Hi -- I zero'd in on the word "demodex" like it was blinking neon. Sheesh -- now you know why my husband calls me "The Queen of Mange".
Barby -- email me if you will (not to the Yahoo one -- but just to:
callie at critturs dot com
(but don't put in the spaces and use punctuation instead of the words at and dot)
I'll send you my article which is way more up to date than the website (sorry -- it's been a tough year computer wise).
It looks to me like this vet is trying to treat with both amitraz AND ivermectin -- and that's generally not a wonderful thing to do, altho he's not doing the ivermectin daily??
I don't like to see EITHER the ivermectin daily given (ultimately is actually depresses the immune system worse in many cases - the dog's body gets used to it and then can't function without it), nor the amitraz (Mitaban) dips used. Mitaban is a serious pesticide and it's helpfulness is limited. it *only* kills the mites on the dog today -- and demodex is 100% totally 'common'. You and I have them on our faces at this instant. (sorry folks -- it's unappetizing but true)
You can do every bit as well by bathing frequently with Benzoyl Peroxide shampoo (available at any vet or you can buy it online without prescription) -- but then while the dog is wet and warm you end the bath with a rinse of tea tree oil and water (kinda pour it over and over and over them -- stand the pup in a dishpan and just let it all run into the pan and scoop it out and pour it back over him!!)
BUT BUT BUT that's only one step -- the real "job" is to boost the immune system -- and you can do that with supplements, vitamins and actually there's a few herbals that do a great job of jump-starting the immune system to get it to work on its own.
Pitties are infamous for demodex (and actually so are chi's!!!). But your chi's aren't in danger unless, for some reason, one of them is seriously ill. As I said, demodex mites are literally 100% common -- it's simply that the dog's body is allowing them to proliferate (run amok) on the body and multiply unchecked. The immune system should be controlling that and it's not ... YET. That's the big deal -- to get the immune system built up so that it functions more normally.
This pup ought to be able to overcome this and function fine -- BUT, this is a demodex dog. That means he has a genetically flawed immune system. That's permanent. Now that's not a death sentence at all -- quite the opposite. BUT that does mean that there are going to be certain things you will always need to watch out for with this pup.
1. Vaccinations -- NO "combo shots" (and vets love them -- you'l have to find a vet willing to give the single "modified live" vaccines SEPARATELY -- not in one visit).
2. "Triggers' -- One of the things that has caused this boy to break out was simply the shots and 'stress' he went thru being adopted. That in fact a 4 month old pup has a 'stressful' life -- your feet are NOT where they were yesterday -- they GREW!! Their bodies change so rapidly at that age, and they're teething in a big way and sexual maturation is right around the corner. Was he neutered before you adopte him? If so that is a VERY good thing.
3. Good food -- you'll hear tons about food on this website, but I'm going to emphasize one thing to you -- do NOT feed a food that is preserved with carcinogens -- that means no grocery store kibble, that means no Iams or Eukaneuba or Pro Plan kibbles -- you'll have to become a label nazi -- and really investigate food. You don't want to give a dog with a genetically flawed immune system tiny doses of a carcinogen every day in his food. It sets them up for cancer.
4. Keep the immune system boosted even AFTER you get victory over the demodex. You'll probably always need to give this dog vitamins and supplements. Now at first you'll give him a LOT of them, if you choose to do this the way I'll show you. But even in the 'ever after' phase -- you'll want to be really conscious that he gets excellent nutrition.
Email me and I'll send you the article. Bottom line, 9 years ago my husband and I adopted this poor pathetic little English cocker who was literally so infected from demodectic mange that he didn't have one square inch of healthy flesh on him -- he was sore, raw, bloody and oozing all over him. It took me years to get him truly 'healthy' -- but even on a dog that sick you can do it.
I don't sell anything -- you can get most of this stuff at places like Wal-Mart -- it doesn't have to break the bank but there will be some expense in herbals and vitamins/supplements and the Benzoyl Peroxide shampoo and the tea tree oil (another Wal-Mart item). All I want it to give you information.
I'm glad this pittie has you!! they are wonderful, loving dogs. I'm glad to help you. Most of what's on that vet's list isn't necessary. The opthalmic ointment for the eyes is because of the dips. They'll charge you for doing the dips -- they are dangerous to do so that's why they're always expensive. Giving ivermectin subcutaneously is not really necessary -- they're 'packaging' this so they can control it. In honesty, they probably won't like you taking off to do this on your own, but it's not at all dangerous. You'll see results pretty fast.
I'm glad the vet was at least honest with you about the demodex. But it's not dire. Your chis are 'safe' -- demodex mites, incidentally, don't bite the dog -- they live in the hair follicles and skin pores and eat skin oil. They pass form dog to dog yes... but only because they're normal IN dogs. But a health dog won't have a problem at all.
The kind of mange that IS contagious is sarcoptic mange -- whole different mite. And that's a whole different thing -- but the article I send you will help you understand that too.
Good luck. Callie