.  Initially, build the affected dog's stamina with colostrum, Ester C, E, and egg.  Then....the B Complex will aid in rejuvenating an exhausted dog by replenishing energy and combatting heavily stressed nerves.  For good measure, (lol), add 1000 mg glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate daily.  Skip the MSM.  Many say it functions like a natural steroid by curtailing an overactive immune process-------opposite of what we want. Of course, the gluc/chon supplement is for joint care........but.......joint pain means stress.........and stress is a killer for dogs with this condition.  Good luck.

Do yourself and your GSD a favor........before doing any of the above!  It is all about the immune system.......Get your GSD allergy tested!  If you just start adding things to his/her diet you may be making things much worse. IE Raw diet...not Always the way to go...My boy is allergic to chicken (Very Bad 3 rating) adding things that one might think would be very good for coat/itching/skin like eggs....can be Bad....my boy is alleregic to Egg's. If I had just done the "Blanket effect of the above....His life would be even worse!) I wish I had known or been told to start right off with an allergy test....it would have saved my boy and me...a lot of rough times......Many of the above items stated help and help a lot....but each GSD is different and the immune system in each is different...no blanket items work. Get yours tested and go from there....don't just go RAW don't just start supplementing the diet....for your GSD's sake and yours.......you both will be better off....for it. JMHO

Max----So what you're saying is when the dog is tested for Demodex.....and the scraping confirms the mite........then have a "blanket" allergy test performed to see what treatments he would be allergic to.   Yup......that's one way to go. Not being cynical here, (lol)..........if my next addition starts with symptoms.......since you planted the seed......I'd probably get the allergy test.  Gee....thanks.  Sometimes ignorance is bliss....at least cheaper. 

Demodex forces the dog to scratch those pesty mites.  Demodex implies immune problems.  Poor immune system implies OTHER immune problems down the road.  Boosters are needed.

Thank you LMH and Max Bear.

I had my dog allergy tested and it all came out negative.  The vet said that it can be difficult for a young dog to be accurately tested until his is over 2.  I will do it again at that time.

He is under 1 1/2 years old, the cutoff for juvenile demodex.  He just has the localized version, one quarter sized area on his muzzle and it is not spreading.  I haven't really put anything serious on it.  I have ordered Goodwinol and will use that on the spot.

Yesterday my order of Hokamix and Olewo carrots arrived.  I put one small scoop of Hokamix and soaked a teaspoon of Olewo into his food.  A few hours later, he was scrathing a lot.  I examined him and there were huge rasied hives all over his stomach and  flat hives in his armpits.  I quickly treated the affected areas with WitchVera (Aloe Vera and witch hazel in a gel form).  I gave him 3  25 mg benadryls.  He was all comfortable again in an hour.  The next morning I gave him three more benadryls and took him to a groomer for a soothing bath.

I would say that is a classic allergic reaction.  Unfortunately, I don't know whether it was the Olewo Carrots or the Hokamix.  I will be giving those goodies to a friend.  I am not taking any chances.

I will have to check what I am giving him to see if he is getting enough vitamins etc.  Every morning he gets a scoop of Body Guard which has First Milk colostrum, yeast, lecithin, desicated liver,  elemental sulfur, choline chloride, taurine/carnitine and free amino acids.  In the evening he gets one scoop of ShowStopper.  He mostly eats chicken parts raw and on the bone.  I pump salmon oil and sprinkle some ester C on every meal.  Sometimes he gets raw eggs. 

I had been giving him one cup of soaked Instinct Chicken kibble.  I might stop doing that for a whille.  I don't know if this is true but I read that the demodex mites feed on simple sugars and starches.  You cannot make a kibble without something starchy (grain or potato or tapioca) to bind it together.

That will mean a vitamin supplement that will have to be powdered. Punky Puppy Boy does not like chewables.

Any recommendations?

Michele