Yes, it's been awfully hot and humid lately. I've cranked up the air conditioning but he still might be affected.

Also, um, I think he might be getting a few too many human treats?! It's just so darn entertaining to watch him catch crackers in his mouth and then hear the little grunting sounds he makes when he eats! Maybe I'd better slow down on the between-meal snacks, huh? (blush)

I think I might be a bit overly paranoid because the poor thing was bounced around to so many homes in his young life and I'm worried about what he's experienced and what I don't know of his history. Thanks for your patience and great insights!

Julie-Anne (and Chaucer)

demodex is a skin condition mostly in pups . it is a mite that lives naturally on all dogs in the hair follicle. most dogs immune systems can keep the mites at bay, but some can't. the mites take over, damage the follicle, and the hair falls out. it can produce lumpy patches of irritated skin, and can be quite a nuisance to get rid of.but is not contagoius to humans or other dogs.
you can look it up on dr fosters health questions for more info.
marci

First of all, almost all dogs will have an off day or two. If this is a constant sudden condition it can be a sign of something else going on.

2) When my guy was a pup and on antibiotics, I would notice that he wasn't himself as time went on, as well.

3) Is it very hot, or somewhat hot & humid where you are now? (This is a major factor in many dogs not eating as much and also in being lethargic)

4) How old is he now and how much are you giving him at each feeding? He may just not want or need that much food a day, any longer. If he's still very young, try cutting back on the amount you are giving him at each feeding (he'll be hungrier at the next feeding). If he's 4 months or older, you could try dropping back to two feedings per day.

5) Discuss your concerns with your vet, and make sure they look for anything else that may be going on.

6) And no, now may not be the best time to dip him, but do start on the immune building supplements and if you have access to the Goodwinol Ointment use that on the prsent spots to keep them in check and start the healing. And remember that as long as he is in the teething stage (or any other MAJOR stressor, he is still prone to further breakouts, don't worry they aren't going to kill him, it just looks awful and you want to prevent it from spreading).

I think I covered everything?

Bets of luck,
d

Yep, you just put it one the area. Remember you need to give Vitamins to boost the immune system...

Getting his immune system boosted is very important. Our Truman (at the bridge) had this when he was four months old. At 22 months he wound up with lung tumors that killed him and I really believe it was because his immune system was too suppressed to fight it. At the time I knew nothing about this except getting rid of the mites. He was dipped four times and the demodex was gone. Good luck with your baby.

I wish I could tell you the exact symptoms of pneumonia. Jez will be perfectly fine and suddenly, will be throwing up. I can kinda of tell when it is just because she has eaten to fast or played too hard because she will throw up, and continue on her merry way. But if she throws up, and tilts her head up and looks at me with those eyes that say please help me, my heart goes out and I know she is seriously sick. The vet told me the most important thing I need to do with Jez is make sure I catch her symptoms early and get her in before she gets sick. That is very difficult because she does not show any symptoms. As far as your bully is concerned, quite a few of the antibiotics can cause nauesa. Have you tried to feed him about an hour before you give him the drugs. That might make the difference. Possibly on a full stomach, he might not feel as bad. Also, you might check with your vet about giving him some Pepsid. I always do that with Jez when she is getting medicine.

Could someone please explain to me what demodex is? Is it common in bulldogs? I have had my bullies for almost seven years and havae never heard of this. I have heard of all the other common ailments and thankfully have not had any severe problems. Thanks

My bullie has only a few spots of what appears to be demodex, based upon the research I have done. I want to try that lemon juice dip. How would I go about it - just apply the juice to the spots with a cotton ball?

Hi Marci,

I know what you are going through. Brit has had localized demodex for 3 months now. It just wont go away. Ivomectim made her miserable and moody.

We live in Canada and cannot get hold of any dipping formula.

I'm going to try Lemon Juice next.

We also have her on immune boosting supplements.

She's an amazing bully, she doesn't seem to be concerned by the demodex.

She also has bad hip dysplacia, this does'nt seem to bother her yet. She's 7 month's old and has been in out and of the vets way too many times.

Our breeder has been very understanding ,we got all the bills paid for and also got all our money back and they let us keep Brit.

Good luck with the Demodex

Love those Bullies

Martin & Brit

The vet said it was upper respiratory. He hasn't thrown up at all, his bowel movements are normal and it began with a really bad nasal discharge and dry cough. A few days after starting the antibiotics, he coughed up a huge amount of thick, white mucousy stuff and hasn't coughed since.

At this point, I think he's having a reaction to the antibiotics. I've been giving him the pills at 11 in the morning and 11 at night. He won't eat breakfast or lunch, but begins to show an interest in food about 7 p.m. every day. Also, he's totally lethargic all day and then starts wanting to play about 7 or 8 at night, too. This has been pretty constant since beginning the antibiotics, but I see the lethargy increasing every day.

Although I've now decided not to have him dipped tomorrow, I'm keeping the vet appointment to have him checked over. What are the symptoms of pneumonia?

Julie-Anne

I sure will, Marci. Good luck to you! As I write this, I'm still debating whether to cancel Chaucer's dipping appointment. The vet said he shouldn't be dipped while he still had the respiratory infection.

He is so lethargic and not eating much. I think it's the antibiotics, which he's been taking for 10 days now. I'm not going to give him his second dose today because I noticed that he won't eat until late evening which is probably when the antibiotics are getting out of his system.

This is so confusing! I think you're doing the right thing by dipping since your baby's Demodex is generalized. Chaucer's is still localized and has been for weeks! The original spots are almost completely healed. I think one or two dips will take care of it, but I just don't think he's strong enough to handle it right now.

Julie-Anne

I was just wondering how experienced your vet is with bulldogs. Could he possibly have pneumonia? I may be wrong, but I don't think they can tell if he has pneumonia by listening to his heart and lungs. I believe they have to take x-rays. The only reason I am asking this is Jez is constantly coming down with pneumonia and she has never coughed in her life. I know she has it when she starts constantly throwing up. Don't want to alarm you, but our small town vet never once knew that Jez had pneumonia. He just said she had aspiration problems, would give her a sedative and send her home.

the vet gave us a special shampoo to use first. it is to open the follicle and debread it. hope this works, will post you all tomorrow to let you know how he took it, usually if there are cookies involved he won't mind a thing.

Marci,

A friend of mine does pug rescue here in Wa. She had a pug who was allergic to mitaban, she had read to use lemon juice. She dipped him just like you would the mitaban, once per week for 4 weeks and it went away. You can also use a follical blowing shampoo to get the wax build up off the skin and then use the lemon. The mites live in the shaft and the meds have to get through the was and dirt to kill them.

I also use pettabs and vit e, if you have a trader joes close the pet tabs are 15.00 a bottle, way cheeper then any store i have found.

we will be dipping tomorrow, I will let you know how it goes.....keep me posted on your end,
marci

nm

Just wanted to let you know I've never had any problems with Mitaban, dog doesn't act any different than when he has a normal bath. The only reaction I know of to be careful of is the person might get a red rash on their arms from it.

I realize it gives all kinds of warnings, doesn't most anything we take ourselves? And, I'm sure there has been some rare reactions but on the whole, it really won't be a big thing.

ok, now that we are going ahead with this dip-thing, what are any side effects I should be looking for?
will this affect his appetite or bowels, and do I need to do anything specific to prepare him, or me, other than putting globs of vaseline in his eyes and on his nose. and of course gloves : )

Marci, as much as we hate the mitaban dips, it's really important to get the demodex under control, especially if it's spreading. I would do one or two dips and see how he does.

Yes, I think he should probably be dipped once anyway, but do you think it's safe to do it now? He is sooooo lethargic and just not himself. I think it's because of all of the antibiotics, but I just don't know! (He's been taking antibiotics for 11 days and has four more days to go to finish the prescription.)

I'm really stumped! The vet says his lungs and heart sound fine, there isn't any cough or nasal discharge, no diarrhea or vomiting, but he's just not showing his usual interest in playing or anything! I took him outside last night to play ball as I usually do, and he chased the ball but stood there staring at me and wouldn't move. His basset sister was bouncing around him, trying to get him to play "chase," but he just ignored her. Also, he won't eat until late evening and I can't get him to eat even a treat before that.

Could this be the effect of the antibiotics?

Julie-Anne

Helen D. has given the supplements to build immune systems on this board countless times. Scroll down a few postings and you'll find her recommendations again.

That is #1 for helping Chaucer out of this.

#2, is a good diet with quality food and lots of clean fresh water.

#3, is if you are doing all of the above, you MAY (or maynot) be able to get away with following up this first dipping with the Goodwinol Ointment, especially if it is just a few localized spots. But building up this immune system is imperative for it to work!

Now having said all that, you are the only one who can decide if you want to go against your vets recommendations, if that's what you decide, monitor the progress carefully and if it gets worse, then you'll have another decision to make.

Whatever you decide, you must improve the immune system for any of it to work! (and giving supplements doesn't "cure" everything overnight, it takes time).

My Vet too, insists on the dips (and follows it up with a chuckle, that in most cases the mange clears up on it's own) so I immediately started supplementing with Helen's recommendations, he was only dipped twice and the mange was gone!

we have tried that route, and since his demodex was easing and seemed to be under control with the Revolution,goodwinol,and vitamins we thought it would work itself out. but to no avail. he has spots on his head,back,neck,forelegs,wrinkles, and chest, one small spot on his hindquarter. he does not seem to itch, and really has not lost a lot of hair, which the vet said tells us his immune sytem is trying to work. I know his last bout with diarrhea stressed his system, and probably brought this on. I really don't want to dip him, but it seems we have tried the other route..........

I've been visiting a holistic pet care site because I'm really having some second-thoughts on all of the chemicals we're routinely told to apply on/give our dogs.

Right now, my Chaucer is recovering from some sort of a respiratory infection. He hasn't coughed in a week and there is no nasal discharge, but he has lost most of his interest in playing and some of his appetite. I'm terribly worried about him, but was told to finish the antibiotics and that there's nothing else wrong.

The holistic sites say that when we simply treat with chemicals, we're doing a disservice to our dogs because we really should be bolstering their immune systems! The chemicals don't allow the dogs' natural immunities to develop resistance to infections and things. This makes a lot of sense to me! Wild dogs go on for years and years without anyone giving them monthly flea-tick treatments or antibiotics for the sniffles!

Chaucer has about 4 little spots (dime-sized) of Demodex mange. The two spots that first presented are nearly healed on their own. (I have been applying Goodwinol ointment.) But I've gotten two vets' opinions and they said I should dip him every week for at least two months. I actually have a dipping scheduled for tomorrow but when I look at him being so lethargic already, I don't think I can do that to him.

What do y'all think about holistic care? The site Petagonia recommends supplements to bolster their immune systems so they are able to fight off infections and I think I'm going to try it.

Julie-Anne

Localized Demodex is generally self-limiting. The basis for this advice hearkens back to the days when people wouls utilize used car oil and when the mange cleared up attribute the success to the oil.

We let our vet to the dipping. Kaceee has had 5 dips so far, the last scapping showed more mites so she will have to have at least 2 more, depends on what the scraps show. It is NOT cheap to let the vet do it but we wanted to make sure it was done right and have her healthy when it is over. too much love and money invested in this sweet baby for any other outcome!

We bought Kacee from a breeder in Mississippi. As soon as we got her home we took her to our vet for her puppy check up and he did a scraping and found demodex mange. So far she has had 5 mitaban dips and baths and is scheduled for two more. Then another scraping to see if they are gone by then. If the demodex isn't controlled it could cost the dog her life. The vet bills my son has spent on Kacee have exceeded the cost he paid for her. She also had kennel cough and a stomach infection.

The breeder offered us another puppy, but by the time we had driven home with Kacee we had bonded with her. We asked the breeder to help with the vet bills and she flat out refused. Said I could get medicine and dip her myself. This came AFTER she said the dog didn't get the demodex mange from her kennels. I called her vet who told me the dam had demodex and she had advised her client NOT to breed her, but she did anyway and the whole littler has it.

Kacee looks as healthy as a horse and weighs around 30 pounds at 4 months. She eats anything that is put in her bowl and a lot she finds that isn't. She even eats lettuce!

We have also been told not to breed her because this is a hereidity condiditon and is passed from the mothers to the pups. Most people have their own ideas on demodex and don't consider it all that serious. I just want to do what is right for Kacee

It may be labeled for Sarcoptic Mange as it is in the USA. Try asking for Amitraz.

Florence

is it not available in Canada??? maybe you can purchase it on-line, or have a vet here ship it to you??????
marci