Our 1 1/2 pup has had quite time with health issues the last 6 months. He's been on Prednisone since the middle of June due to an "immune mediated inflammatory disease". He's been doing great but in the last month, we noticed little patches developing his face and back. Took him to our vet and sure enough, he has Demodex. Our vet prescribed Advantage Multi used bi-weekly. It kept spreading this past 2 weeks so now she is recommending weekly treatments. He is now also on an antibiotic AND still being weaned off the Pred. I am desperate to get him off the stuff but our specialist vet does not recommend taking him off it too early. My question is, do you think it's okay to try the borx/hydro peroxide treatment while he is on all these other meds/the Advantage Multi or is it best to wait until I can get him off them? I can't bear to watch it spread any further, he has huge red welts on his face and it's beginning to thin and get scabby all over his back, a spot on his chest and head and now tonight I have noticed a few little bare patches on his feet. It is the worst feeling in the world just sitting and knowing these little buggers are spreading!!!
Replied by Grace (Philippines) on 12/16/2015
I have similar situation with my retriever. Originally it was demodex but vet did another skin scrape & result was negative. She has immune problem and vet suggest tacrolimus instead of pred due to less side effect. I haven't let any of immunosupressive drugs touch her yet. I'm trying pure hypoallergenic diet with royal canin and every other day bath with oilatum soap. The second to last wash of water I put one tablespoon of betadine, and the last wash with one tablespoon of glycerine, concentrating on affected thickened skin areas. Then after drying I put nivea lotion on the thickened skin parts. the immunosuppresives will wreak havoc with her health in the long run. So far her bald and rough areas have smoothened and her fur has started growing back. It has not completely cured her dried areas but she is better with lessened scratching and not on medication. Hope this can help.Replied by Grace (Philippines) on 12/16/2015
i have gone through almost similar to your situation and my dog is the same age. I even went so far as to allow an inexperienced vet to convince me to give her ivermectin. But a perceptive vet told me my dog has been on advocate and ivermectin without result so the demodex is probably not the root cause. It is immune associated prone to her pedigree so tacrolimus / prednisone was suggested as options But with caution that her demodex will re-erupt due to immune suppression. So I haven't opted for the drugs as yet. her skin problem is like a human version of psoriasis. Your pup seems to be suffering from mixed effects of suppressed immune system and antibiotic. I suggest you ask another vet's opinion and for the meantime, stick to one treatment / management, preferrably conservative so your pup's skin condition can be restored/stabilized. I can relate to the feeling of helplessness and frustration while my dog is suffering and I seesawed from one treatment to another while I watched my dog further suffer until something snapped in me and made me realize all im doing is worsen the problem. So as I previously suggested I did the conservative management.Replied by Om (Hope, Bc Canada) on 12/18/2015
Grace (Philippines)
The advantage multi will further reduce the immune response. One step forward, two back?
Namaste, Om
