DumDog
her litter of shepherd puppies all have demodectic mange and she cant afford treatment or the time for them so this weekend they must all go to the pound, unless....
I'll be glad to send my article to anyone who takes them -- and the article addresses *both* demodex and sarcoptic manges.
My first question is -- does SHE know the difference between demodex and sarcops?? THAT is the biggest question. If she takes dogs to the pound that have sarcops, *most* pounds will euthanize them on entrance because sarops are so contagious to the general population.
Of the two sarcops is easier to resolve relatively quickly. You can dip them with Lyme Dip and use Interceptor (that's preferred over ivermectin because these are shepherds). Sarcops ARE contagious. Usually when someone refers to a "mangy dog" they're talking about sarcops -- incessant itch, dog usually is bald eventually with really hard, calloused skin from the scratching.
Demodex, as Janet says is strictly an immune problem. Actually both have their roots in immune stuff because sarcops gravitate to dogs that are immune-compromised and can't fight back. But demodectic mange is specifically a flawed immune system. But demodex isn't 'contagious' -- the mites spread from dog to dog but it's the immune problem that the dog has that keeps the body from keeping the mite in line. Demodex mites are actually completely normal -- you and I have demodex mites on our face right now!!
No one ever wants to hear that -- but they are just a microscopic, relatively normal arachnid-type parasite that eats skin oil. Demodex mites never bite the dog. They can cause some itching, but nothing like sarcops do
DumDog
she's also going to rehome her adult shepherds.....
well.... all i can say is.. i feel horrible for the dogs, but at last this girl is stopping her damaging breeder's rampage. for now anyway.....
i did her the favour of posting on Craigslist that these puppies are in need of help - she couldnt even do that much and i KNOW if i didnt do it then she would just take the easy road to the pound first thing Saturday. she may still do that, but i tried.
What really needs to happen is those dogs need to be altered. If this is demodex they never should have been bred in the first place. *sigh*
DumDog
i have enabled her in the past by taking on nursing pups only to have it end in disaster (more for me than her) and annoyed my husband in the process... i think it also broke his heart too because he's a shepherd loving fool. if i thought i could get away with it i would let all five of them come here as a halfway point, but at what risk? contaminating my own dogs and livestock?
which is how these puppies got it to start with. my cousin brought home a mangy female shepherd last winter and "cured" her, and what a coincidence that the puppies come down with it.
People get the idea that once the reaction to the demodex mites go away that the dog is "cured". That's just plain not true. Sorry -- but the fact remains that if it is **demodex** then the immune system is just plain below par and always will be. The demodex can, and will, come "back" or flare up when any of many triggers occur.
Things like estrus, and heaven forbid, giving birth are HUGE triggers. Some dogs will trigger out just because of the weather, or a variation in schedule. Any vaccinations, any "change" or any thing that 'stresses' them will cause demodex to flare up again. It's genetic -- it's a predisposition of the body to allow the mites to proliferate. But it also means that these dogs need a bit of special care -- like demodex dogs just plain do NOT do well as outside dogs. Period. Not ever. Some folks get lucky -- and if the dog has extremely super nutrition, etc. they might be ok outside if they are a working dog, but not generally.
What really needs to happen is those dogs need to be altered. If this is demodex they never should have been bred in the first place. *sigh*
DumDog
SO! if you know of anyone in the North West Florida region that is in the Shepherd rescue business or would like a mangy 8 week old puppy then send them my way. i'm putting the word out.. and no she isnt selling them. they're being given away. i already emailed my sister to see if she's interested, and am thinking of asking my dad..... but my cousin and dad arent on good terms.. and i'm a little pissed at the both of them so ...
If you can quiz her specifically and find out how she thinks she knows what kind of mange this is, it will help a great deal. It's like I said -- if she takes these dogs to a pound and tells them "mange" and they ASSUME it's sarcops they'll just euthnanize them. Because most shelters are terrified of sarcops because they are such a contagion. The dip is cheap, and you just have to keep them separate for a couple of weeks, but most shelters just don't have the facilities to do that.
If it's demodex and they're already showing it at 8 weeks -- then those poor dogs have been incredibly compromised -- many times demodex doesn't even SHOW until 6-7 months. The dam has to be in incredibly bad shape to have whelped pups that are this immune-compromised already.
If you want to try to treat sarcops, I can tell you how to do it but it will take keeping them quarantined for a few weeks -- like in a garage or somewhere in crates or an x-pen so the floor can be bleached every day.
If it's demodex, then it's not contagious but it takes some special handling.
But I"m happy for you to give out my article, I'm also happy for you to give out my email OR my phone number with any of these pups that get placed and I'm glad to help anyone any way I can.
I completely understand your 'rant' -- I've been there, done it MANY times. And if you want to talk to me *before* you tackle her just so you have your own understanding clear, I'm more than happy to do that too.