Demodex Mange - Page 1

Last Monday, when I took my 5 month old puppy, who had lost a lot of fur through itching to the vet, he told me it was Demodex Mange.

He prescribed some antibiotics, an oral medecine as well as a weekly dip/bath.

I have been giving the medecine for a week now but the itching and fur loss has only worsened; I called the vet and told him and he said that that is normal and it would get worse before it got better and that I would only see an improvement within two or three weeks.

Does this seem normal? Can others who have had this problem please advise me because I really can't bear to see my puppy in such a bad way.

Thanks.

we usually don't treat the demodex with dips anymore.   usually topical goodwinol ointment on the spots and if there is several spots, we will prescribe ivermectin.    

did they scrape and know for sure that it was demodex mites.   those are usually not as itchy as sarcoptic mites.

No biggie   a whole bunch of the german high drive working dog lines have a binge of the demodectic mange.

A lot of vets scare you to death and make a big thing of it.   Most pups at 6 mos to 1 yr to 16 mos. who are teething and are stressed and growing like a weed and you are feeding some kibble without  added B3 and other immune builders, will show the breakdown..It is a breakdown in the immune system...just add  fish cap  1000 mg a day for three weeks,

What are you feeding the pup>    are you working him?   he is stressed and just feed him good and bathe him in a good anti soap shampo..  I do not agree with antiboitics....unless he has big oozing sores..why did he give you an antibiotic...does he have big sores....?   Give yogurt or probiotics starting a small amount at a time in each meal.

He will get over it and it is nothing to be uptight over...half my schutzhund club in Houston , all pups had it...very light cases...over it and never to return

YR

yea, we don't normally prescribe antibiotics either.

two of mine have had it when they were younger.  my female it was after her first heat cycle and a long distance trip...

Bear Jerome had it and Myah out of Iscka and Lago had it,,very mild case when she was 9 mos old..right before he first heat.

YR

some of them use borax and apple cider vinegar to cure

I have to ask too if the vet did a skin scraping? Is the skin scabbing where the puppy has been scratching? Are these areas infected?  I'm guessing yes and that's what the antibiotics are for. In my experience, if the dog has lost a great deal of hair, and if the skin is scabbing, it can take weeks before you start to see an improvement in the coat. Is the "oral medication" to help aleviate the itch? The pup's comfort right now is more pressing than improvements in his/her physical appearance.

The last case of mange I dealt with was sarcoptic and the course of action was Revolution for the mites, children's benedryl for the itch and extra salmon oil. I've never used a dip so I can't speak to that.

I know how you feel and you have my sympathy. I remember how horrible it is to see a puppy constantly itching. I know it might be tempting to scratch for him, but it will only make it worse. Good luck and keep up posted.

I've spent a couple thousand getting an education on this subject. Here's what I've found. The mange is a result of a weak or depressed immune system. The skin is not able to maintain itself.

The antibiotics and dips do little more than depress the system further. This usually adds fuel to the fire and the problem remains or gets worse. I think if the treatment works the system corrected itself in spite of the treatment.

The next step will be steroids. This will fix the symptoms. Dog will look better. Once the steriods are done. If the system hasn't healed itself in spite of the treatment, the mange comes back.

The cure in the dogs that I have seen cured is to change the dogs diet to a food that lets the dogs immune system work as well as it can by having a healthy balanced diet. Once the dog has been on a good diet the dog will have a chance to correct itself. A high percent approaching 100%, I'll say 97% have gone on an been healthy and mange free on a good diet.

Good luck

Dog1, your information is partially incorrect.  There are 2 basic manifestations of demodicosis in dogs:

1)  Localized

2)  Generalized

The localized form is generally seen in pups/youngsters and is limited to small areas, usually seen as hair loss on the muzzle or elsewhere on the face (around the eyes is also common).  This form is usually self-limiting and caused by a temporary immune deficiency (which is common in young pups as both the pup and its immune system are maturing).   Once the pup and its immune system mature and/or whatever else is temporarily suppressing the immune system is gone (various stresses including teething, other parasites, adapting to new foods/environments, etc.) the demodex will most often resolve on its own. Sometimes localized demodex can be irritating enough to warrant some form of treatment, especially if a secondary bacterial infection arises.  Steroids would be CONTRAINDICATED because steroids SUPPRESS the immune response.  Why would you want to suppress the immune system when the problem is being caused by an already inefficient/insufficient immune response?  Steroids are used when there is an OVER reaction or INAPPROPRIATE reaction (autoimmune problem, for example), not when there is an immune system weakness going on as that would be like adding fuel to the fire.

Generalized demodicosis is a more serious condition where the mites cause hair loss, pruritus, scaling over large parts of the body, or in severe cases may even involve the entire body.  This form usually falls into one of two categories.  First there is a form seen most often in younger dogs with a concurrent , treatable, systemic type of condition (malnutrition, for example).  In cases like this, if the underlying problem can be addressed and cured or managed, the demodex can also be successfully cured or managed.  The second type of generalized demodicosis is secondary to an underlying defect or disease that cannot be readily treated or managed (cancer, inherited cell mediated immune system defect, etc.).  For these dogs, treatment can be very difficult and since the underlying defect is permanent, prognosis is poor.  Affected dogs will usually have staph or other infections over much of their bodies as well, so antibiotics and other more intensive medical treatments are warranted, though not always effective.   Again, steroids would be contraindicated if the underlying problem is due to an immune system weakness/defect.

So, localized "puppy" demodex is a common occurance in youngsters or older dogs during times of temporary immune system weakness.  It's usually self-limiting and requires no treatment unless secondary bacterial infection or discomfort would warrant it.   Generalized demodicosis is a more seriuos problem that indicates an underlying immune system defect of some sort, either of an inherited (permanent) nature (cell mediated immune defect) or perhaps caused by some other disease state such as cancer, hypothyroidism or diabetes (if left untreated). With generalized demodex one should attempt to identify the underlying defect/problem and treat it along with the demodex if possible.  Sometimes the underlying defect is not curable and prognosis for these dogs isn't very good, though some do recover with quite good results when the root problem can be addressed as well. 

References for the above can be provided on request, or search any good canine parasite, dermatology or immunology site and look for demodex/demodicosis.

I've generalized things in this post for brevity, but please realize there are exceptions to the above and additional causes as well.  Your vet can and should be the one to determine which form of demodex you're dealing with and h