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03-26-2009, 07:16 PM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Orlando
Posts: 103
| Our battle with Demodex I'm going to share my experiences with this to possibly help others who have to deal with this dreaded problem. Demodex is a mite present on most all dogs according to the specialists I've visited. Most dogs can keep them in check, but dogs that are stressed or their immune systems are suppressed, can have the mites multiply to the point where they cause skin irritations and sores on various parts of the body. Guppy broke out on his ears, below his ears and on his upper neck and back. The dermatologist put him on Ivemectin daily and after 3 months he was better, but still had a large mite count. In the meantime, although he was on a good quality food, I switched him to Natural Balance Venison and Sweet Potatoe...grain free. After another month he was still doing okay, but still had a high mite count. His ears were crusty and he still had some crusting on his back and neck, although much better than before. I wanted a second opinion so I took him to the University of Florida Small Animal Clinic. There they did the skin scrapes (poor little guy) and also determined he had a high mite count. They put him on an antibiotic (Simplicef) and one tablet daily of Interceptor. I drove him back once a month for about 6 months, at each visit they did the scrapes and the first couple months, although he was much better and they were finding dead mites, he still had a pretty high mite count...still mostly in the area under the ears. I was told that the program he was on would probably take a year or more before we completely got the problem under control...and in some cases the animal would have to remain on the program for life. Yikes! I had to bathe him weekly with a Hydrogen Peroxide shampoo and clean his ears daily. After 6 months we were making progress, but then he got sick. He started vomiting, got dehydrated and was hospitalized with an IV drip for 2 days. At that point, my vet and the vet at UF decided to stop the Interceptor until we could have a DNA test run through the University of Washington to determine if he had a heredity link to the liver disease common in yorkies. In the meantime I couldn't give him the Interceptor as they were afraid if he was predisposed to the disease, the Interceptor could be manifesting the symptoms. My vet took a swab and overnighted it to Washington, but it was still going to take a couple weeks to get the results. In the meantime, he started breaking out again. I was so upset as I hated to see him go back to square one with the sores and knew it would take quite a while for him to clear up again once the mites got really bad. So, I had him groomed very short and started applying Skin So Soft one day to the areas and Neem oil the next, alternating every other day as I'd read some people had success with the Neem oil and knew that the Skin So Soft I had used on my hedgehog years ago cleared up his ear mites...so I figured, what could it hurt? Long story short...the DNA test came back negative (wouldn't it be great for breeders to have their stock tested to assure this hereditary problem isn't passed down) and by that time the sores had all disappeared! I'm not saying he's cured of the Demodex, but he's not exhibiting any signs of a breakout at this time and he's not been on the Interceptor for about 2 months now. The treatments at UF, although well worth it, were costing me about $300-$350 a month in scrapes, exams, Interceptor, Simplicef, a 3.5 hour drive each way which caused me to lose a day of work each month plus the shampoos. So, fingers crossed...prayers from all who will send them this way, and perhaps some tidbits of info and at least a starting point for anyone who ends up in the same place we were. I consulted some of the best in the field, so I do know basically what will be recommended and what worked and didn't. But trying the oils at first breakout is at least an option before going the medical route. Do realize though that the oil is a bit, well, oily and you do have to leave it on...but I warm it a bit and massage it in, then after about ten minutes wipe away the excess on the hair (trying to leave as much on the skin and hair root as possible) with a warm, wet washrag. I'll update back in a month or so and let everyone know if this is just a fluke (I know, bad joke) or if he remains "bug" free. Last edited by seainthecity; 03-26-2009 at 07:19 PM. |
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03-27-2009, 04:13 PM | #2 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland
Posts: 2,410
| First of all, let me say that you are doing a fantastic job caring for your little one. It seems that you are well educated in relation to the disease and the treatment plan that he has been on. I have not personally had an animal with Demodex yet. However, it is one of the topics I am currently researching. The only thing I can add are links to two sites that may offer alternative or comparable treatment information. They are an online question and answer vet site, and information about a product that I am currently researching as well, called Diatomaceous earth. This product in its "human-food" form, is being labeled as a tick-flea-insect killer. Have not gotten fully into the facts but thought it would be of interest to you. Best of luck with the treatment plan you are currently on, and please keep me posted with any new information. Link 1 Link 2 |
03-28-2009, 03:29 AM | #3 |
♥ Piccolo & Vivi ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kentucky
Posts: 14,311
| Bless you for being such a wonderful furbaby parent. I can really relate to the heartache of having a little one with a skin problem. So glad things are better right now.
__________________ Lisa, Dixie, and Jazzy (RIP Piccolo and Vivi) |
03-28-2009, 07:21 AM | #4 |
Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator | Thank you so much for typing this up. Demodex/mites can be a horrible battle and so tough to get rid of - so you post could help others a lot. So, from your experience - you would say try the Neem / SSS oils first and/or right away, do I have that correct?
__________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann | Pfeiffer | Marcel Verdel Purcell | Wylie | Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° |
03-28-2009, 08:01 AM | #5 |
Luving my babies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Over the rainbow
Posts: 3,291
| Wow, This sounds like it can be a long battle. You are doing us all a favor by posting this! Thank You! I hope things work out!!
__________________ Renee, Tayah, Dash, Bella & Paige |
03-28-2009, 08:11 AM | #6 |
I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 37,147
| My Chachi had demodex when he was one. It was awful!!!! At first the vet thought it was a flea allergy so he treated him with steroids. After a couple of weeks it wasnt getting any6y better so he did a skin scrape and found out he had mites. At this point Chachi was in pretty bad shape he had sores all over his back it was inside his ears and almost all the hair on his back was missing. He had to have these dips that the vet tech gave him. He was supposed to have 6 dips 10 days a-part. After the 5th one he became sick from them and we had to quit them but the demodex was cleared up anyway. He hasnt had a problem with them since and hes 4 1/2 now
__________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427 |
03-28-2009, 08:55 AM | #7 |
Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island
Posts: 7,247
| Thank you for sharing. I am going to pass this along to my friend. Her Pebbles had been dealing w/it for her whole life. They kept thinking it was gone, but they found out they were still on her feet. I think she is clear now, but in the meantime, her liver and kidneys are effected. Not sure if it is from the meds or if she truly has an underlining MVD issue |
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demodex, ivemectin, simplicef |
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