DEMODEX IS BACK~Bentley We got the bad news today. It is in fact back, Bentley has demodex infections for the third time since we have had him. :( We are going to try another round of internal ivermectin and increase the dosage every week and then once on a high dose go for a month, scrape, and even after two negative scrapes in two months probably still do another month just to be sure. The vet worries that it's possible that Bentley has an immunodeficiency since he keeps reinfecting. She wants to try the extensive meds first and if this doesn't get rid of it for good and if it ever comes back we are doing blood work to find out if there is another underlying immune system disease. :( So for now it's back to daily meds for him. Meanwhile I suggested and the vet agreed that we try immune system boosting vitamins to help keep him up and not get him low enough to get these mites again. I'm searching for the right vitamin so any research help or suggestions would be great. I did call the local holistic pet food store and they have a couple options and i'm looking into this brand too. Holistic Pet Info: Immugen by Thorne, immune support for dogs and cats, Antioxidants and Immune Support for Dogs and Cats Prayers that we beat this once and for all and that it never comes back. Prayers that immune boosters work for him. And if all this doesn't work prayers for us as we try to find out what is going on with him through blood work and researching immune diseases. Poor Bentley, I just feel so bad that this pup should have had a better start in life than he did. It's not my fault, but I just feel responsible and bad for him. |
Wow, that sucks majorly. :( I was hoping it wasn't back! I have absolutely NO experience with demodex at all. But why is the vet waiting to do bloodwork? At this point, I feel like they might as well just do it now. And bloodwork is recommended to be done yearly anyways, so you could make sure everything else is functioning properly as well. I don't know, just my non-professional thoughts. Has he ever had bloodwork before? It just seems like it may not be a bad idea at this point in time, as it won't be a total waste, even if it doesn't pinpoint the demodex problem he's having. I think that would be the step I would be taking now, but like I said, no experience with any kind of skin infections, mites, etc. Demodex is a form of mange, right? |
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Nooooo! Poor Bentley. Sending prayers that he can't beat this stuff once and for all. |
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Jackson got a CBC (Complete Blood Cell Count) for $60 at our vet. His cPL (canine pancreatitis) was $139 test. Just to give you an idea... I really wish I had started on yearly bloodwork with Jackson. He didn't get any until this year. When he got sick, I didn't have anything to compare it to, you know? So yeah, in the future, I'll want bloodwork from the moment I get the pup. |
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I agree just go ahead with the bloodwork, it wouldn't be a total loss even if it did come back normal. I had Uni's done at a very nice hospital and it cost me $105. Also I hope you guys figure out what's going on with Bentley really soon. |
So sorry to hear that Bentley is having problems. Prayers and hugs for your little guy. |
I agree, get the bloodwork done now. Demodectic mange is usually only a problem when the dog has a suppressed immune system. Make sure he is on a good diet, and if he has pustules he'll need an oral antibiotic as well as a topical anti parasitic cream. Also you can try bathing him every couple days, or once a week depending on the severity, in a shampoo with benzoyl peroxide. |
I have been through the same thing with my Sophie. She just recently got over Demodex. I hope this time for good. She had to stay on Ivermectin for almost a year along with antibiotics and vitamins. Then, she got a yeast infection and had to have a specially compounded medication that she had to take on top of that. It seems like when I started boosting the probiotics that it really made her improve. I gave her a powder probiotic that I mixed in yogurt. We also switched her to a grain free diet. ( I can't remember now what I read that suggested the grain free diet, but we were trying everything to make her better). My vet told me that sometimes dogs have to stay on a maintenance dose of Ivermectin to keep the Demodex from coming back and I hope this will not be the case with us. She seems to be doing so much better now. I really hope your little Bentley will get over this nasty stuff. |
I am so glad you are going to suppliment the meds with vitamins and probiotics, it is inexpensive compared to more meds and sometimes just the extra boost these pups need. |
going out looking at vitamins and things today. hoping i find a good balance for him. he's not on 100% grain free but he is on acana grasslands and has been great on that for almost a year now with no tummy troubles. i would hate to ever switch foods again because i had a horrible time finding one both dogs would tolerate well. but i will be adding vitamins and maybe a probiotic too. worth it to make him feel better and not get this crap anymore. sounds like it's normal to get it and not completely get rid of it from the poster above who has been through this before. talked to the vet about bloodwork and she thinks we should try the vitamins and meds past two neg scrapes first since she's not sure we'd really find anything on bloodwork anyways. i also have to listen to dh's thoughts and talked to him and he wanted to wait until we get through these next two-three months of meds first with vitamins before digging deeper. not really because of money, just because he wants to try this first and see how Bentley does. so i guess we're waiting and giving these doses daily and increasing them weekly until we max out for several months worth of the max out dosage. it's going to be a long process esp with a baby coming in another month. but hoping my little guy does well again. he gobbled up the bread we put the meds on last night like he hadn't had food ever. lol he loves bread i guess. |
I'm sorry that is what it was. I hate to see you and Bentley have to go through that again. I hope you can get rid of it for good. Bentley is lucky you adopted him. |
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update: i found him some immune support vitamins and splurged on some turkey n taters for thanksgiving for him and Sadie to share |
I hope the vitamins work to help build up his system, so he can fight this stuff. The treats sound good, even to me!:D |
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