I have a young dog - 5 months old - suffering of demodex. I have started a treatment with Cydectin as prescribed by my vet but she is scratching so much and I do not know what to do! Any suggestions? The vet said to use camomile compresses ... useless to say that the result is zero.
Thanks for your help.
Meanwhile, when my dog was having skin irritation troubles (flea allergy) in Florida, the vet recommended to give her a bath using an oatmeal shampoo as something in the oatmeal helps calm skin irritations. This won't help with the mites themselves but MAY help your poor pooch feel a bit more comfy.
If so, please test for the MDR1 defect before deciding on treatment, as some of the drugs (Ivermectin / Milbemycin and related drugs) now used in treatment may be toxic to an MDR1 affected (-/-, or negative/negative) dog. This genetic defect is fairly widespread in the rough collie population.
(The defect can also appear in shelties, aussies, long-haired whippets, salukis and white shepherds, but at a very low incidence. If you have one of these breeds, ask your vet if testing is recommended, or not.)
Anyway, back to demodex. A couple of good articles on demodicosis (demodex mites or mange) to add to the one PegA linked:
http://www.capcvet.org/recommendations/demodex.html
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body...tic_mange.html
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I've had experience with adult-onset generalized demodicosis in my collie.
Fortunately given the age of your dog you are probably dealing with the puppy/juvenile version, which is easier to treat and far less likely to be linked to a serious underlying condition.
Is the demodicosis local, or generalized?
In addition to Peg's advice, if your dog is scratching and having trouble settling, a T-shirt covering the area can help to prevent him from causing further irritation tonight until you can speak to the vet. If the affected area is on his face, an e-collar can help protect the area. If one is not available, put socks on his paws to limit the damage from his claws.
And then call the vet.
Do be aware that treatment takes time - if your dog continues to show signs of discomfort, please call your vet and discuss which symptom relief options are appropriate given the treatment plan you have opted for. I'm hesitant to advise further, as you really do need to include your vet in all decisions.
If you feel that your vet is not taking your concerns seriously enough, get a second opinion.
Finally, a generalized demodex infestation might be linked to an immune system disorder, which in turn could be an inherited condition. It is sometimes recommended that dogs who have had generalized demodicosis be excluded from future breeding programs, and should be spayed/neutered. Please discuss this issue with your vet.
Keeping all our paws here crossed for your pup - hope the little one finds relief soon, and that the infestation clears up quickly with no lasting effects.
I am unfortunately very familiar with Demodex as my bulldog was a sufferer.
Luckily, he did not seem bothered so we left the "heavy" treatement as a last resort.
Our treatement consisted of:
-lots of antibiotics (we were explained that in many breeds demodex is "latent" and triggered when the immune system has no strength left to keep it at bay. Taking antibiotics helps having the immune system concentrated on fighting the demodex and not other thingsOur puppy broke out with it after a pretty heavy eye issue including an operation.
- For the same reason as above, we were advised to leave the Anti raby vaccin)ation as late as possible as this also gets the immune system working a lot and takes it "away" from Demodex.
-frequent baths with shampoo Peroxyderm
-Spot gel Clorexyderm on the spots themselves
I would also suggest that you get a referral to the specialists of Demodex. I know there is one in Bern. They are specialized for this and are really knowledgeable.
We did the above treatement with monthly checkups for almost 1 year, until our dog was 15 months and in the end had to treat him with the heavy drug (Ivermectin) for 2 months. It is a sperimental treatement and it worked for us but we were quite stressed about it as it can have lasting neurological side effects and you have to be very careful with the dosage etc.
Also, get your dog checked for allergies as these are also a trigger for the immune system. (And some vets confuse demodex with allergic reactions...)
Let me know if you need more infos or something above not clear.
Cheers,
K
I went to the vet and he gave me Bogaskin as a cream for the itching as well as a shampoo for dogs with derma issues (allermyl). Also, because I asked if I had to give her vitamins, he gave me a box of soft capsules for her (viacutan) - one per day.
He said that the treatment we are doing is killing the demodex and the dog body tries to expel them and that's why it is so itchy for her. He suggested to wash her often to help eliminate the died demodex. Cydectinis is the drug we are giving her everyday in the food.
All the puppies of the same litter had the same problem and the breeder's vet has suggested this drug to my vet because it apparently works good. What the vet said is that it should take around three months to clear her up completely.
However, I would be really interested in the specialist in Bern you mentioned. Can you send me his/her details? In case we have still main issues after the first month I would like to have a second opinion...
We are waiting for the anti raby vaccine too but this is not an issue since we will not have to travel outside of Suisse for the next few months. And yes, we will have to spay her too..
Let's hope she gets a bit of release after the cream and the shampoo.
Kri and Meloncollie, did your dog keep scratching and loosing hair during all treatment?
Thanks
The juvenile form, which it sounds like what your girl has, has a far better prognosis and is usually not connected to an underlying disease. That's all good. Frustrating as this condition can be, your girl should come through this with flying colors. So take heart.
My boy was 9 years old when this happened, and he was one of the unlucky MDR1-/- collies. That meant that we could not use the usual oral meds, as all the demodex-effective drugs were potentially toxic for him. We were limited to Amitraz shampoo/dip, an older and not so effective treatment.
It took about 6 months of repeated treatment before we got a clear scrape, and he re-lapsed twice after that - but again, given the state of his immune system, other health issues, and given that we had to settle for a less effective treatment that isn't surprising.
My guy really didn't itch/scratch much, which I understand is common in adult-onset. Again, different from the juvenile form where dogs seem more bothered by the itching.
His body fur grew back, but the bald semi-circles around his eyes remained. (He was always beautiful to me, though. )
Another point, forgive me if you already know this: steroids can interfere with demodex treatment; their use is usually contraindicated (even for unrelated conditions) until one is 100% sure that the demodex is cleared up - or better yet, discuss the issue with your vet.
I would second Kri's suggestion of seeing a specialist - if only for peace of mind. The more informed you are, the better.
Give your pup an understanding hug from all the melon-collies here.
No, my Marvin did not scratch BUT takes this with a double pinch of salt as bulldogs are typically not sensitive at all to pain in general... even as a pup if one would accidentally walk on his paw he would not yelp like all other pups do.
I do not want to worry you BUT the explanation your vet gave sound strange to me
Demodex can be cures but can also become chronic so needs to be treated carefully.
Steroids and also immune suppressant, cortisone should NOT be given especially as your demodex seems to be very active. You should either be using something to kills it or something like antibiotics.
Given your dog young age, I know my specialist would reccommend trying antibiotic first.
May I ask, how was the demodex diagnosed? Was your vet doing skin scrapes and counting the baby and adult mites to see at what stage you are? Demodex is also somtimes misdiagnosed that is why I ask.
I unfortunately do not know the name of the specialist in Bern (we were given a choice between Bern and Zug and ended up in Zug but I think a bit far for you especially ocnsidering treatement is long and with frequent check ups)
I am going monday to see my specialist and can ask?
However, a google search turned up Petra Roosje in Unibe ( http://www.dkv.unibe.ch/content/uebe...index_ger.html ) and Silvia Rüfenacht ( http://www.kleintiermedizin.ch/hund/...x/demodex5.htm )
Maybe you can give them a call and see what they say? Once more, not to worry you but it is something to treat carefully and requires a certain practice which not all vets have simply because it is a relatively new thing.
Cheers,
K
Just one question about your comments on steroids/immune suppressant and cortisone. Is any of the medicaments that I told you my girl is taking one of them? I checked on internet and it doesnt seem to me but you will have more experience than me for sure.
We took her to the Vet because of the passport and then we told him that she scratched a bit and had a kind of dandruff. So he combed her and took some of the "dandruff" with adhesive tapes. Then, he called also the breeders vet to ask if he knew of any specific pathology in the breeders dogs and he confirmed that the new puppies were all suffering of demodex. My vet had a check anyway on the sample he took and the day after he confirmed. So we are treating her in the same way the other puppies have been treated apparently with success.
Please ask your vet for the phone numbers of the one in Bern. Otherwise, I will try to call the ones you found in Internet.
I am so worried about her... We just bathed her with the shampoo I got today, let's see how she feels tomorrow, now she is sleeping.
Thanks
I am reading in Internet some experience of people with this drug and the result is not clear. Some of them say that it should not be given, others say that this is the only drug that gives some results...
Perhaps you should speak to the dermatology department at the Klientierklink University of Bern, as Kri mentioned in her post above.
I don't have any experience with them, but with my collie I was referred to the Zürich University Tierspital ( http://www.kltmed.unizh.ch/ ) for consultation with a dermatologist - I understand that Bern, as a teaching hospital, has a similar specialist set-up.
If you are thinking of venturing farther afield, I can also recommend the Spezialistenklinik in Hunenberg, Zug (formerly Kleintierklinik Rigiplatz). We are seeing a dermatologist there (for another matter, with another dog), and have so far been impressed:
http://www.spezialistenklinik.ch/spe...rmatologie.htm
A word of caution: The internet gives us wonderful opportunities to share experience, but while we can discuss similar situations, we are not vets, and we do not have access to all the salient facts of your dog's case. Any concerns you may have based on comments we make should be discussed with your vet - or with another vet if you chose to look for a second opinion - but not acted upon out of hand. Before hitting the panic button, talk to a/your vet!
However, depending on how much time you have on your hands that may not be practical as it is a bit of a treck from Neuchatel
I also agree to the fact that we tell you what we have gotten to know based on our dog experience etc and that you should discuss all concerns with your vet or get a second opinion... my vet always says his work is much harder today because not only does he need to do the right things for the dogs but he also needs to discuss treatements because people come to him with stuff they find on the internet and think they know better (he was obviously referring to me )
Anyway, I called him and the name of the specialist he knows in Bern is Beat Bigler http://www.laupeneck.ch/praxis/d/team/bigler_b.htm
Let us know how it goes
K
Also look at what the dog is eating. Food colouring can casue skin problems particularly the red. I chose to feed raw diet and uncoloured dry food. when my first Pyrenean developed unexplained skin problems that would not go away.
Liz
Last week I took an appointment for tomorrow in Bern but my girl is betting better so I am thinking to wait a bit and see if she really needs to see another doctor. Just I do not want to get confused and have to stop the treatment now and start a new one considering it seems to work. I went to the dog breeder's vet on Saturday (I am practically going to a vet every two days!) and he confirmed that the treatment is working with all the puppies of the same litter and that she should get better since now onwards and scratch less and less... and it is actually true so far. I will watch her carefully and as soon as I see something else weird I will go to Bern. I do not want to stress her more now.
By the way, yesterday she kept closed one eye all day so today I had to run again to the vet to check what was wrong... apparently the sharpei is famous for problems with eyes too There was a small damage to the eye caused by her rolled eyelid but the vet said I noticed it quick enough to avoid major damages.... now she got a gel and eyewash and she has opened it!!! I hope it will not be like this for ever with her.
Ivermectin is also used by the guinea pig association of WA and the rabbit society to get rid of mites quickly (in the part of Oz I come from mites are a big problem).
Perhaps discuss this option with your vet? Good luck!