I have never had an animal get mange - please can someone advise.
I posted last week that Lascaux has picked up sarcoptic mange, just a bit around the outline of the ears which I am glad I caught. He has been treated with Stronghold, washed only with unmedicated dog shampoo etc.
However, he is still whiffy and the vet explained that was symptomatic of mange - a result of excess fatty acids being excreted. The smell is his usual "biscuity" smell multiplied by a factor of 10.
The vet thinks I am stalking him - can someone please let me know when I can expect the smell to go? How many washes would you recommend for the next 3 months while he is on the Stronghold?

thanks
cissy

Don't know if this is of any help ..but we have had several discussion on both main types of Mange in the past ...have a look here Mange Topics , have a trawl through and see if there is any mention in those threads

Melody :)

I might be wrong but I was under the impression that it was demodectic mange that you got the 'mousey' smell with and not sarcoptic?

Hi Admin
The smell here is rather "mousy" but in this case the vet is certain it is sarcoptic. Looking at mange websites and CD posts, from my lay person's view it seems to be a textbook case [e.g. flaky ears, smell "volumised" due to excretions]. The vet has seen about 10 cases in the last few weeks [foxes/heatwave blamed], so I am concerned but relaxed, and just glad I caught it. Other than Lascaux's flaky ears and smell, and the itching [which has reduced] there are no other symptoms.

Thanks Melody, the link was "error-ed" :) but no matter, :) I searched CD extensively last week, saw WL and Christine have experience with mange but couldn't find info on length of time that the smell might last, appropriate number of washes etc. In fact, not having seen anything other than EXTREME cases in Asia/Indochina where I had to live with it, it is thanks to CD Mange posts that I recognised a mild form of the problem...:D

Cissy xxx

In my experience the smell goes when the problem is solved, if there is still the smell then they are still affected even though they sometimes appear to have recovered, it can break out again a week or so after you think you have cracked it. My experience of Stronghold has been excellent , though you may have read when you searched here for info, that some dogs had an adverse reaction to it. I have had one outbreak, several years ago now, soon after Stringhold was launched. They had Stronghold dropped on and were bathed in Vet Chem a fortnight later, then Stronghold another fortnight later and so on. It was belt and braces because of my terrible experiences with it years previously, but I feel that just using the Stronghold every 4 weeks to the day - not monthly!! - as some months have 5 weeks - may well have sufficed, though it may take up to 3 doses of it, with any luck you will be clear of it a week or two after the second Stronghold dosing. I would advise to continue with Stringhold for at least 3 months after they are better - though discuss this with your vet first of course. Dont forget that it worms them for roundworm too , so dont worm seperately as well. Make sure you get what you need in advance, rather than go and buy it the day you need it - just in case the vets have run out, which happened to me. I had to wait 4 days for it and was tearing my hair out!! Very best of luck - if you want to email me about anything my e mail addy will come up if you click on my name above.

Thanks WL!
Have 3 courses of Stronghold [used one] and will be sure to ask vet if more needed.
Poor dog- he doesn't seem to know what hit him, all that scratching...
Cissy

That is a good sign you have the right mange, dermadetic (sp) does not itch.

If he is really distressed - losing weight and making himself raw with scratching you could ask the vet for prednisolone (sp?). Some people dont like using them as they are steroids, and views on how they affect the immune system with regard to recovering from the illness vary. However I have used them on dogs (that did recover ) and the scratching stops instantly. I wouldn't use them lightly but if the dog cant sleep, relax at all, for instance because he is so irritated and miserable then half a tablet a day for 7 days would give him great relief. The problem with sarcoptic mange is that great stress can make the infestation multiply, so keeping stress levels down has a place in recovery. Its a difficult one!! Another point to discuss with the vet!!