What would you do if you knew a person who had a dog that looks like it has mange - but cannot/will not take her to the vet? It would not be safe to offer ivermectin since she is a x-breed, and likely has collie in her. Is it catching?
Some of our poor coyotes around here look like her
My vet is very approachable but even he would be reluctant to offer something without seeing her…he would help me any way he can.
I’d stay far away from her! Sarcoptic mange is contagious to dogs and (I think?) humans as well.
I would probably tell the owner it is contagious to humans and she is risking infestation to herself (even if it’s not true). Maybe that would scare her to the vet?
Maybe I’d just offer to take the dog in myself?
Honestly, if they still refused I’d call animal control and report it as possible untreated sarcoptic mange. It’s treatable, but I think it can be fatal if not treated? Certainly it must make the poor dog miserable, even if not fatal. 
Agree…I’d try scaring her. If it is sarcoptic mange it most certainly is contagious, and to people too. I don’t think a pet owner should be deciding whether it is sarcoptic or demodex mange on their own. You need a scraping for a definitive diagnosis.
Scabies in people (caused by the same mite) is a reportable human infection in most places, so you could back up the scary talk by suggesting that she doesn’t want the public health department in her business.
Offer to take dog and if she doesn’t get dog to vet call animal control. Follow up with animal control.
I wouldn’t want the dog here - have three of my own. I’d not turn her into animal control either. Have to try the doggy diplomacy route.
Apart from Dr Google, has anybody had practical experience and what did you do?
Animal control should file neglect charges against your friend if she doesn’t get it to a vet. They don’t normally just take the dog. They will order her to take to a vet and get treated. If she doesn’t she gets charged, fined, and dog may get taken.
But dog needs treatment.
Why wouldn’t you report her to Animal Control? If she won’t have the dog treated, it’s clearly in the best interests of the dog and the owner and her family if it indeed is sarcoptic mange.
Sometimes you just have to stick your neck out and do the right thing. My motto for the year, but MLK said it best.
Frontline spray might clear it up. It’s effective if applied frequently enough in early cases; if the dog has been allowed to get very bad, it might not work.
Do not under any circumstances use or suggest an over-the-counter “supposed” remedy for mange. Dog needs to see a vet. Period.
Back in the day, we treated sarcoptic mange by dipping the dog in Paramite. I just googled and it’s still available. And yes, a person can get scabies from, say, forgetting to use gloves when dipping a dog with sarcoptic mange. :uhoh: Never mind how I know this.:lol:
Is the dog an adolescent? Did the bald spots start on the animal’s face? If so, it may be demodectic mange. All dogs have demodex mites. They don’t usually cause problems in healthy dogs, but dogs under stress (as in adolescence) will sometimes have itching and hair loss. I just googled demodectic mange and it looks like all the treatments for that are Rx only. So the vet may be the only answer if it’s demodex.
But there are things other than mange that cause hair loss. For example, allergies, thyroid problems, etc. I guess your friend could start by trying the Paramite dip (no Rx needed) and see if it works. Tell her to use gloves!
Just curious: why won’t the friend take the dog to the vet? Any idea?
Do not under any circumstances use or suggest an over-the-counter “supposed” remedy for mange. Dog needs to see a vet. Period.
why? even vets have trouble diagnosing mange because often they can’t locate the offending mites on skin scrapings. I agree it’s best to get a diagnosis from a vet in case it’s not mange.
Many people treat dogs with obvious sarcoptic mange without bothering with a vet. You can get all the treatments you need over the counter and look up the dosage easily. The older “dips”, the ivermectin, the fipronal spray.
Fipronal spray isn’t a “supposed” remedy, look it up. It’s often used by vets in circumstances where ivermectin isn’t a good idea for treating mange.
[QUOTE=wendy;6523090]
why? even vets have trouble diagnosing mange because often they can’t locate the offending mites on skin scrapings. .[/QUOTE]
Good doG, ain’t that the truth. My Faith border collie developed a dime-sized bald patch on her foreleg that would.not.heal as an adolescent. GP vet took scrapings, couldn’t identify anything. Referred me to the dermatologist at the nearest veterinary hospital where it was $400 to walk in the door.:eek:
Instead, I pulled her out of obedience class and we stayed home for the next few months till it healed all by itself. Had it gotten worse or if a secondary infection developed, naturally I’d have done something. But yeah, chasing down mystery mites can be an expensive proposition.
[QUOTE=pAin’t_Misbehavin’;6523594]
Good doG, ain’t that the truth. My Faith border collie developed a dime-sized bald patch on her foreleg that would.not.heal as an adolescent. GP vet took scrapings, couldn’t identify anything. Referred me to the dermatologist at the nearest veterinary hospital where it was $400 to walk in the door.:eek:
Instead, I pulled her out of obedience class and we stayed home for the next few months till it healed all by itself. Had it gotten worse or if a secondary infection developed, naturally I’d have done something. But yeah, chasing down mystery mites can be an expensive proposition.[/QUOTE]
Yeah…I spent $800 on my dog trying to chase down a "skin disorder "that ended up being mange. It took my kids getting scabies for me to figure it out and get the vet to do what he should have done all along, an ivermectin shot was WAY more effective and much cheaper than all the antibiotics, steroids, special feeds and multiple office visits.
Why - I don’t really know. I just saw the dog yesterday and got to thinking about mange and mites. She is pretty well covered in rough looking skin and getting very hairless.
I will use my doggie diplomacy because it is entirely possible she does not know the mange could be nasty or catching. She works nearby so I will probably see her soon. The dog was in her truck lying on a whole bunch of doggie blanets and is a rescue she picked up from somewhere. I think she must be short of $$, but we can probably work something out.
Thanks for the names of non-prescription products - can’t hurt for now.
Two of my dogs have had mange at different times, and yes, it is hard for vets to diagnose. My dogs never got hairless, but it is intensely itchy. My English Shepherd (a dog that has a lot of collie in him) got the ivermectin shots without a problem fyi.
I know some people that use pour on ivermectin for cows to treat mange. They say that it worked better than what the vet gave them to use.
I think OP is right to avoid Ivermectin without seeing a vet for a dog with unknown breeding. I avoid it in both of my mutts (other than the tiny bit in their Heartguard) as one is very obviously part Border Collie and the other is a definite herder, ACD and “something”. The vet calls them “white footed herding mutts” (I guess short hand for may have some collie in them) and he does not use large does of Ivermectin on those dogs, just in case.
Have a dog with very sensative pink skin. Currently using Revolution, to treat a suspected mange issue, skin scraping didn’t show any mites. It is a topical like frontline but you do need a perscription.
Can I ask what the issue is with collies and ivermectin?
The dog needs to be diagnosed. You think the dog has mange but you can be wrong because you are not trained in diagnosis and haven’t done a skin scraping (for example) to actually diagnose the dog. Don’t try to treat a disease the dog may or may not have.
Paula
Some collies have a genetic sensitivity to Ivermectin which can be life threatening. It’s very common in Rough Collies, not so common in Border Collies. Some other herding breeds too, I think. Short of genetic testing, my vet tells me it’s better to just avoid it in herding mutts and other suspects for collie heritage if there are alternative medications. We worm with fenbendazole (Panacur/Safeguard…) and avoid eating horse poop at worming time ;). The tiny amounts in Heartguard are supposedly safe for most dogs.
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