Demodex, Chuckie's story

This post is intended to be for any and all who have a demodex dog , or want to rescue one from euthanasia. That is how Chuckie's story began. Believed to be found wandering in the streets, he was delivered to a local shelter about four months old. He was covered in sores, and crusted blood, with little pustules that I first thought were fire ant bites. The shelter people said he did not have mange. As a volunteer there, I set about his daily medicated baths, followed by a thorough rubdown with a tea tree and aloe gel. He began to heal somewhat, right away. The pictures at top show Chuckie with no sores ,but still bald over his whole body. He was put on cephalexin to control the secondary bacterial infection that had gotten into the broken skin. The only hair this little dog had was on the end of his tail and his eyelashes and whiskers. I went to the shelter every day to socialize him and care for his horrible skin. The day came when I went to the shelter and was told "that little dog of "yours" BIT me, and unless you foster him, I am putting him down TODAY!". This is where MY journey begins.
I brought Chuckie home and began a relentless search on the internet to find out what and how to best care for him. I decided to get ( smart thing) a SECOND OPINION! I took Chuck to a local vet and was told at first glance, "generalized Demodex mange" Skin scrape revealed that they were correct, shelter vet, WRONG!!
We extended his course of Cephalexin and he wanted me to use Amitraz (mitiban) dip. A very toxic med that can kill if ingested. The shelter forbade me using it, and I am glad.

Onward my search ,I got a lot of help from http://www.critturs.com/mange2.html .
Thank you, Callie!
I am very determined, and armed with some knowledge, I want more.

Chuckie was put on daily doses of Ivomectin, which he is still on at ten months

My nutritional regimen is as follows, and I assure you that I have researched every supplement and everyone is amazed at his recovery.


wheat/corn/oat free dog food. The byproducts of these grains raise blood sugar, and feed the mites. If the skin is irritated, the increased blood sugar+bacteria can also promote yeast, another food source for the mites.

Colostrum, 40%IgC, I started him out on six caps a day, emptied into food divided between two feedings. *At 1o months and 65 pounds he was cut back to 1 feeding a day and 4 caps
Kefir,PLAIN, not flavored! which is similar to yogurt, has a probiotic that inhibits systemic yeast. I have no dosage guidelines, but gave him 1 overfull tbsp with each feeding. I know that too much dairy can be adverse to treatment.

Vit.E 400mg pr day, pierce softgel and squeeze onto food

Omega three (fish oil) 2 caps per day, squeeze into food, as above

DMG 125 mg pr day Dymethylglycine. A potent immune booster, used for show and hunting dogs, available in liquid or tablets very tiny, can put right into food)


Ivomectin, Dosage was determined by vet, but after these many months I am beginning to reduce the dosage very gradually, and force his immune system to do more of the work. In my research, I found that Ivomectim stimulates the dogs immune system, so in reducing it gradually, I hope to avoid the "immune crash" that is associated with taking the dog of "cold turkey"



Medicated baths,
Be prepared to bathe your dog at least weekly, more often if he is having "an episode" I use a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide shampoo, and "oxidex wash" (for acne) on any broken skin areas. Bath your dog in the tub with warmest water comfortable for him/her. The warmer water helps open the follicles and expose the little critters to everything they hate! and flushes many of them away. after dog is rinsed follow with a good application of tea tree oil. I found a supplier of the concentrated form, that you mix down yourself, very economically
http://www.teatreeking.com/ they have an 800 number and will assist in the ratio for dilution, good stuff, I am very happy with them.


STRESS, Get your demodex dog spayed/neutered as soon as your vet thinks he is healthy enough. of any type (sexual maturity, emotional stress in the home, moving, boarding) anything that upsets your dog's routine, can cause a flair up. That is the sole reason why Chuckie is now my 5TH (ugh!) dog, He had an adoptive home, and I just talked them right out of him and found them another dog. I could not bear to think that they may not follow the support I had him on, or that he may react badly to the change.

* Your Demodex dog will need veterinary, nutritional, and emotional support. all these factors

are important to a healthy and EMOTIONALLY balanced dog (remember"stress"?)

*Make lots of water available for the detoxing meds and supplements the dog is on.

*Crate train you dog to avoid unpleasant housbreaking issues.

* Stick to a routine, until your dog is comfortable with his environment.

* Make sure your dog gets a good balance between rest (very important, play, and training)

I am very happy with the results I have had with him so far. Since he has "puppy Demodex" although he had a "generalized" condition, there is a chance that he may recover full, as him immune system is fully developed at near 18 months. Till then, I am resigned to a balancing act, of nutrition, vet support, and common sense.

Chuckie is a pitbull, so it was important that I , in no uncertain terms, made him fully accepting of his place in the pack, right away. He was ,after all, booted from the shelter for biting the hand that fed him (fear biter). As I have four other dogs, all female, they gave him a lot of lee-way, but I could not, so after a few dominance struggles, I am recognised as "the big dog" at my house. I cant express how important "pack placement is" Ask me if you need help in this area.

Now I have a loving clown, that is lying at my feet as I write this. We have "bedtime" when he is allowed to nap in my bed before retiring to his crate.There are lots of hugs and kisses and petting during this time.

For your approval. this is what Chuckie looks like today, after 5 months of continuous care and more money than the cost of a fine tuned show dog! he has gone from 29 lbs. to 68 lbs and has beautiful blond fur. The real news will be in another ten months, when we find out if he will have a lifelong treatment, or if we have overcome, Generalized Demodectic Mange (juvenile onset)