you may remember a month or so ago, i was worried about my puppy itching alot well we have finally got to the bottom of it he has demodex bless he is going through hell he had skin scrapings and it was confirmed last week. he has to have baths and he loves it but the smell of the wash is horrendous. is there anyone else out there whose dog has had this problem. over the last few weeks we have learnt so much. i am so upset about it we went through hell losing ruby in december with cancer now our puppy is at the vets all the time how much bad luck can we have:(

You could catch it off him- that would be worse!

But seriously, I hope he'll feel better soon.

We have had many dogs with Demodex - and it is quite common with dogs that have come from, or been through stressful times. So its not that you are that unlucky - its just that you have tried to help a dog thats gone through problems, and his skin is suffering as a result.

Staffies and Dogue de Bordeaux's - suffer especially - in fact i think its also a hereditary problem.

I treat with Advocate drops - and do an Aludex wash or Malaseb baths if i can do them with the cold weather.
Others give Ivermectin injections - 3 of them i think it is.
However, if you search of Demodex you will find lots of information on it.
Personally I think skin scrapes are a waste of time as the Demodeptic flea will bury herself deep into the skin and the odds of getting anything on the sample are very slim - so odds are it comes back negative - even tho it will be full blown.

I have also read that Demodex is not contagious to people or to other dogs - which again is contrary to lots of write ups. I go with being very cautious - use a flea treatment around the house. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mange shows its the Sarcoptic Mange which is highly contagious - demodex is host specific (ie only dogs).

What treatment has the vet given you for him?

Usually once he gets himself settled in the home, and balanced back again with a healthy diet - it should settle and go back to normal.
Good luck in helping him - he will be fine soon.

We used to walk a gorgeous Shar Pei who had this, she has baths and lotions etc and is doing really well and the fur is growing back. We asked the vet about the possibility of us catching it and was told we can't, but we're obviously not visiting the house and walking her anyway until she gets fully recovered.

I thought that all types of mange mite would transfer to humans- in this instance I'm happy to be wrong.

Hi look on Lurcherlink.org fantastic web site for all advice on any breed of dog---- helped me out many a time.
regards vicky

thanx so much for all your advice. we got stanley from a breeder and he was very strange when he left his mum he wouldnt eat and refused to go out. he became very run down and under weight, the vet has told us this is what caused it. he also told us that all puppies are born with it and we have it in our eye brows and eye lashes but it is not a problem unless you encounter stress and illness. so stanley running himself down didnt help. he has since seen a dog wisperer and is alot happier and loves to go out he is 18weeks old now and is eating better too. we are asured this is not contagous and he socialises with other dogs and there has not been a problem. we are using the wash, and it stinks like paint thinner it is awful but is doing the trick he also has had the injections and takes antibiotics. i had never heard of demodex until we got stanley, i just hope it stays away as it can be a problem thoughout their lives.
thanx again,
helen x

my dog has had it slightley but was on antibiotics before so it cleared it up quick the vet only noticed it as it was going. my cousins dog (my dogs mum) suffers with it badly and she bathes her but as soon as it starts to clear up it comes back 10 times worse i belive its triggered by stress and change.

i always thought this mite was passed on from the mother to her puppy`s and can lie dormant for yr`s,as far as im aware it is not passed on to humans,think antibiotics + alludox shampoo are good recomondations, i also used a little diluted hibiscrub but be carefull& check with your vet .