calliecritturs
Posted : 12/1/2009 1:59:25 PM
AgileGSD
For a large breed dog, this puppy is likely no where close to coming in season and she has probably been way over vax'd already. It's great that you found it worked well but when I have seen shelters doing this to puppies with demodex it almost always makes them much, much worse. If she was 8 or 9 months old, I can see the concern that she will be coming in season soon but since she's still a baby, I'd try to get it under control fist.
You're entitled to your opinon, as always but in honesty, I've many years of experience here with demodex and although surgery of *any* kind will undoubtedly trigger more demodex (as will ANY trigger event) it will work very well if it is simply done at the same time as everything else because it prevents the ongoing sexual maturation. If done as a separate step it can trigger some outbreak, but no more than any other trigger event, and it **does** help bring a far earlier resolution because it removes sexual maturation as a 'trigger'.
AgileGSD
isn't widely known in the US is Wobenzym or an equivalent such as Flavenzym
I've taken Wobenzym myself -- it's a good enzyme but I'd have to research it way more before using it on a dog. It helped some but the side effects I personally experienced were far too severe to continue it. Now that's *me* (and I can unfortunately be Queen of the Side Effects that no one else experience) -- but again, I'd have to check it out, and it would be definitely worth checking on. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll check out the article when I get home.
AgileGSD
There is connection between demodex and yeast - the mites feed on yeast. For an overgrowth of mites, it seems there has to be too much yeast as well. This website has info on an anti-yeast diet:
http://www.purelypets.com/articles/demodex.htm
Unfortunately that Purely Pets article has a *lot* of serious misinformation in it and it twists words and statements to its own ends. Demodex mites aren't genetic. But the specific way the immune system responds (and fails to respond) to demodex IS genetic. It is very like an allergy in many, many ways. But it's wrong -- demodex mites eat skin oil -- not sugar or yeast. But yeast is often a by-product of demodex (because it creates heat and moisture which is, in turn, fertile ground for yeast). Unfortunately the conclusion they come to in the article is that it's ok to breed a dog with demodex as long as it's over a year old. WRONG WRONG WRONG. So wrong I could weep.
Now-- I want to swiftly add that a grain-free diet IS a big help, simply because it's a healthy diet and it does help ward off the yeast that can plague a demodex dog. But the mites don't eat yeast. Nor is yeast *always* a byproduct -- but simply removing yeast doesn't resolve the problem. It helps, but it's not a resolution.
The big clue, unfortunately, is that the purely pets article is simply self-serving. It's full of suggestions that ____ helps and guess what they sell? Yep. Over and over thru that article are things they recommend that they sell and profit from.
Honestly I make it a practice to view VERY dimly any internet source that in the process of "education" sells something. It's pretty much always twisted in the purpose of selling something.