I have a 10 month old boxer and she has just been diagnosed with having Demodectic Mange. This all started off with a little patch about the size of a 10 pence piece. The vets first thought it was eczma then as it got bigger said it was ringworm. After going back again and the patches were now over her face and parts of her body they had to do a skin scrape and found the real problem. What i would like to know is, is there anyone who has dealt with this before. The vet has told us that if he doesn't see an improvement in 6 weeks then we will have to put her to sleep.

We have to bath her with a special shampoo once a week and she is also on antibiotics. Before this treatment started she was still her lively self jumping about eating and like a true puppy. But since she has had the skin scrape and had one shampoo and been on antibiotics she has become very quite and sleepy all the time. Is this natural? Will she get back to her normal self? She has also started scratching which she never did before. Does this mean the treatment is working.

I hope someone out there can help me with my concerns.

Lisa

Hi Lisa , first of all , welcome to the Forum :) Secondly ...if you go to the SEARCH page and type MANGE in the keyword box , there have been several very interesting and helpful threads on the subject , you may be able to find something there

Good luck with your pup

Melody :)

Thanks Melody. I'm about to have a look.

CHANGE YOUR VET!

Demodectic Mange

Nearly all dogs have Demodectic mange mites in their skin which cause them no problems at all, or may occasionally cause small areas of hairloss when they are under particular stress (a first season in a bitch etc) and in mild cases will resolve with treatment, or if very small lesions of themselves.

When the dog is badly affected it is because it's immune system is compromised. This could be because it is born with a faulty imune system (hence the advice to not breed from an affected animal, or it's parnets if they have produced cases before). Some drugs depress the immune system, and there is a growing body of Opinion that over vaccination can cause immune disease.

Anything that can help boost your dogs immune system shoukld be tried, but I am not sure of what to suggest.

Hi Lisa, there are alternative treatments for this. I have them somewhere in favs & will look for them & put them on.
Christine, Spain.

Christine

Thanks, Look forward to hearing from you.

Lisa

Hi Lisa, here is a link & also a post from someone else who gave permission for me to cross post it.
Christine, Spain.

http://www.akitarescue.com/demodectic_mange-a_natural_treatment.htm

"Sulphur is used as a local application for skin diseases and in particular for
such as depend on parasites, such as the itch. It appears that it is not the
sulphur as such, which is of value, but, in contact with the skin, compounds of
sulphur are formed, namely sulphuric acid and sulphuretted hydrogen, which are
destructive to the life of minute organisms.

When sulphur is taken internally it stimulates the bowel and produces, without
pain, an easy soft stool. It is, therefore, used as a laxative whenever there
are conditions of the bowel, or neighbouring organs, in which more active
purgatives would do harm, in cases of piles, for example, and pregnancy, etc.

Sulphur waters, such as those of Moffat and Strathpeffer in Scotland and
Harrogate in England, are used for similar purposes. These waters contain
sulphur in the form of sulphuretted hydrogen or as salts, like sulphide of
potash, etc." (The Household Physician' 1900)

By some strange coincidence I also came across a very new paperback edition of
K. Sheppard's "The Treatment of Dogs by Homoeopathy" (1972) and glancing
quickly through the pages I came across the following:

"A Sulphur solution bath (2 ozs. of sulphurated potash to 1 gallon of water) at
weekly intervals for about three weeks usually is enough to effect a cure. When
giving the dog a sulphur bath, the solution must reach every part; though great
care should be taken that it does not get into the eyes. Do not rinse the dog
but dry thoroughly and see that it is quite dry before returning it to its
quarters. Give one dose of Sulphur 200 once a week, or Sulphur 6 morning and
evening till cured."

I managed to get the Sulphur (Potassium sulphide (poly) 'Liver of Sulphur')
from a 'big' Chemist shop in town and the tablets (200th potency) from my local
Homoeopathic pharmacy.

My little bitch seemed to get instant relief from the itching after the first
'dip' (I soaked her in the made-up solution outside in the yard, as the smell
of the stuff was revolting). After the third 'dip' she rarely scratched, raw
weeping wounds were healing, and the hair could be seen growing back in the
bald areas. I continued once weekly 'treatment' for about another month. She
made a full recovery.

Since then, I have given all of my dogs a Sulphur 'dip' and tablet once in the
month of April, and again in October, each year as a 'tonic'. It is suitable
for use against fleas, lice, and ticks, mange (Sarcoptic and Dermadectic) and
most skin problems.

Christine

Thanks, i will try this. I will keep you informed on how she gets on.

Lisa

Yes please Lisa :)
Christine, Spain.

Hi Lisa

First off I agree with admin. Change the vet.

Sesame oil is very good for skin and coat and immune system. An hour before bathing the dog massage sesame oil into the affected area. Then wash off with a mild soap (dove or something with no perfume etc) before bathing with whatever the vet has prescribed. Our vet uses Aludex for Demodectic mange. It seems to be very good. Also as christine says sulpher is good. You should also put a spoon of sesame oil in the dogs food for the immune system. Tea tree oil is helpful as it is very soothing, as is the liquid from inside the aloe cactus plant.
We had demodectic mange on one of our dogs and it cleared within a few months and never returned again.

All the best Mick

Mick

Thanks for this. Could i just ask what dog have you got and how old was he/she when she got the mange. Also was it a bad case or did you catch it early.

Lisa

Hi

He is a bull terrier and was about 4 months old when we noticed it. Was clear by 6 months with a lot of TLC. He is now 13 mths and it has never recurred

Mick

Please be careful with teatree oil as it is toxic and should never be used undiluted as it can burn the skin and if ingested is poisionous.Gillian

Hi Gillian
I read your posting about tea tree oil being toxic. I know that essential oils can be very harmful to cats, so could they also be toxic to pure-bred dogs? I use tea tree full strength on myself and used it full strength on the most infected sores on my dog's demodectic mange; otherwise I do dilute it. I had always read how "body friendly" tea tree is, so I'm curious as to where the information about it being toxic came from.
Thanks very much. I have an earnest desire to know the truth.
Sincerely, Jacquie

Hi Jacquie,
It brings me out in a rash and makes my dogs vomit....

My aromatherapy guide by Christine Westwood stresses that neat essential oils should never be used directly on to the skin.

Edit - addition...she also says that Tea Tree oil should never be used with children under 5 years...I imagine the skin of a dog would be as sensitive as this.

Hi, my 8 month old puppy has the same thing and my vet has given me Aludex to use for three weeks and hopefully this will work.my vet has not said anythink to me about having to put my pup to sleep he has only told me that it is cureable with time so if i was you i would go see another vet and get a second opinon,also my pup is very sleepy and quiet but i was told to expect that so dont worry and enjoy the quiet while it lasts.I hope this has helped you. Jane

Hi Jane

How bad is your puppy. Mine was very bad she had a big patch on her hip, then she got it round her face and under her chin and then little patchest over her body and down her legs.

BUT... she went for a check up last Friday after having three washes with the shampoo they gave us i think it is called Aludex and he has said it is looking promising he found it hard to see any mites on this particular skin where he took the scrape. She is to carry on having the washes and hopefully if will all be clear. He did say that her fur may not grow back or if it does it may take a while. Once the mange has gone i will try the Sulphur solution that Christine suggested.

Good luck with your puppy. By the way what puppy have you got.

Lisa

Hi Lisa
My dog had something similar(not diagnosed exactly what) any way she had bald patches that the vet said fur wouldn't grow back. She has now been on omega fish oil capsules about two weeks, and unbelievably she now has no bald patches!!! This could be a coincidence but I strongly believe the fish oil has got something to do with it.

Alison

Hi Lisa
Apart from all the advice you have received here, I would like to go to the vet, rub him with the demodex mite scrapings and suggest that he goes and jumps in the canal as he thinks there is no cure. What a stupid man!!!!Grrrrr
Sue

Hello Lisa
A stray came to me with an advanced case of demodectic mange two years ago. I used essential oils instead of insecticide, as well as veterinary care to gain control over the mites. I had great success - I hope this helps.
Sincerely, Jacquie

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