Demodectic Mange or Something Else?
by Angela
(Nashville, TN)
My 3.5 month old Australian Shepherd pup has been diagnosed with Demodectic mange. Her symptoms are:
Itchiness, red skin, aversion to heat, lots of small (tiny) round scabby places - mostly on her belly and legs, more itchy with exposure to water, a few larger scabby places, no significant fur loss, no patches on her face ever, occasional "pimples", flaky skin on her back.
After this diagnosis, I have started her on raw food and given her many supplements including:
Flax oil, salmon oil, Nupro dog vitamin, Dinovite dog vitamin, Vit c, echinacea,zinc, coq10, borage oil, and immune booster. She has been doing the supplements for about 5 weeks, raw diet is still transitioning, but I was feeding her Blue Buffalo wilderness.
The vet also prescribed 5 mitaban dips. I let them do 3 dips, on the last one her skin seemed burned. No more dips. Plus, I think the dips where canceling out what I was doing with the vitamins. Also prescribed 1/2 antihistamine twice daily. This doesn't seem to do anything.
She has a good energy level most of the time (except 2-3 days after the dips) and runs and plays frequently. Her appetite has improved since adding the raw food.
I am a big advocate of herbs & vitamins rather than drugs, etc. I can't find anyone in my area who can advise in this arena.
I am using the book by Dr. Pitcairn as a guide, but the amounts are sometimes vague, etc. For instance, he says to treat the mange with sulphur 6c, but doesn't say how much. I have been treating her for about 2 weeks with 2 pellets twice a day and it doesn't seem to be making a difference.
I am starting to believe that she doesn't have mange at all but some other skin condition. Based on her symptoms, it seems there is something else at work here. Can you provide your opinion and offer any suggestions as to the changes in care I should be providing?
Thanks
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