Demodectic Mange Protocol and Treating Opportunistic Infections After Distemper

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My vet, Dr. Paul Norwood, gave my dog, Carmella this dosing schedule when she had Demodectic Mange after her distemper was cured. It took roughly 4 months for her to get rid of the mites permanently after we found out what worked best, but in some dogs can take as long as 6 months. (If your dog is a lot under or over 42-45 Lbs. your vet can figure the equivalent from what I’ve written below). Squirt this liquid into the dog’s mouth with a small syringe (that has no needle) every night after dinner. This takes time, so don’t discontinue too early or it will come back.

Distemper can wreak havoc on the dog’s overall immunity and it can take up to and sometimes longer than a year for immunity in general to return to normal. In order to prevent the re-emergence of Demodectic Mange once it is treated, it is recommended that you give your dog something to build up its defenses such as fish oil. Fish oil is safe, contains Omega 3 fatty acids, it’s good for the coat and skin, and will also help prevent other opportunistic infections that sometimes follow distemper.

In Late December, 2008 (2 months after her CSF procedure) Carmella developed sores, began losing hair, and biting and licking areas of her skin. She started with some spot treatments with an ointment called Goodwinol, but it soon became apparent that this was like trying to patch a gaping hole in a ship with a little bit of caulking, so something stronger was indicated.

Next she had Mitaban dips, which worked pretty well, but were expensive and required many more trips to the vet and this was very slow-going.

After her sores still didn’t completely resolve she was put on Pro-meris (usually used for fleas but applied between the shoulder-blades twice a month at her usual once-a-month dosage which came out to be double her usual dosage per month). The sores between her toes, on her face, and around her crotch persisted in spite of this approach, so my vet and I began treating for a suspected bacterial infection with one antibiotic. This helped somewhat but not entirely.

Toward the middle of April, 2009 she had sensitivity testing done and was found to have four opportunistic infections; E-coli, Streptococcus Group G, Pseudomonus, and Enterococcus in abnormal levels.

These bacteria are specifically sensitive to Clavomox and Ciprofloxacin. Carmella’s test culture may save you the trouble and expense of trying one antibiotic after another if any of these same bacteria are involved in your dog’s infection(s). In Carmella’s case one antibiotic alone was not enough to get rid of the terrible sores she’d developed on the bottom of her feet, crotch, and a few other areas. With multiple bacteria that is often the case, as one antibiotic may act on some but not others, and vice versa.

All dogs have mange mites living in their skin, but it’s the ones whose immune systems are ill-equipped to keep the numbers at normal levels, and the reactivity to the oils these mites emit that causes active infection.

I also have Carmella on non-allergenic food (Z/d) made by Hill’s and although her mange is over I still give her this special dog food and two squirts of fish oil every night, as I don’t want to take any chances with her. This food is by prescription only and can be expensive, but you may not need to go this far depending upon how susceptible your dog is. Fish oil and a high grade commercial food may be enough to keep your dog in check after mange is gone.

Orange or white dogs that do not have black pigment around the eyes, nose, and other areas are more susceptible to Demodectic Mange than the rest of the population. The melanin probably protects darker colored dogs to some extent.

Pippit
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Instructions for the Ivermectin (1% solution) for Treatment of Demodectic Mange

Titrate up as follows (this is based on a dog weighing approximately 42-45 Lbs):

Day 1: .2 ml

Day 2: .4 ml

Day 3: .6 ml

Day 4: .7 ml

Day 5: .8 ml

Day 6: .9 ml

Day 7: 1.0 ml

Day 8: 1.1 ml

Day 9: 1.2 ml

Day 10 on; for 4-6 months (continue to give 1.2 ml per day)