Poor Rocky :( Demodex help (Long sorry)

momtomugsy · #1 11-04-2009, 11:41 AM

Hi all My boy Rocky who I have had for about 4 weeks now has been through a lot. He is about 4 1/2 - 5 months old..When we got him we were told that we were getting a happy healthy puppy that was 5 months old..come to find out once we got him that everything that was told to us was a lie..we had him for a day and then he spent the next 6 days at the vet he had a massive case of hook worm and he also had round worm (although the man claimed to have already de wormed him) my poor baby couldn't keep anything down he became dehydrated and very weak so the vet kept him until he had a normal stool and was stronger. we were given the deworming pills to give him at hoome he had once dose at the vet and then one at home on 10/20 and then on 10/30 and one more to go on 11/9 well on 10/19 Rocky went poop and there were worms so off to the vet with a stool sample I went ... he had tapeworms...My poor baby! I gave him the pills that he needed and he is now a whole new puppy (jumping and play yay finally!!!) well 2 days ago I noticed that the hair on his head seemed thin and then another few spots on the side of his neck when I took off his collar and a few more on his side and leg...took him to the vet today for a skin scraping and the vet found Demodex ( I feel so bad for him he had been through a lot is his short life so far) The vet gave me goodwinol ointment and told me to rub it on the spots once a day. now that we are home and I was rubbing it on him I have found more spots...

Should I call the vet back or just use the ointment? what if there is a spot that I don't see will it be pointless putting it on him if I happen to miss a spot? Is there anything else I can do for him? I really would appreciate any ideas , suggestions , anything at all thank you all so much

laneysmom · #2 11-04-2009, 02:02 PM

Now don't panic! I would put the ointment on all the spots you can see and call my vet....
I know you are worried but your vet can give you the best advice....good luck to you.

Clavin · #3 11-04-2009, 02:33 PM

everything is going to be ok. Puppies get worms of some sort and mange is not that uncommon. Clavin had both and we are now 100%, no more worms and his mange is 100% gone. I used the Goodwinol ointment and did the dips. It took a couple of months but we have a clean bill of health per skin scrapings. Seeing more hair fall out is just what you should expect. It is the dead hair doing what it should be doing, completely par for the course.

1000's of threads on here about mange so take some time and go through some of them.

Best of luck.

sydgavy · #4 11-04-2009, 02:47 PM

When i adopted my APBT she was in bad shape. I am sorry that you have to go through this and that you were lied to by a (probably) BYB.

Every dog is born with demodex. It is past from mother to pup. Dogs that are highly suseptable to break uts should not be bred and should be castrated immediately. But the BYBs care about money and noth health and genetics. Demodex is not contagious to other animals. It is likely your pup broke out because it's immune system was low.

My vet have antibiots to prevent infection, a topical (Pro Meris), and a medicated shampoo. She also had to have a couple of acid dips. Sounds like you caught it early on and the demodex is hopefully localized. Try what the vet suggested and if it gets worse or spreads, let them know right away and further treatment should be done. Kepp an eye on the pads of your pups paws. Any signs of irritation or swelling could mean the demodex has settled there. My dogs was BAD and to that point. If that happen it can mean very long treatment. If the vet did not put your dog on Pro Meris, i would request it. It is very effective and also controls fleas and ticks.

Good luck to you and your pup.