• I love this manual.
    http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/72005.htm

    Information on demodex. I agree with DebraDownSouth. I can only imagine the crazy cases of mange you have seen with a chow rescue, We get a couple here and there at the clinic i work at. Stress could be a factor to decrease your B's immunity to these mites.
    I have experienced amitraz dips for demodex dogs but ivermectin is a nice all around treatment for creepy crawlies.

    Her diet sounds fine and the fatty acids and oils shes getting is a great supplement however it does not fully prevent her from ever getting a mite infection.


  • I wish my shelter was more lenient with the cases we get in. It's so disheartening to see a skin scraping of a puppy and know they won't try to treat it.


  • That doesn't sound like good medicine 😞


  • @Ellusionz:

    I wish my shelter was more lenient with the cases we get in. It's so disheartening to see a skin scraping of a puppy and know they won't try to treat it.

    So, if I am understanding correctly, they will spend the time to scrape, diagnose and then do nothing? Very bizarre. What is their intent then of doing the scraping?


  • They want to see what it is.. then they'll euthanize them if its demodex.


  • @Ellusionz:

    They want to see what it is.. then they'll euthanize them if its demodex.

    Oh dear 😞 This is why I knew as a young teen who loved animals that I would never be able to work in a vet's office 😞 I admire those who can.


  • I would think they would euthanize if sarcoptic mange(scabies) would come up not demodex? which is much easier to treat.
    Kipawa: Yes it is very hard to work at a vet clinic sometimes. You learn how to not want every animal in the world and how much work it is to own them (mostly financially). It helps that the vets you work with are reasonable in what they euthanize. Like we had one guy bring in a dog that we've seen and boarded for a holiday and she was a beautiful greyhound mix(i have a soft spot for them). Monday morning he comes in to get Gracie euthanized because she had separation anxiety and bad allergies. I would have taken her fast if i could she was such a sweetheart at the kennel. When she came in i could see the sadness and helpless look in her eyes. The vet I was working with told the owner I do not feel comfortable euthanizing your dog for those reasons and walked out. Unfortunately she was put down. But I will never forget those kinds of people.


  • That is so awful a person would do that for those reasons! Poor greyhound! IMO, people like that shouldn't own animals- they aren't disposable!


  • Whoa, the reason they put down demo is it is very expensive to treat it, and you don't know if going to generalize, be long term.

    But if that bothers you, how about my shelter that has put down the entire facility once over kennel cough. I was heart-sick.

    Many put down any they suspect of mange simply because of risks of either high treatment cost (demo) or infection (the rest). It's a shame, but I also understand the financial and other issues with shelters. If a dog has mange, likelihood of adopting less til healthy, takes up space/money/time they could use to place 2 or 3 or more dogs.


  • Ellusionz, do you have one of the puppies that were found in a rural GA shelter, rescued in GA and eventually moved to FL (with a Facebook page, "Help Save 6 Basenji Puppies!")?

    What is his name? Any pictures? πŸ™‚


  • @Patty:

    Ellusionz, do you have one of the puppies that were found in a rural GA shelter, rescued in GA and eventually moved to FL (with a Facebook page, "Help Save 6 Basenji Puppies!")?

    What is his name? Any pictures? πŸ™‚

    I was just wondering the same thing! I actually created that Facebook page after I got the idea from a pharaoh person trying to raise funds for a snakebit pharaoh hound. I can't believe how quickly it took off & how many people turned out & supported those pups!!!

Suggested Topics

  • 2
  • 8
  • 3
  • 8
  • 19
  • 15