Help! My Puppy Has Demodex...Experience/Advice?

[Equitational]

Help! My cute 9mo Basset Hound puppy Pixie has localized demodex mange!

I wasn’t sure what the random bald spots were (came on around 4-5mo of age) and finally called the vet when they weren’t going away. He prescribed some oral medicine but that didn’t do anything (originally he thought she was itching due to flea/skin allergies). Went back in a did a skin scrapping which revealed the demodex mites (form of mange). He prescribed Goodwinol and gave her a flea collar (which had more of the ingredient to kill the mites). I’ve put the cream on all her spots once daily for two weeks, no real improvement. Spot above her eye looks better, but now I noticed a new spot at the base of her tail. And it looks like she has something going on under her arm pit.

I’ve read that this is a common thing for puppies? My other older dog has no symptoms so it is not contagious. I read it comes on to puppies/dogs with weak or compromised immune systems. I’ve always thought of her as a healthy, happy puppy. Only time she was put under stress was when she was spayed (I think she may have already started to get bald spots then).

Anyone have experience with this? Advice? Called vet again today, he is prescribing more Goodwinol and then a recheck in a week. I don’t think the Goodwinol is going to work, since she’s getting more bald spots. I’ve read some of the treatments are more extreme (“dips”) and can cause some dogs to seizure so I’m sure the vet is trying to do the least invasive treatments first. Also Ivermectin can treat it?

[S1969]

Yes, it’s common in puppies, and no it’s not contagious.

Many puppies have mild Demodex and just outgrow it on their own. Some need a little help, and then there are cases where the dog is very affected and need a lot of help. My puppy (now 5) had these patchy spots and the vet wanted to let them go away on their own. I got tired of him looking so patchy and took my breeder’s advice with Goodwinol ointment and benzoyl peroxide shampoo. I think it only took one shampoo and a couple of days with the ointment to make a difference.

The spots may be demodex or something else; maybe give the Benzoyl peroxide shampoo a try.

http://www.amazon.com/DermaPet-Benzoyl-Peroxide-Shampoo-DermaBenSS/dp/B00JBCGQNS

[pdq]

Get another vet. This is EASY to clear up with Ivermectin which is something a competent vet should prescribe since the basset breed has no genetic issues that would cause an adverse reaction.

When my Shelties got mange from a visiting fox kit in my barn, my vet susoected it right away, did an immediate skin scraping t verify, and immediately started my dogs on a collie safe ivermection substitute. The mange cleared right up.

You will also want to thoroughly wash in very hot water all the dog bedding to remove any magne that may linger on surfaces

[Equitational]

[QUOTE=S1969;8180168]
Yes, it’s common in puppies, and no it’s not contagious.

Many puppies have mild Demodex and just outgrow it on their own. Some need a little help, and then there are cases where the dog is very affected and need a lot of help. My puppy (now 5) had these patchy spots and the vet wanted to let them go away on their own. I got tired of him looking so patchy and took my breeder’s advice with Goodwinol ointment and benzoyl peroxide shampoo. I think it only took one shampoo and a couple of days with the ointment to make a difference.

The spots may be demodex or something else; maybe give the Benzoyl peroxide shampoo a try.

http://www.amazon.com/DermaPet-Benzoyl-Peroxide-Shampoo-DermaBenSS/dp/B00JBCGQNS[/QUOTE]

Shampoo purchased! Love Amazon prime, so I should have it by Monday! Thank you, I was wondering about shampoos/baths. I haven’t given her a bath in two months (she’s been in water troughs/creeks on her own though). Since I’m just noticing red, inflamed skin under her arm pit, it would be really hard to put cream in that area.

I did let time lapse when I first noticed the bald spots. I figured they were hot spots, or would go away on their own. Since it’s been several months, I want them gone!

[Covergirl15]

Our foxhound mix puppies had it when they were little too–it was easily cleared up with ivermectin and Seresto Collars. Like yours, it flared up after a trip to the vet, but it wasn’t a huge deal, and I wouldn’t get too concerned about it! (:

[JBD]

It’s not an uncommon thing with rescue puppies when they are pulled from the shelter. Ivermectin clears it up and in one really hairless pup, the shelter vet also prescribed some kind of antibiotic that works on skin issued. She really grew hair quickly. it’s not contagious and puppies are more susceptible because their immunities are not as strong.

[Jaegermonster]

Very easy to clear up with Ivermectin and Cephalexin. Get your vet to work up the scaled dosage of ivermectin for a month or so and a course of Cephalexin for any infection. Recheck by scrape in a month and maybe another month of ivermectin. Much more affordable than other stuff vets like to sell for demodex

Demodex is not contagious. They can’t get it from foxes, bedding or anything else.
Sarcoptic mange is the one that’s contagious.

[arapaloosa_lady]

[QUOTE=pdq;8180171]
Get another vet. This is EASY to clear up with Ivermectin which is something a competent vet should prescribe since the basset breed has no genetic issues that would cause an adverse reaction.

When my Shelties got mange from a visiting fox kit in my barn, my vet susoected it right away, did an immediate skin scraping t verify, and immediately started my dogs on a collie safe ivermection substitute. The mange cleared right up.

You will also want to thoroughly wash in very hot water all the dog bedding to remove any magne that may linger on surfaces[/QUOTE]

You’re confused with sarcoptic mange. Your post is not correctly applying your experiences to the OP’s situation.

OP: Has your vet suggested running any bloodwork? I’d ask whether this has been going on long enough that you’d want to just rule out an immune issue.

[LauraKY]

[QUOTE=arapaloosa_lady;8180321]
You’re confused with sarcoptic mange. Your post is not correctly applying your experiences to the OP’s situation.

OP: Has your vet suggested running any bloodwork? I’d ask whether this has been going on long enough that you’d want to just rule out an immune issue.[/QUOTE]

No,they are right. Ivermectin is used for dermodex.

[JBD]

[QUOTE=arapaloosa_lady;8180321]
You’re confused with sarcoptic mange. Your post is not correctly applying your experiences to the OP’s situation.

OP: Has your vet suggested running any bloodwork? I’d ask whether this has been going on long enough that you’d want to just rule out an immune issue.[/QUOTE]

Nope, not confused. Experienced

[Equitational]

[QUOTE=arapaloosa_lady;8180321]
You’re confused with sarcoptic mange. Your post is not correctly applying your experiences to the OP’s situation.

OP: Has your vet suggested running any bloodwork? I’d ask whether this has been going on long enough that you’d want to just rule out an immune issue.[/QUOTE]

Vet did blood work when she was younger (when she was spayed).

She acts like a happy, healthy puppy so it’s hard for me to imagine she has an immune disorder or issue. I’ve never noticed her to be sick or lethargic.

[LauraKY]

“Demodectic mange most often occurs when a dog has an immature immune system, allowing the number of skin mites to increase rapidly. As a result, this disease occurs primarily in dogs less than twelve to eighteen months of age. As the dog matures, its immune system also matures. Adult dogs that have the disease usually have defective immune systems. Demodectic mange may occur in older dogs because function of the immune system often declines with age. Dogs who have immune suppression due to illness or certain medications are also candidates for demodectic mange.”

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/mange-demodectic-in-dogs/741

[LauraKY]

OP, did you buy the puppy or adopt it? If you bought it from a reputable breeder, make sure you let the breeder know. This can be a genetic trait (susceptibility) and a responsible breeder will pull the dogs out of their breeding stock.

[Equitational]

[QUOTE=LauraKY;8180567]
OP, did you buy the puppy or adopt it? If you bought it from a reputable breeder, make sure you let the breeder know. This can be a genetic trait (susceptibility) and a responsible breeder will pull the dogs out of their breeding stock.[/QUOTE]

The breeder was a family member of a friend. I don’t know her personally (my friend actually brought the puppy home to us while visiting her family) but have connected with her on FB. I have thought about asking if any of the other puppies have gotten the demodex (breeder kept a male). My puppy was the runt of the litter, not sure if maybe that has something to do with it?

[LauraKY]

My experience is pretty limited with Dermodex. I’ve only seen it in badly bred rescue dogs from breeders that don’t cull problematic dogs from their breeding lines, which is why I suggested letting the breeder know.

[RackNRoll]

I’ve had experience with localized puppy demodex… none with the generalized version, fortunately.

Here’s a good article that describes the difference, and covers usual treatments and related concerns: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_demodectic_mange.html

And for the ivermectin do-it-yourselfers out there: http://www.dogaware.com/health/ivomec.html