Just been reading the post on this demodex mite- what is it? what happens to the dog? and how do you know if they have got it? just interested.

Demodex is a mite that to the best of my knowledge is carried by all dogs(passed from mother to pup), but only flares up occasionally in some dogs when their immune systems are low. My pointer came down with demodex last year and it really is a nasty affliction. She had a bald spot on her chest, which was finally diagnosed as demodex after skin scrapes, and finally a biopsy. Id advise all dog owners to keep an eye out for any symptoms, because the treatment as well as being expensive, is also  a trauma for the dog.

Dogs that have demodex usually show symptoms with the skin going blue around the bald patch, they are also very itchy. Most puppies have it, either very mildly or can be quite bad it is mainly caught from the mother. Bathing with a special wash from your vet is about the only thing to get rid of it, and has to be done for quite a few weeks. As they get older a reccurence may happen but only if they are run down ie:poorly.
Demodex is different from sarcoptes.

It is a mite that lives in the hair folacule all dogs are born with it but it is mainly short haired breeds that get it most staffys are prone to it. The mite is only usually active if the dog has a low eminune system or is stressed It is a mite that will always live with them but will only show if the dog is stressed or ill ect. It is not passable only in the case of breeding from mother to pup.

Hi Amanda-Jane, i was just wondering if you think it is worth mentioning to my dogs breeder that she has contracted demodex in the past(6 mths ago). My dog caught it initially because she got sarcoptic mange(whilst changing from stronghold to frontline on the very bad advice of a new vet who i left immediately and changed back to stronghold), hence her immune system being weakened, so i thought it was just one of those things. Could it be that the whole litter may be more susceptable?

I think it may be worth mentioning it to her as it means your bitch has a low immune system and this is usually passed on from the mother and sometimes it can skip a generation so it may even be from the grandparents putting all there pups at risk of infection. The other litter brothers and sisters may or may not have it as its not always passed on to every puppy. This would have happened regardless to changing the flea spray (sorry no consulation is it) or not. I only know this because i have the same problems with my dogs