Demodectic Mange

[My Buddy]

Hi, I am new to this forum so bear with me. I just bought a 5 month old puppy two weeks ago after losing my other yorkie of 13 yrs from kidney problems. My question is has anyone heard of Demodectic Mange (mites) I bought hinm from a breeder that did not tell me he had a problem. Once i brought him home I found little scaley bumps and brought him to the vet and they told me it was mites. They put him on clavamix which doesn't seem to be working does anyone know of any other solutions.

[Cha Cha]

Welcome to YT. I am sorry to hear you are dealing with this with your new puppy. If you don't feel the medication is working, you should go back to your vet, or consult a second opinion. Mange can be a frustrating problem. I am including a link that I think is a good one for you. Also, there are several threads about Demodex that may help you as well, so you can do a search and you should find them. Good luck with your new baby.

Canine Demodectic (Demodex) Mange ~ Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.

[yorkieusa]

I have never dealt with this, but I found this and it discusses a different treatment than what you are doing. Perhaps you should discuss this with the dr. I have attached the link at the end. This will tell you what you need to treat your lil one. Let us know how things go.

How is demodectic mange treated?

The treatment of Demodectic mange is usually accomplished with lotions, dips, and shampoos. Fortunately, 90% of demodectic mange cases are localized, in which only a few small areas are involved and can often be treated topically. A treatment that has been successful for years has been a 1% rotenone ointment (Goodwinol ointment), or more recently, a 5% benzoyl peroxide gel applied daily. Bathing periodically with a benzoyl peroxide shampoo and feeding a high quality diet and a multivitamin with a fatty acid may also help some dogs. Most of these localized lesions will heal on their own and do not require overly aggressive treatment, though they may worsen before they improve.

If a dog develops generalized demodicosis, more aggressive treatment is usually required. Studies show that between 30% and 50% of dogs that develop the generalized form will recover on their own without treatment, but treatment is still always recommended for the generalized form. Treament can be lengthy and expensive. The treatment of choice continues to be Amitraz dips applied every two weeks. Amitraz is an organophosphate, and is generally available under the product name Mitaban. It is a prescription product and should be applied with care. Humans should always wear rubber gloves when applying it to their dog, and it should be applied in an area with adequate ventilation. It is recommended that medium-length and longhaired dogs be clipped short, so that the dip can make good contact with the skin. Prior to dipping, the dog should be bathed with a benzoyl peroxide shampoo to help remove oil and cellular debris.

Most dogs with generalized demodicosis require between 4 and 14 dips given at 2 week intervals. After the first three or four dips, a skin scraping should be performed to determine if the mites have been eliminated. Dips should continue until there have been no mites found on the skin scrapings taken after 2 successive treatments. Dogs should not be considered "cured" until one year after their last treament.

Some dogs develop sedation or nausea when dipped, and toy breeds in particular are sensitive to amitraz. Half strength dips should be used on these sensitive animals.

Ivermectin should not be used in Collies and similar breeds.

Some dogs may not respond to this treatment, and the frequency of the dips may have to be increased or additional treatments may need to be instituted. Two other products, which though they are not licensed for the treatment of demodectic mange, are used by veterinary dermatologists and general practitioners with some good results. One of these is ivermectin, which is the active ingredient in Heartgard, however, the concentration in Heartgard is not high enough to be effective against Demodex. Larger daily doses of liquid ivermectin must be given and should only be used under close veterinary supervision. Another drug, Milbemycin oxime (Interceptor), has also been given daily and been shown to be effective on up to 50% of the dogs that did not respond to Mitaban dips. Moxidectin has also been shown to have some efficacy against Demodex.

Dogs that have generalized demodicosis often have underlying skin infections, so antibiotics are often given for the first several weeks of treatment. In addition, we usually recommend the dog be given a good multivitamin/ fatty acid supplement. Because Demodex flourishes on dogs with a suppressed immune system, it is wise to check for underlying causes of immune system disease, particularly if the animal is older when he develops the condition.

Prognosis and impact on breeding

Demodectic mange is not an inherited condition, but the suppressed immune system that allows the puppy to be susceptible to the mites can be. Remember that all puppies receive the mites from their mother, but only a few have ineffective immune systems and develop the mange. This sensitivity can be passed genetically through generations. Individuals that have a history of demodectic mange, and their parents and siblings, should not be bred. Through careful breeding, most cases of generalized demodicosis could be eliminated.

Can I get Demodex from my dog?

The various species of Demodex mites tend to infest only one species of host animal, i.e., Demodex canis infests dogs, Demodex bovis infests cattle, and Demodex folliculorum infests humans.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a few important points should be repeated. The mites are transferred from the mother to offspring in the first few days of life. The first sign of hair loss usually does not occur until after four months of age. Demodectic mange is usually curable or controllable with persistent treatment, except in rare cases with very immune suppressed individuals. The immune system condition that allows for the development of demodectic mange can be an inherited condition, and breeding of these animals should not occur.

Demodectic Mange (Red, Puppy, and Follicular Mange) in Dogs

[My Buddy]

Thank you, I will look into this. I never had any problems with my other Yorkie. This is all new to me. The breeder said I can bring him back, but he is already a part of our family, so I will do what I have to Thanks again.

[My Buddy]

Thanks I did read about this. I am trying to find out as much as I can. He is a love and I just want to use anything I can to help him. I am new to this forum so bear with me I might not always know how to post to things. Thanks for the help

[Cha Cha]

Originally Posted by My Buddy

Thanks I did read about this. I am trying to find out as much as I can. He is a love and I just want to use anything I can to help him. I am new to this forum so bear with me I might not always know how to post to things. Thanks for the help

There is nothing wrong with the way you posted , and we're glad you are here looking for help. The one thing I'd like to stress with mange is that it is a parasite, and the medications you will be perscribed, or asked to use are strong and potent as the mite is a hard parasite to get rid of, and they do come with side affects so it is vitally important that you follow the directions from your vet. But any good pet owner would do research too so they know what questions to ask and for that you are in a good place here.

[my2boyz]

Our first Yorkie had demodex and once he was through the treatments it never came back. However, Boog did suffer from several health issues throughout his life and he let us know when it was time to let him rest right before he turned 13.

I don't know if his health was a result of the lowered immune system caused by the demodex or if his immune system was lowered at birth and that allowed the demodex to take hold...or if it was just bad breeding from the beginning.

The demodex was just a bump in the road for us...it never once changed how much I loved that little dog and I believe it made me love him even more.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by My Buddy

Thanks I did read about this. I am trying to find out as much as I can. He is a love and I just want to use anything I can to help him. I am new to this forum so bear with me I might not always know how to post to things. Thanks for the help

We were all new at one time or another. You're doing fine. Please feel free to ask questions anytime you wish. There are always different people online and some have experienced this issue while others haven't. Everyone will try to help as much as they can.

[yorkieusa]

This is a site I have always referred to whenever I had questions:

Demodex Mites and Your Dog

[Ellie May]

The vet is probably concerned about a bacterial infection, so that may be why the antibiotic is being used.

Nearly all dogs have demodex. When they get out of control, it is the result of a compromised immune system. You may not need to give drugs for the actual mange as long as it doesn't keep getting worse. Different vets have different feelings on when to give it.. If the vet is worried about your pup's immune system, some immune boosters may be tried.

[Rachael x]

Welcome to YT and congratulations on your new pup.
It looks like other members have given you lots of good information here to read up on the subject, I hope your pup gets rid of these mites soon and is feeling better.
Good luck!

[FlDebra]

Have you contacted the breeder? Chances are your puppy got this from the mother dog. It is almost always the case when a puppy comes up with this. The breeder should bear the cost of this. She should have known her momma dog had this or at least is a carrier. All dogs have some mites, but low immune systems or just being a newborn can lower resistance enough to let them take over. Contact the breeder and make her make good on this. Some states have puppy lemon laws that will force her to stand behind her dogs. Did you have a health guarantee?