[MissLadysMama]

Hi everyone! My Miss Lady has had demodex mange since she was 16 weeks! She got Parvo exactly ONE day before her last Parvo shot! We took her to the vet immediately and they couldn't believe we had caught it so quickly. She did a stool specimen and said she also saw a few demodex mites but we wouldn't worry about it until we got her through the Parvo.
We took her home since I'm a nurse and they are closed on weekends, and of course it was Friday. We didn't want her alone for a minute so we brought home medicines and IVs and my daughter proceeded to stay awake for the next 5 days! She survived by the grace of God!
However, as she improved from Parvo the Demodex took over and almost all her fur came out. She is now 2 and we have done nothing but battle the Demodex Devil! She has been on ivermectin orally based on her weight. We have used Benzoyl Peroxide rinses, anti fungal shampoos, special dry food ( no corn, no wheat, no by products), plus I cook chicken and oatmeal, dried beans, etc. She takes fish oil, vitamin C, and something else that slips my mind right now. We have used Neem oil on her skin. Vet recommended going to sub Q injections
, 1 weekly x 3 weeks. What else can we do? I feel like she gets 75% of my time and our other pets get the rest. She is positively the sweetest, most loving dog to our family. I think because she's always been so sick we haven't socialized her well, but oh my goodness she loves us! I forgot to mention she's an American Bulldog and weighs @70 lbs of pure muscle! Who sits in my lap, lays across the back of my husbands recliner above his head, and eels every night undercovers, right between us.
Please, I know someone out there has something to help, or will she always be half hairless?

 

[BarkyMalarkey]

Demodex is so difficult. My sister fought for a long time with the sweetest Pit Bull pup who had this, so I've been close to someone who has been through all the treatments and supplements and food issues and relapses. Demodex is related to a compromised immune system rather than a simple mite infestation, and that's why it can be so hard to treat. Biltmore was almost 2 when she had to rehome him (she was just out of high school and couldn't afford his treatment any longer, which had climbed to well over a thousand a month). He was finally starting to grow back some hair in the worst of his bald areas, and he was largely without very acute symptoms, but the skin specialist that she was seeing said it would just take some more time. His new owners had more luck, I think, and he was doing pretty well a year later.

The mother and all the pups of his litter had demodex, but all of them except him cleared it within weeks or months of coming into the foster program.

I really feel for you, and I hope you get some relief soon.

 

[Tess]

Sounds like her immune system is not up to snuff. Have you consulted a holistic vet or a dermatologist about how to strengthen her immune system? Has she had a full thyroid panel done yet, to see if her thyroid is functioning properly? Those are two things I can think of to look into.

She sounds lovely. I hope you get her sorted out soon!

 

[Tuckersmom]

We have two pups that are both 10 years old now: Molly, a yellow Labrador, and Tucker a Chihuahau rescue. They are three months apart in age. Molly came to us first, and had Demodex within a few weeks of coming to our home. There was a weekly dip that we used for about 8 weeks and she fully recovered.

Tucker had Parvo when he was 6 weeks old while he was still with the Rescue and came to our home straight from the vet's hospital after having spent a week there fighting --- with the help of God --- for his 1.2 pound life. Within a matter of a month or two, Tucker was diagnosed with Demodex as well. What a nightmare! Tucker was treated with the same weekly dip that we used on Molly, and he fully recovered in about the same time span as Molly had.

Neither Molly nor Tucker suffered wide-spread hair loss.

Generally, as Tess said, Demodectic mites take over due to a compromised immune system. When a dog gets a wide-spread, full-blown case of Demodex they are most likely going to have a rough time getting past it. It can be recurring, as in often, or it can come back again if their immune system gets down, even if it's been cured for years.

I can think of nothing to add to what you have already done and are doing. Is your pup very itchy with it? My dogs were, but lots of dogs aren't that bothered by it.

The dip was that we used on our pups was Mitaban Dip.

I'm so sorry that you and your family --- not to mention poor Miss Lady --- are having to go through all of this.

 

[pkelley]

Our Addison had demodex and sarcoptic mange....no hair at all! The dips and the Ivermectin were used to no avail, then we added a supplement to her diet and within 3 months she started growing her hair back...it was her immune system, plus we kept her stress free as much as possible. Hang in there! Welactin was the supplement and it worked great..ask your vet...

 

[MissLadysMama]

Thank you everyone for the advice and the support! We will look into your recommendations! Again, thank you!
MissLadysMama

 

[pkelley]

I also heard milkweed thistle is excellent...but again, ask your vet!