Ugh Mange

If it is generalized yes it is a lifelong problem. I see no reason to really scare anyone, unless they know for sure it is a generalized issue. The placement of the spots can often be a good way to judge...face spots tend to be less scary to me, than leg spots for example. Size of the spots as well. Dime or smaller...quarter or bigger, etc. Lots of things. Localized demodex often will simply cear on it's own...and well that'd be great if that were the case here. We're talking what 10-20% of all total demodex cases going general? That's good odds, punkchica...lol...chin up!

Personally, this being a pet would have no problem treating the dog with ivemectin or whatever they use now...aside from the dip.

If this were a breeding/show animal I would do nothing. If the spots clear on their own that is a good sign to me that it is not the scary type of demodex that results in a naked scabby dog. If they got worse I would treat then spay/neuter.

 He has the bald spots on the inside of his tail, close to his rectum, on the back of his hind leg and one on the front leg as far as I can remember. I'll check him over again when I take him out. Thanks for more info! :)

 Dogs neutered early (like Emma and Simba) are less likely to develop the scary, nakey, elephant skinned, scabby demodex all over. Neutering can CURE demodex, as Gina suggested, above. If it's a severe case, it just lessens it, like for Tink.

Emma generalized, anyways, and reacted to the medication. She was special like that The bathing and supplements worked GREAT, and I'll gladly do it, again, if I end up with another demo dog, at some point. I fed as much fresh fish and fish oil as she could eat, without upsetting her, and lots of fresh veggies for antioxidants.

jennie_c_d

 Dogs neutered early (like Emma and Simba) are less likely to develop the scary, nakey, elephant skinned, scabby demodex all over. Neutering can CURE demodex, as Gina suggested, above. If it's a severe case, it just lessens it, like for Tink.

 

Emma generalized, anyways, and reacted to the medication. She was special like that The bathing and supplements worked GREAT, and I'll gladly do it, again, if I end up with another demo dog, at some point. I fed as much fresh fish and fish oil as she could eat, without upsetting her, and lots of fresh veggies for antioxidants.

Really? Interesting. Should I feed him the fish and such as a preventative or not change his diet until I know for sure what's going on?

 I'd feed him some fish. Canned mackeral and sardines, cooked salmon, tilapia, whatever you've got. Rinse the canned fish before you feed it. *Just* add it as a topper, especially if he is not used to rich foods, but adding that good protein, omega 3 fats, and antioxidants (from veggies) is REALLY good for all dogs, whether they are sick or not. Since he might have an iffy immune system, I'd definitely do it.

Mine all eat the TOTW Pacific fishy food...it smells better. LMBO!

jennie_c_d

 I'd feed him some fish. Canned mackeral and sardines, cooked salmon, tilapia, whatever you've got. Rinse the canned fish before you feed it. *Just* add it as a topper, especially if he is not used to rich foods, but adding that good protein, omega 3 fats, and antioxidants (from veggies) is REALLY good for all dogs, whether they are sick or not. Since he might have an iffy immune system, I'd definitely do it.

Mmm yummy fish. :P I'll make sure to get some the next time I go to the store. What kind of veggies do you feed? I give him carrots sometimes but I dunno if that's what you use. 

rwbeagles

Mine all eat the TOTW Pacific fishy food...it smells better. LMBO!

What's TOTW? 

 All different stuff. Usually something orange or yellow, a fruit, and something green (at LEAST) in a batch of mush. Sweet potatoes, carrots, any sort of greens (collard, turnip, kale, spinach, anything). Berries are GREAT for their antioxidant value. I usually cook my veggies, at least lightly (for the greens, til they're soft for root veggies), and leave the berries raw. Run it through the blender or food processor, or mash it up really well. A few spoonfuls of that, and a bit of fish, on his kibble WILL NOT hurt him, in any way, and it's really, really good for him.

jennie_c_d

 All different stuff. Usually something orange or yellow, a fruit, and something green (at LEAST) in a batch of mush. Sweet potatoes, carrots, any sort of greens (collard, turnip, kale, spinach, anything). Berries are GREAT for their antioxidant value. I usually cook my veggies, at least lightly (for the greens, til they're soft for root veggies), and leave the berries raw. Run it through the blender or food processor, or mash it up really well. A few spoonfuls of that, and a bit of fish, on his kibble WILL NOT hurt him, in any way, and it's really, really good for him.

Oooh we always have kale in the house because of the guinea pigs haha and carrots.  Silly question but how do you cook like kale? Carrots I usually steam would that be okay? Sorry for all the questions haha.

 Steaming is fine for both. The reason I cook it is to break it down a little. It seems like they digest it better, that way. Some people will say to only use it raw,  but I always see confettipoop if I do it that way, LOL.

jennie_c_d

 Steaming is fine for both. The reason I cook it is to break it down a little. It seems like they digest it better, that way. Some people will say to only use it raw,  but I always see confettipoop if I do it that way, LOL.

Oh okay, makes sense. HAHA! Confettipoop. :P Simba always seems to have hair in his. *Facepalm* Thanks for your help! Will steam some carrots and kale for my baby tonight. :) 

 I hope he likes it! Mine LOOOVE veggies.

Kale is literally almost the perfect vegetable -- it's got an almost perfect calcium/phosphorous ratio.  BUT it's tough -- you gotta cook it (even if I put it thru a food processor I cook it, but usually I jsut cook it).

Chop it up and cover with water and cook til tender (and the heavy stems you may need to process -- they are TOUGH).

Carrots -- don't feed a lot of carrots - not as a steady diet.  Sweet potato, squash (vary it -- use ALL DIFFERENT KINDS of squash - not just one), turnip, broccoli, cauliflower,  -- the only veggies dogs can't eat are onions and the green parts of tomato and eggplant. 

Food helps --

Has he recently gotten shots?  (like even a couple of months ago?) THAT will make demodex break out

If it's on his legs and it **is** demodex then it's generalized.  I wondered a while ago whe you said he had some flakiness on his face if it was demodex (I think I said something knowing me). 

 But you CAN get him beyond this.  It's a whole bunch of things all mixed together -- you can't just feed him a little differently and resolve this.  You have to get the immune system convinced to kick in and keep functioning.

The places you are saying are NOT typical "generalized demodex" places.

As I said I'm not going to jump and assume it's demodex.  By the time it generalizes usually you have seen infection ... some oozing and red, weepy skin.  But you don't usually see the flaky patches that originate on the face -- demodex **smells**.  If you rub your finger on the patches does it smell funky?

This could be ringworm ... this could be a LOT of things but it would be pretty unusual for it to be demodex without some pustule breakouts if it's generalized. 

Is the skin at all scabby or wet?

Is he scratching?

I emailed you my article -- I dunno -- the things you are saying here don't convince me totally it's demodex.  The vet will do a scraping -- 1 or 2 mites usually is NOT a real demodex outbreak.

If that's all the vet finds -- have him do a black-light test to see if it tests positive for ringworm too, ok??  Something about this just doesn't quite scream "demodex" to me.  You'll get flakey patches on the face YES when it first breaks out -- but it would be super unusual for it to be generalized and have NO big pustules and smelly demodex. 

Cos you've had him since he was small haven't you??  How old was Simba when you got him??? 

If he had it bad as a pup they **should** have told you when you adopted him. 

But if it had generalized THEN and someone helped him thru it and then, for example you just had vaccines?  That could have caused a mild outbreak like this.  But ... I think you've had him a while if I recall correctly.

 Hey Callie! Yes I received your article and it doesn't sound like any sort of mange, I'm not sure though. I took a picture and messed with the contrast and brightness to make the hair loss more obvious. He's as itchy as most dogs are, the skin isn't wet or really scabby, there's small little black dots which I think are from the hair follicles. I will have him checked for ringworms. I've had Sim since he was about 2 months old. I'll email you the rest of the info you were asking for. :)

Here's the picture: 

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b257/anniegurl89/hmm.png

And the video of Simba eating his nommy dinner Jennie suggested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxEKwU0C4eE