demodex mites

Question
i have a 5yr old mix chihuahua..he has demodex i have done the mitabin dips nd it wnt go away..i have no job right now and dips r expensive here where i live..i wanted to ask u if you know what i can do..i love my doggie he is very playfull but getting worse..what can i do?

Answer

Hi Vivi,

Treating a dog for demodectic mange isn't a one shot deal. You need to treat your dog every other week for 6 to 8 applications or until 2 consecutive skin scrapings are negative. Without having a vet do the skin scraping test, you can't confirm that the mites have been killed off or not. It is important to remember that it can take up to a year of therapy in some dogs to cure demodectic mange. Some dogs who do not respond to one therapy will respond to one of the others, so it is probably possible to cure demodectic mange in about 90% of dogs. In the remaining dogs it is usually possible to control the disease even if it can't be eliminated, by use of intermittent therapy. Also, your dog might require an antibiotic for if he has any secondary skin infections.

I should mention that demodectic mange is usually a condition that puppies get. In older dogs this disease shows up because there is something causing problems with the dog's immune system.

Your dog needs to be under the care of a vet.

If you are having trouble afford veterinary care, first talk to your regular vet. Ask your veterinarian if he or she will let you work out a payment plan. Many veterinarians are willing to work out a weekly or monthly payment plan so that you do not have to pay the entire cost of veterinary care up front. Another option is to contact local animal shelters or the Humane Society. Some shelters operate or know of local subsidized veterinary clinics or veterinary assistance programs. If you happen to live within driving distance to veterinary school, check with them to see if they offer discount services to the public. There are two special credit cards to apply for which help with medical bills (including veterinary bills) read about them here:

http://www.carecredit.com
http://www.healthcard.citicards.com

There are organizations that provide financial assistance to pet owners in need. Please keep in mind that each organization is independent and has their own set of rules and guidelines. Therefore you will have to investigate each one separately to determine if you qualify for assistance:

http://www.help-a-pet.org
http://www.thepetfund.com
http://www.browndogfoundation.org/home
http://www.aahahelpingpets.org/how_it_works.html
http://www.angels4animals.org/index.html
http://www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=161

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti