First, you have no idea what education I have, thanks, and I find your assumptions quite insulting, and downright rude. I was nothing but polite to you.

Second, I never said NOT to go with the vet's advice, I said what I PERSONALLY, having MUCH experience in this area, would do FIRST.

For your information, the dip I am telling the OP about is very, very safe (safer than table salt, to be exact) and quite effective with mild demodex cases. I have had at least ten fosters with demodectic mange and only ONE that had to be treated with any type of pharmaceutical.

Last I checked, this was a public forum and people are looking for, maybe...possibly, more than one cookie cutter response. I was simply giving another point of view. Have a lovely day :)

Again your not a vet and yes you did tell him not to get the shots. Im not being rude either I have experience with mange too that doesnt make my opinion outweigh a vets diagnosis and treatment and neither does it for you

I did extensive research on this issue....and the severity of the disease process varies. Of course, the more involved the symptoms are, the more aggressive you must treat it. I had several articles that specifically pointed out it is NOT a genetic /hereditary issue, all dogs have this mite, and it is when the immune system is slow to develop or is immature that the mite takes over....... and the article also encourages a completely grain free diet. This article indicated a female that is suffering from this issue, can used for breeding if treated with strict diet control....treat her for a year and then she will be able to be used for breeding again with no problems for her or the puppies. Meds that boost the immune system, along with the grain free diet, for one year, will correct the issue in the breeding female and she will have litters that do not have the issue. I put this to test, as I did have a female that had a minor case of this.....she had 3 litters with no problems at all, then her 4th litter, out of 5 babies, she had 1 male that had the problem. While it was considered localized on the male puppy, it was significantly more involved than with the momma. We did the Ivermectin shots, I gave him Ivermectin by mouth along with immune booster herbs, and when the meds were stopped because the symptoms had disappeared, the rash returned. I converted both momma and (adult) baby to grain free diets and a year later, both were asymptomatic. I have not bred that female again....dont know if I will.....she was very expensive and has a fabulous pedigree. I was told by people that are experts in this, that the male could be used for stud because the mite is passed from the momma to each puppy.....males are not around the puppies to transmit the mite. The jury is still out as to whether I will breed the female......I hate to loose this great line and out of 17 puppies, she only had one that suffered from the issue.....and he is a gorgeous dog that would throw gorgeous babies. Since the issue is cured in both these dogs now, I have been reassured litters produced by either dog would be fine. I am still overly cautious....rather safe than sorry. (I will say I never did use the dip on either of these dogs.....I was cautioned about the toxic effects of that dip and advised to use it ONLY if the situation was deteriorating out of control.)

I gave an opinion. A sound opinion. I will let the OP decide for herself after doing whatever research she feels necessary, and I will allow you to get over yourself. Again, best wishes for a fabulous day.

A dangerous opinion and please keep your ungenuine have a good day to yourself by the way you never mentioned to her to do research

Oh...and for fun. I am not a vet. You are correct. My father, however, is...and I grew up in a vet clinic and non-profit rescue. That a long time ago though, so at this point I am strictly speaking of my more recent fostering experiences.

I am sorry but I forgot to mention we do monthly blood work to check liver function as Ivermectin in dosages given to combat Demodex can be toxic to the liver.

I was never advised to do dips - perhaps because his demodex in main was surrounding his eyes, and he had other eye problems going on at the time.

My philosophy is if the treatment works, don't mess with it, baring other serious issues or complications.

Also I have a double coated breed and I was advised to keep the coat short, and to thoroughly blow dry the coat after each bath. Humidity and moisture is a thriving environment for these mites.

I agree with you about the dips after I have researched them. This was done to chachi 8 yrs ago and he was a severe case. So would I do it again I dont know but he is going on 10 yrs old and has shown no ill affects from it

Yes, I did. I told her..."the technique can easily be found on the web". Verbatim.

Is having to spell out everything like I'm talking to children a solid rule for this site, or is that exclusive only to a few of you?

Pray tell, what is dangerous about my opinion? Trying a month of homeopathic, safe treatment is not detrimental to the health of the dog. Demodex is not fatal. If a safer, less big pharm treatment works, what is the harm? If it doesn't work, a more aggressive approach can be taken. Why START with aggressive? It's not cancer or bloat or poisoning...it is a mild skin problem.

I'm not trying to be nasty. I'm just having a difficult time understanding why you are so hell bent on being nasty to me because I have a different opinion than you. It's rather disturbing.

Its disturbing to me when someone who is not a vet tells someone to go against vet treatment. Mange isnt a mild skin infection and it can get very sever and lead to staph infections or even get to the point it is untreatable. The op is not the only one reading this advice but everyone else on here that has a dog being treated by a vet and its just not cool or sound advice to give someone to go against their vets plan of treatment

Here is my opinion for this condition in this instance as described. It presents a philosophical viewpoint if you will, or my stance on health care.

I try to weigh all the risks versus benefits of a particular condition and treatment thereof. If my vet prescribes an "aggressive" treatment I would want to know why.

In my opinion mange can get out of control pretty quickly especially if there are underlying other health factors, and you don't know that at the initial diagnosis of Mange. If a three month dose of Ivermection can avoid this, with minimal risk to the liver, and the proper screening of liver function, then I say go for it.

If keeping the hair short and blow drying, and having a de-humidifier in the room works to keep moisture at bay so be it.

I also wash out his crate daily with a mild bleach solution and our den/doggy room.

I also say go for grain free, yeast free diet, and immune supportive herbs.

Okay. Whatever you say. You are clearly only reading what you want. I have just as much right to share my experiences and opinions as you do, and will continue to do so despite what you think.

I would go with the advice of a vet over advice on the web any day of the week and if your father was a vet you should know how dangerous it is for someone on an online forum to give someone advice to go against a vets plan for treatment

Well, that is a difference of character then. I prefer to weigh options and research a number of options before following ANY person blindly. My dad, the vet, taught me that.

Research is fine but the treatment plan this vet has prescribed is not out of the norm. I dont think anyone but another vet should give someone advice to follow a vet treatment. It is fine to tell someone to research but thats not what you did and I will never go along with someone doing that