Ive posted earlier on in the health section about my dog possibly having fox mite , we have been to the vets today and he has had a skin scrape which didnt show anything up but it doesnt rule it out . The edge of his ear has all dried up and he isitching under his front legs . He has had advocate yesterday and today has started a course of steroids to ease the itching and surolan ear drops as the vet did say he has an infection in both ears .

My worry now is spreading it to the other dogs and inparticular my girl who is possibly in whelp , what treatment can I give to her which will be safe for her and possible pups and prevent her getting sarcoptic mange "if" that is what we are dealing with ?

You would have been best to ask your vet whilst you were at the surgery.

Yes I should have but even if I had he wasnt my normal vet unfortunately and Id rather ask people with experience and who have used these kind of preventatives with good results :)

I would be ferrying him out  to a friend/relative with no pets if I had a bitch in whelp until I discovered what he was suffering from if this is possible.

As for the fox mite /mange I have no experience of it so hope others who can advise will pop along soon.

Like I said before, I'm sure all mange treatments are by using the special washes provided by the vet - if it was as simple as giving Advocate, vets would only provide that and not the Aludex...and it would be less time consuming, resolve in less time and be less expensive...Aludex 50ml cost us £60 - we're lucky we only have a small dog and 1 bottle has lasted us for the whole treatment, but for a bigger dog you would have to use far more ( we dilute 5 ml to 500ml of water) You have to keep using until 2 negative skin scrapes . Mange is easy to treat but difficult to get rid of - it takes a lot of time. Please read the links I gave plus anything else on the web.

You have to ask your vet about the bitch in whelp - the washes are really potent and I wouldn't really want to use it on a pregnant bitch - short of sending her to friends as suggested, you will just have to keep her separate and keep an eye on them all.

Fox mange can take up to 2 months to show symptoms, hopefully the others won't have it, if your dog definitely has got it --- but speak to the vet again and don't be fobbed off!

Had a look on the Advocate web page - it DOES say it treats mange - BUT I was using it monthly before he got it - and it didn't prevent it... so maybe it will work for you :-)

I would be quite happy to pay what ever it takes if only the vet would prescribe the Aludex Id rather use it even if he didnt have it than not use it . The vet did say to me Avocate didnt work as well with demodex as it does sarcoptes all though it says it treats both . Im really not happy with only having had the Advocate and the steroids and surolan wont do anything other than ease the itch and the ear infection .

I have asked in the breeding section for suggestions in which flea treatment which will also cover sarcoptes that is going to be as safe as it can be to use on my girl to atleast try and prevent it .

As for moving either of them out of the house , it isnt an option as much as I would be happier to do that there just is no where for them to go .

I think you only have 2 options curwon - wait and see if the Advocate works or seek an opinion from another vet - at your own practice or another. Either way, you have your bitch to think of so you have to ask for veterinary advice and in the meantime, keep her separate. Can't think of much more you can do :(

Sounds a bit like Pyoderma also, is there any pus discharge coming from the areas?

Stronghold is not contra indicated for use during pregnancy and it kills sarcoptic mites (mange) Avocate is a NO NO - not safe on pregnant bitches . .  I think your vet will confirm this. Mange is not nice for puppies and you will need to treat all the adult dogs in your household.

I have spoken to the vet again , he isn't happy to prescribe anything else as advocate is for the treatment of scartopes , however he has given me some malaseb to bath him in . He doesn't have any puss just dried skin around one ear . I will now take the others for a preventative I will stick with the stronghold , thank you :)

I was considering a herbal alternative for the bitch who may be in whelp , has anyone any thoughts on neem oil ?

Update
I've taken the others along to get stronghold , she suggested to leave the girl in whelp and only treat if she show signs of scartopes and then when the pups are further developed then if necessary she can be treated .
She also confirmed our boy is receiving the correct treatment if it is scartopes he has , and if the others are to catch it , it should show up in days rather than weeks . :)

Good news then curwon :) should put your mind at rest that that everything that can be done is being done!

We've just got the all clear :-D - no more 'poison' baths and back to just having Advocate once a month ( lungworm area )

Good news all round :)
Really pleased your pup has had the all clear must be a massive relief !  I can't wait for that day to come ...

Thank you for all your help its been really useful :)