Replied by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 08/05/2015
Theresa
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
http://www.piperslegacy.org/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal
http://ted.earthclinic.com
Hey D!
This doesn't sound like mites IMHO, particularly as the skin looks healthy; most mites are very itchy as they burrow under the skin, so the dog gnaws and scratches to scratch the itch and damages the skin in the process.
A couple things come to mind:
1 - What goes in, comes out: what are you feeding your pups? A quality diet gives you a healthy hair coat that shines - a poor quality diet gives you dry skin and brittle hair. While a poor diet generally has other symptoms present, if you are feeding a poor diet it for sure could be a factor.
2 - Is it possible the hair is being chewed off? A grass allergy or contact allergy might cause enough irritation to bring about chewing -though usually you would see the dog chew his feet and pads were this the case. Fleas would also cause itching and chewing that might cause hair loss, but you generally would see fleas, and they generally cause irritation on the rump, not the front legs.
If these were my pups I would not do the skin scraping for mites as IMHO you are not dealing with mites and even if you were, causing a lesion on the skin is only going to allow for an infection to get a leg up.
Another thought, going with the vet 'growing something', is that your pups have plowed through grasses or water or ??? with the front legs taking the most contact, and the rear thigh also getting contact with what ever it is; maybe the one pup sat on a big patch or puddle of this possible fungus. And because puppies do not have a fully developed immune system it is affecting the puppies and not the adults who also have plowed through and sat in the same mystery substance/fungus.
If these were my pups I would dip them first in Ted's Mange Remedy and then follow up with dips in Ted's Anti-fungal/Anti-staph solution - directions as follows:
You will need:
Ingredients:
Borax laundry booster - the plain stuff with NO scent.
1 -16 oz bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide
I get both of these from the grocery store.
Process:
Empty hydrogen peroxide into larger bottle - I use an empty 1 gallon vinegar jug. Add to this 32 oz filtered or distilled water - I just refill the hydrogen peroxide bottle twice - and dump into the jug. What this does is change your 3% hydrogen peroxide into 1% hydrogen peroxide.
Next add 1 cup of the borax crystals and shake. There should be some undissolved crystals in the mixed solution - this is just right. I try to use hot water from the kettle on the stove, that or sit the jug of mixture in the sink full of hot water while I bathe the dog.
NEXT:
Bathe the dog - use whatever shampoo and rinse well. Squeeze out excess water and make sure the tub is drained. I then plug up the tub. Now pour the mixed up solution over the dog. I use a small sponge to soak up the solution from the bottom of the tub and squeeze it out onto the dog again and again, making sure I get the head and underneath. Keep squeezing solution over and over onto the dog for about 15 minutes - 30 minutes is better. Then pull the stopper from the tub and let the excess drain. DO NOT DRY THE DOG OR RINSE THE DOG. The solution has to remain wet as it is still working. Allow the dog to air dry. I just pop mine into their crates and I remove any absorbent bedding.
If you are worried about poisoning your dog keep in mind that borax has the same toxicity as table salt. The solution doesn't seem to hurt the eyes or sting any sores on the skin. Some dogs feel instant relief!
To make a stronger or more aggressive solution use an equal amount of vinegar [NOT ACV] - so add 48 oz of vinegar to recipe above for a peracetic acid solution and then use as directed above.
Now, the above remedy is for mange - but its a good start for troubled skin. When dealing with a fungus consider the following dip:
Anti fungal/staph skin solution - you will need [I double and quadruple this recipe if doing several dogs]:
Milk of Magnesia [magnesium hydroxide]
Epsom salts [magnesium sulfate]
Borax [sodium tetraborate]
1% hydrogen peroxide solution
Mix 1 tbsp of MOM with 1 tbsp epsom salt and 1 tbsp borax into 1-1/2 cups of 1% hydrogen peroxide. Apply and do not rinse. This solution should knock out any staph infection or yeast infection going on in the skin.
Lastly, if you are dealing with a fungal infection on the skin consider borax in the water to fight a fungal infection from the inside out:
Ted's Borax Protocol for dogs:
Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 12/12/2014
"The borax dose is the same regardless of the weight of dogs. In the end small dogs drink less than large dogs. The only difference is the sex of dogs which the female dog requires half the dosages male dogs.
So a female dog is always 1/8 teaspoon per liter dose. And male dogs is 1/4 teaspoon per liter water. Weight is irrelevant.
Timing:
Borax dosage for 1 week. Then 1/2 dosage in week 2. Stop for 1 week. Resume.
or
Borax dosage for 4 days, then no borax/water for 3 to 4 days. Continue on/off schedule until ailment clears.
Some reduce the dosage depending on weight of dog to prevent side effects but just know that beneficial effects will also take more time to see results when you reduce the dose.
This is most common dosages, just use common sense. Yes borax can be use for many unexplained conditions of dogs and human for simple reason that most unexplained conditions that cannot be cured with bacteria in majority of cases is fungus or parasites which borax does well but also is essential nutrient for the bones and hormones in mammals."