can anyone help me my little boy who is 7 months old has got demitictas mange he has been to the vets for treatment and we have to bath him every 5-7 days in some special skin stuff , he had to have 5 baths then back to the vets for another skin scrape but it doesnt seem to have gone so we are back to square one now has anyone had any experiance with this mange before and if you have can i please have some advice

Hi guest,  Thankfully have not had this problem for quite a while, but about 4 years ago one of my boys was infected by a bitch visiting the kennels.  No visible signs she had it (or we would not have let him touch her with a barge pole) but when contacted later the owners said she had had flare ups, but they thought she was cured.  However I whizzed him to the vet straight away, and after long discussion my Vet said that whilst washes etc can help they are slow and not guaranteed.  However, Ivermectin injections worked almost immediatley and were guaranteed effective.  Negative aspects were that this is not licensed for dogs in the UK and must not be used on sight hounds or merles (can be deadly).  Signed a waiver (not sight hounds and no merles in our breed) and 2 injections 10 days apart effected a complete cure.  However a lot of vets wont use it either because a) they wont use non UK licensed or b) wont use it till customer suggests as it is so much cheaper than repeated visits and medication.
bye
Gwen

Have used that too Gwen, but we had to give it by mouth for a month (3 days on 3 days off) before the condition cleared, and then again a few months latter when it returned. This dog was too poorly to be bathed else I would not have risked it and he had next to no imunity due to medication given to reduce the side effects of castration.

Sorry to shout Gwen but IVOMECTIN MUST NOT BE USED ON ANY SHEEPDOGS eg Rough Collies, Beardies, Shelties.  It has produced tragic consequences.  The colour of these breeds is irrelevant.

Im sure theres a couple of breeds where IVOMECTIN should not be used on... Its always best to chat with your vet first... I know like Gwen said many vets wont used unlicenced medication.
My  beau had dermodex (dermodectic mange) when we first got her and it went for ages.. not shes just having her first season, its come back :(
As far as im aware derodectic mange is not transmittable (sp?) to any dog apart from Dam to pups.
Guest... The best advice i can offer is persavere with the treatment, i know it can take a fair few months to clear up using the shampoo (dip)

Best wishes
Donna and charliex

OK, so maybe we should say not to be used on any sight hounds or shepdogs, or anything likely to carry the merle gene, just to be on the safe side?
bye
Gwen

If you run a search using the facility in the top right hand corner of the forum page, you will find many useful past threads on mange.

Hi here`s a link with info about mange & alternative remedies :)

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

Christine, Spain.