Taken 11 week old Mungo to the vets today, my poor little Munster has got Mange. There are so many flippin' foxes around here!!!

He'd been scratching like crazy the last three days. Vet has now given him a steroid injection with follow up tablets, a course of antibiotics for the nasty rash that appeared on his chest (looks really scabby now), a dose of stronghold for the next 3 months and a worming tablet for the weekend!! How many drugs????

He has like a dandruff on top of his coat and he has lost the fur on his eyelids (although eyelashes are intact - looks like he's looked through a trick pair of binnoculars) :( :(
He hasn't even been out yet - have one more week to go and he's got this already :(

Zoe P :(

Run a search on 'mange' using the search facility in the top right hand corner of the forum page.

Hi Zoe

I have managed to find a couple of links that might help you :

Demodectic Mange

Sarcoptic Mange

I do know of someone who can give advice ...if you would like I can get them to email you?

Melody

Hi, thanks Melody, thanks Admin.

Very interesting links - Demodectic one seems a bit scary.
I wouldn't mind some advice Melody that's very kind - I've put all bedding and collar and teds in the washing machine!
Vet said I could administer the Stronghold forever more to prevent another attack but would work out quite expensive :(

Zoe P

No problem Zoe ...have passed the info over and you should get an email within 24 hours

Mel

I dont think Stronghold is much more than Frontline - and you dont have to worm for roundworms. Different vets charge different amounts for stronghold- I have been quoted £6.50 from one vet and nearly £9 from another!If you are going to use it long term you can buy multiple packs that work out a lot cheaper. Dont forget to Stronghold any other dogs you own and warn any friends dogs yours may have been playing with to use Stronghold on theirs for a couple of months just to be safe - it spreads like wildfire.

Thanks Mel!

Thanks for that Westie Lover - I don't have any other dogs but my friends CKCS was playing with Mungo all last week - Oooo she's going to be happy with me!! Thanks for the warning - I'll let her know :)

Hi Zoe,

Hope that Mungo is improving..thanks for the photos too, forgot to say that!!!! Anymore would be great!

Christine

Hi Lilly,

Mungo's stopped the frantic scratching - think that's the steroids working. He's a lot happier - it was awful hearing him cry whilst scratching.
Glad you enjoyed the pics - I do have some more and I'll send them on to you.
I was told by the breeder that the loss of hair on his eyelids (not eyelashes) is quite common in puppy Munsters - it looks like he's wearing spectacles - and possibly nothing to do with Mange. Have you found this in your experience?

Oh he is a clever little one - he's just barked to be let out for a pee!!

Many thanks,

Zoe

Hi Zoe,

I can't say I have come across the baldy eyelid problem with mine but then mine have different bloodlines to most of the Ichbins. I have seen it in some adult Munsters too, though.

Look forward to the photos, are you taking Mungo out into the ring? or maybe visit the Champ Show in June?

Oh Lilly, I wouldn't have a clue about the 'ring'.
Although I may go to the show. Are you showing Mia or Curtis then?

Should be, all going well, you don't have to show Mungo, just enter him Not For Competition and have a day out! Have you joined the LMC yet?

Hi Lilly,

Funny you should mention that, have sent an e-mail to Liz but not heard as yet!
That would be fun - didn't know there were catagories like that!

Thanks,

Zoe x

Hi ZoeP, there is an alternative treatment for mange on the Skin Disorder thread that may be of help. I didn`t want to duplicate it here & I don`t know how to do the *here* link. But maybe one of the others could put it????? Pretty please :)
Christine, Spain.

Have a look here. Christines post is near the bottom of the thread dated 04/02/03.

HTH,

Fiona
x x x

Thanks Fiona! :)
Christine, Spain.

Hi Christine,

Thanks for that!
I wonder if I can use it along side the treatment Mungo is having now? I'd feel like I was doing something more constructive.
I'm sure the Stronghold must work - but I have trouble understanding how a drop of liquid on the back of the neck every month will cure him. I feel like I'm just treating the symptons at the moment with the steroids and antibiotics.

Thanks for your help xx

More information on mange can be found HERE

On the website for demodectic mange, it states that the mites are only ever transferred from mother dog to puppy, and is not contagious to humans or any other dogs. As my pup is losing hair around the eyes, demodex is a possibility, but when I saw the vet he said it is actually highly contagious to other dogs. Does anyone know which is right?!
Hilda

Hi Hilda,
I've just looked up demodectic mange in my "Veterinary Notes for Dog Owners" - excellent book if you don't mind the photos of "what can go wrong" It says there that it has been shown that the condition is not contagious between dogs and cannot spread to man.

Apparently most dogs carry the mite, but it only takes a hold when the immune system is compromised in some way.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for that! I don't want it to be contagious (as we have another dog and five cats!). My vet was so positive though (that it was quote 'highly contagious'), and I had my website printout with me as well!!
Puppy hasn't actually been diagnosed with it, but at the moment it's a possibility - he's had hair thinning around the eyes, and been treated for conjunctivitis which didn't work. At the moment he's on steroid/antibiotic eyedrops, then if his eyes are no better Monday, he's got to have skin scrapings. It's a worry!

It is Sarcoptic Mange that is contageous. this is the kind often caught from contact with foxes.

Sarcoptic mange is the same as Scabies in people, isn't it? Highly contagious, and as you say, usually caught from foxes (or where foxes have been because the mite can survive off the host for two or three days - another good reason to discourage foxes from gardens)

you could ask your vet for aludex!!!! and dip everyone in it {animals]

Thanks Dizzy,

Poor old Mungo - it looks like it's getting worse to me - more red bumps appearing - and on his belly button :( Maybe it has to get worse before it can get better.

Zoe P x

is there a lot of scurff, and do you itch around your wrists, etc after handling him, i had a bouvie once with rabbit mite [cheyellattele] sp! he had a lot of the symptoms described

Hi Dizzy,

No I haven't had anything on my wrists but then my partner has - The vet asked me the same. Mungo does have quite a bit of scurf.
I hope the Stronghold kicks in soon - would just love to have something to relieve the itching. It had subsided with the steroids but seems back up to itching standard as before :(