After contracting demodex from their mother, 3 "chugs" started losing hair around their eyes, muzzles, head and soon, all over - at about 3 months old.
They were scraped and diagnosed with demodex mange. One of the pups went to live with a friend of mine.
Her vet put her pup on Ivermectin, antibiotics and to date, she is completely mange free (8 months old).
My vet put the 2 pups on steroids, medicated shampoo, antibiotics (after) and wanted to "dip" them when they got older.
After all of this, the male (more Chihuahua) looks like a Cancer patient. He has very little hair growing back, still no hair on his legs, but has some on his feet, and his back looks like elephant skin that is crusty and smelly.
The vet told me not to bathe them more than 2x/month, as it would dry out their skin .. but their skin is dried out anyway.
The female (more Pug) has a lot more hair on her back, but her nose is crusty, legs are hairless and so is most of her tail. She has hair on her feet, and they both never lost the hair on their ears (go figure).
I'd be happy to send first photos and what they look like now to show the difference. I don't believe the $400 I spent at the vet (over time) has helped them at all.
I think feeding them canned tuna (kept them from eating their own poop when I wasn't looking, too) with their puppy food, washing their bedding in hot water, changing their bedding every day, fresh water has helped their immune system fight back .. but not enough.
That said, I'm getting ready to try the mange recipe with Borax and diluted Hydrogen Peroxide. My only concern is trying to keep them from licking themselves dry if I put them in their kennel after the treatment.
Plus, they're such cold natured animals, and it's chilly here in Indiana .. so I wouldn't want them to catch their death. I have a heater in the room their kennel is in just to keep them warm. I tend to like it a little cooler in my house, personally.
I'm going to try this treatment every other day for the first week, then down to 2x/week for a few weeks and 1x/week the remaining weeks for a total of 8 weeks.
Any advice or further guidance for me before I start this journey? I will be bathing the dogs first before treating, as recommended.
Thanks
~ Emmes
Thanks Theresa, for the clarification. Yours, Robert Lovemyamber
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Hey Robert!
This story is a common one, and not limited to RAW diets. I know of several cases where the first litter had demodex, and after a grocery upgrade to a better quality kibble subsequent litters did not have demodex.
I do think immune system health plays a role in demodex, I believe diet/nutrition does play a role - particularly as the effects of malnutrition/poor nutrition in the dam affect her progeny for the next 6 generations! However I also believe that the parasite load of the dam is also a huge factor in the parasite load puppies receive and is often overlooked or ignored completely when considering why an animal breaks with demodex.
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hey Carla!
Have you taken your dog to the vet for a diagnosis? Demodectic mange in a 7 year old dog usually means something deeper is going on. Sarcoptic mange is something your dog can catch from wild animals, and would require his entire living space to be decontaminated to avoid catching it again. However what you describe could also be allergies, which commonly develop in dogs as they age.
As for bathing options, it certainly would be good to start with Ted's mange dip to see if the itching your dog improves. There are places you can take your dog that offer grooming services and some offer DIY dog washing space. Check out your local [and often big chain] pet food stores to see if they offer grooming or DIY dog washing.
Additionally, what you feed your dog can make all the difference; if you are feeding Ol' Roy or Purina then a grocery upgrade is needed; look for grain free diets and expect to feed for 6 weeks before you see improvement. Consider adding probiotics - good bacteria - in the form of yogurt or capsules from the refrigerator section of the health food store.
Lastly, consider alkalizing your dog's drinking water. Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to 1 liter of water and have this as the only source of drinking water for your dog. Mix it up fresh and only offer when the baking soda has stopped fizzing. After 1 week you can reduce to 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, and after 2 weeks you can reduce to a maintenance dose of 1/4 teaspoon in to 1 liter of water.
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Hi! Sid, I wanted to mention that I still continue to treat Amber even though the scratching and chewing have stopped. It will take a while for her immune system to get strong again and I see a need for a maintenance program to make sure she doesn't experience any setbacks while she is healing. I told Teresa, Amber had a litter, was abused and abandoned, had an hysterectomy, given flea and tick treatment, shots, heart worm treatment, and was mal and under nourished. Long term love and Patience. Good Luck, Robert Lovemyamber
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hi! Theresa, A story put out by the raw meat diet company Reel Raw. A female dog was producing puppies infected with demodex. They stopped every thing but a balanced raw meat diet, not to be confused with a raw food diet, ie veggies etc. A year later her litters were demodex free. I am thinking I sound like a salesman but I just want others to see the results I have seen. Interesting story anyway and makes sense. Robert Lovemyamber
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
★★★★★
I used to bath my huge pit bull in a plastic or tin or even metal portable big tub, you might be able to buy at either Lowes or Home Depot another time we used a kids plastic swimming pool, then we either did him in the cellar or put a huge absorbent blanket in the kitchen and try to wash him/her.
Good Luck & have fun. :-)
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
My husband doesn't believe in bathing dogs so our Lab/mix has only had 2 or 3 in the 7 years since we rescued him. So, here we are in 20 degree weather, so I can't bath outdoors; how do you even get a 60 lb lab in the tub and get him to stay there so you can treat his skin; it started on his face around his eyes and itchy ears and then spread to his belly and between his foot pads; he's constantly scratching/chewing......suggestions? Carla
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hey Robert!
Glad to be of help to you - and Amber!
Anything for a pit bull I say! BEST breed ever! :-)
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hi! Sid, Don't forget, the raw meats and organs need to be diversified. I tried shopping and preparing a diversified diet and it was a nightmare. It took forever. I found this Company on the internet called Reel Raw that will ship frozen, USDA approved, human grade meat to your door. It is all pre-packaged according to your dogs weight and has a balanced selection of meats , meaty bones and organs. It is a little expensive but when you factor in the convenience its a good deal, and to me, my Amber is worth more than anything , cars, fancy clothes , expensive dinners, etc. She comes first. Good luck, Robert Lovemyamber
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hi! Theresa, With your help all things are possible. Where do you find the time? I hope you are appreciated because you sure should be. Thanks, Robert. Lovemyamber
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hi! Sid, I do a lot of reading and some of the things that are happening make me sick. The dogs euthanized in shelters are thrown in rendering plants along with road kill, spoiled food from supermarkets, wrappers and all, and anything they can get their hands on. The poison used in the injection to kill the animals has been found in big commercial pet food and farm animal feeds. All Govt. approved. Dogs & cats fall under agriculture laws an have no protection. In order to protect them they would have to stop using dogs for experiments so it will never change. Sad huh! Robert lovemyamber
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Hi, Robert, just to say I thoroughly agree with you.
Namaste, Om
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hey Robert!
Glad for this news! It is so important to keep in mind that healing takes *time* - and so glad you hung in there and invested the time to heal Amber. :-)
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Robert,
It warms my heart to hear that your pup is doing well. I'm only one week into this demon-dex journey so we'll see how it goes. You give me hope for my sweet boy.
I hear you on the greedy vets, although I think they're simply following the carrot that's dangled in front of them by the pharmaceutical companies. Those corporations are the big boys that are pushing all of the drugs and vaccines to the vets. Unfortunately for our wonderful companions, there's a lot of damaged left behind.
We rescued our black lab 4.5 years ago (really, he rescued us) and from day one he's been sick with ear infections, itchiness, fatigue, seizures, rashes, hot spots and just all around strange behavior - like licking furniture and walls and car seats. So we started our rounds of doctors and treatments and nothing was working. Now I'm a freak when it comes to healthy food, so I was very suspicious when one doc kept pushing his featured kibble that was NOT healthy. The last straw was when they prescribed Fluoroquinolone for my boy's ear infection. Hah. There's a reason they're doing tendon repair on more and more dogs. No way. I walked out and never looked back. It's not hard to see why immune systems are on a rapid downward spiral.
So long story-short. G eats raw, grassfed, organic diet that I prepare at home. We finally conquered his ear infection by using Allimax Allicin, just this past summer. And now he has demodex mites. Goodness, he deserves a break. I just started seeing a new vet who knows how to treat vaccine injured dogs so we shall see.
I've done three Ted baths and G gets a massage 3 times a week anyway, so I just rub him down with olive oil, lavendar, peppermint and clove oil. I can't say I see a big difference yet, but I'm hopeful.
Once one researches vaccine ingredients, the lightbulb turns on. It's not good. Edgar Crookshank proved it long ago that vaccines are a fraud. There's no reason to have egg, insect cells, human serum (I let you guess where they get these cells), bovine serum (they use downer cattle from factory farms and euthanized animals from research labs), mycoplasms, bacteriophages, prions, mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde, etc. injected into our beloved companions (or humans for that matter). Zero reason. People are waking up, though, so I think it will all be good. Notice how the ebola fear mongering was in the news 24/7 and then it just disappeared. Yeah, people are onto the scam. I ran into my old vet a few weeks ago and I told him what I'd learned - he admitted that he knows NOW and apologized. He knows vaccines cause all this damage - so even the vets can wake up. Hah.
Gonna keep on fighting that demon-dex. Blessings to all.
Sid
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Hi! Lynn, Revolution is a pesticide and a neurotoxin . It will compromise your dogs immune system. Ask your Vet if he puts it on his kids before they go out to play. Feed your dog a diversified raw meat diet, no veggies or ANYTHING else. Try "Reel Raw Co." dog food!!!! . Ivermectin is also a neurotoxin, prednisone, antibiotics , will also compromise your dogs immune system. The Vets get us on a merry go round The pesticide kills the mites , damages the immune system , the mites come back and your nice Vet makes more money. You don't have to poison your dog to keep her well. Mite infestation is a low immune system problem, feed your dog species appropriate food and eliminate stress. and eventually her immune system will keep your dog healthy unless she has some serious illness. Lots of exercise . Be patient it takes a good while for your dog to get healthy. Stop the shots and flea and tick and heart worm poisons and don't believe your vet. Investigate cures on the internet and don't treat your dog for things she doesn't have with monthly preventatives. Keep using Teds treatment and add organic apple cider vinegar, a couple oz.s to a pint unless she is raw , then it might burn. It can take up to a year or more so again be patient. Love my Amber, Yours, Robert
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hi! Again Lizzy and Teresa , I am familiar with DMSO but I wouldn't use it on Amber , For me it is too invasive . Organic Apple cider added to Ted's remedy might help and it has no side affects. The reason dogs have so many health issues, cancer, skin problems etc come from the 100 year history of money making Commercial dog food, shots, the poisonous flea and tick topical treatment and heart worm cure. etc. Dogs have changed in appearance but their physiology is still the same as the wolves they are descended from . A wolfs life span is up to 27 years or so . Get away from Natures Variety please. Switch to "Reel Raw " brand dog food. It will take a year or so but many of your dogs issues will resolve themselves . No junk food treats at all, they digest differently than raw food and will defeat your purpose. REMEMBER if you would 't put it on your little boy or girl DON'T put it on your dog!!!!! Thanks for all your suggestions and input. Love my Amber, Robert
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hey Theresa , Well another month has gone by and guess what, no more scratching and chewing . The combo of Reel Raw dog food And Teds Cure have worked wonders. The Vets, three of them, recommended Ivermectin neurotoxin and antibiotics which deplete the immune system which is the cause of the outbreak in the first place. These greedy Vets disgust me. I will keep in touch, Theresa, and as always thanks for your help to me and so many others. When Amber turns chocolate again, I'll send a picture.
Love my Amber, Robert
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hi Lynne --- can you try coconut oil mixed with turmeric 1 : 20. Turmeric is also anti-inflammatory.
Just a suggestion. Namaste, Om
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hey Lynne!
It sounds like your vets did all the right things presenting symptom-wise. I agree with the first vet - I think you are dealing with an allergy issues, particularly in light of the second vet's diagnosis of sarcoptic mange and the treatment with Revolution. I would have expected to see results were it sarcoptic mange and yet nothing.
Normally when you can saturate the dog in the solution and leave it on for 30 minutes, it allows the treatment to penetrate the skin, into the pores and hair follicles. With full penetration, the treatment has a lasting effect of about 24 hours.
You have noticed the remedy has brought your dog a brief respite after a partial treatment. Since we know it's not mange, then bacteria/staph and yeast are the next culprits.
Ted posted on this in 2006:
"I would bathe the dog or apply a lotion made of magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia) with some epsom salt (in one cup of milk of magnesia, I may add 2-4 tablespoons of epsom salt). If that works then I might add a small amount 1/16 teaspoon of epsom salt in one liter of drinking water for only a couple of days. If the dog has low magnesium, quite often allergy shows up. For a yeast or even most ailments of the dog, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda added to the drinking water for a couple of days will also reduce the yeast infection. The yeast infection issue is due to a fungus, which if borax 1/16 teaspoon is added along with the baking soda in one liter of water can also take care of it. Besides those remedies also addresses dog's nutritional deficiency for bicarbonates and boron, and even if it does not directly address a very specific condition, the dog will generally get better and in some cases get cured, because of a deficiency issue. It's all about trying them out when I know those remedy are designed to address deficiency issue which makes it important that those should at least be addressed first."
Ted has many ideas to consider! When my pack breaks out in the itchies I do 1 teaspoon of baking soda to 1 liter of drinking water and do this for 5 days as a crisis dose; I then go down to 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda for another week, and then down to 1/4 teaspoon for maintenance until everything is healed up.
One thing to also consider that has not been discussed is your dog's diet. Allergy dogs need top of the line diets - no grocery store kibble, nothing with red dyes or added sugars, and no grains. Check the label on the brand you feed as a dietary adjustment may be needed.
Please report back!
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I have a 2 yr old Husky who started having problem around his eyes last April. No matter to speak of, just kept itching his eyes and the skin looked red around the eyes, then got a couple of spots next to his nose that I wasn't sure what they were. Vet said allergies, gave him steroid shot, Ivermectin and benadryl & prednisone to take home. Vet didn't do skin scraping, thought spots on nose might be staph infection. Eyes cleared up & spots on nose but he has continued to itch/lick/bite "hot spots" which were on chest, down both front legs, inside of back legs and up into groin. Some days he looked like he was on fire!! A month ago I went to a different vet as I was not seeing any improvement and this vet diagnosed mange, which I had already pretty much decided was the problem. They gave him one treatment of Revolution and antibiotics.
Have not noticed any improvement. I found this website a week ago and have now done 3 baths with the mange treatment. One of my questions is beings my dog HATES baths, I am not able to sponge the solution over him for the recommended 15 min., let alone 30!! However I have gotten him completely wet with the solution. Am I accomplishing anything if I can't do the recommended sponging time? I noticed right after each bath his chest & front legs seems to be soothed from the itching. I have tried, olive oil/tea tree oil, Avon Skin so Soft, Benadryl lotion, calamine lotion, Aloe Vera, Bag Balm, Tri-Care skin/wound cream and some I can't remember for the itching. Again, he HATES having anything rubbed on the hot areas and then wants to lick it all off. I also have a collar which I have had on him almost constant for the past week. If he can't get to the areas to lick or itch they clear up some. If he gets the collar off within an hour his skin is fire red again.
I am frustrated, tired of paying vet bills and most of all feel horrible that I can't find some relief for my poor guy. Just wondering if anyone has any other suggestions? I also have an 11 yr old Chocolate lab who has no signs or symptoms like my Husky. Any help is much appreciated!!
Thank you.
Hey Leya!
When treating mange it will often look worse once you start treating before it looks better.
Reason being, when you treat you are causing a rapid die off of the mites. The mites die deep in the hair follicle and decompose. It is the decomposing mite bodies that some dogs react to so even though the mites are not biting any more, it looks worse as your dog's skin works on a cell level to remove the decomposing mites.
Three dips in one week is enough for now; you could try soothing bathes with a lavender and oatmeal based shampoo [you could make this at home, google for recipe ideas] and you could also try Dr. Bronner's soaps - use the lavender one.
You should also consider supporting your dog's immune system with additional vitamin C, and try a weeks worth of Goldenseal, and also 2 weeks worth of Echinacea. So dose all three each meal, and monitor your results. Immune compromised animals often benefit from probiotics; you can do yogurt, but a better way would be RAW sauerkraut, either bought from the refrigerator section or made at home - 1 tbsp. each feeding.
Try to keep your pup in as stress free an environment as possible. With puppies this might be impossible, but whatever you can do to remove stress helps.
If you don't see a marked improvement in 3-5 days, if crazy itching develops, you may be dealing with a secondary skin infection and likely should see the vet.
Please report back!
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Hello, I have given my dog 3 baths in a week and followed the instructions. I see that his skin is like getting worse. Is this what it supposed to happen? I am about to give up and just take him to the vet but I have 3 dogs and my dog who has the mange is only 4 months old and we just rescued him and this is his second health problem. We are trying to save money since we just spent about thousand dollars for our 3 dogs and we can't afford right now to spend hundreds of dollars again. So would it look like it is getting worse before you see improvement on his skin? He has more bald skin now and getting more bites from mites and red. I just feel sorry for him. How can I send pictures or attach pictures here? I would appreciate any input or help please. Thank you.
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Hi Theresa,
So I wanted to post an update on June Bug. We had her on antibiotics for about 5 weeks which helped a lot, continued to do Ted's during the first 3 weeks of antibiotics and then I just backed off and stuck with benzoyl peroxide shampoos 2-3 times a week.
I also did a grain free diet, Standard Process Canine Immune Support supplement, Alaska Fish Oils, NUPRO supplement and sardines annnnnd...took her in for scrapings a couple days ago and all of the spots came back negative for mites! They only saw a few from 2 scrapings on her face, but it looks like we are winning the battle doing it all naturally (aside from the antibiotics)!
Her skin was pretty ravaged by the mites (BIG blackheads in some spots and little superficial blackheads all over the previously affected spots and I'd say she lost 30% of her hair all together), but hair has started growing back at a fast pace these last couple of weeks.
I almost gave up multiple times and went with Ivermectin or some other chemical, but so glad I stuck with Ted's and the immune building diet protocol! It can work, and it has been for June Bug.
Thanks again, Lexi
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hey Colleen!
Demodex is typically a puppy affliction; in a 4.5 year old adult, something else is going on .. IF you are *still* dealing with demodex.
Has your dog had a recent scraping to confirm the demodex?
What it sounds like from my end of the keyboard is that your dog has a yeast problem and not so much a mite issue.
That said, continue the mange dips if you are seeing progress, and if that progress appears to reach a plateau I would switch over to Ted's Anti-fungal/Anti-staph dip. I make it up in big batches and bathe the entire dog in the same way you do for the mange dipping. Wash the dog first, rinse well, let drip dry as much as possible in the tub and then stopper up the tub and pour the [warmed] dipping solution over the dog and use a plastic cup to scoop up the solution and pour over the dog again and again for at least 20 minutes. Then put sopping WET into a crate with no bedding and allow to drip dry for another half an hour, and then let him out and towel him off and let him fully air dry.
This is what you need for the dip:
Milk of magnesia
Borax
Epsom salt
Hydrogen peroxide. The drugstore sells the 3% solution, and you need a 1% solution, so to get that you take 1 part 3% and add 2 parts water.
So, to make a small batch take 1/3 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide, and add 2/3 cup plain water and to that add 1 tablespoon each of the MOM, borax and Epsom salts. Double or quadruple this as necessary to fill a gallon jug. Then place the jug in a tub warm water to warm it up, and when the temp of the bath water is nice and cozy, bathe your dog - and then when it is time to use the solution it will be of a comfortable temperature for your dog. This treatment is good for 24 hours/working effect for 24 hours; you may find it helpful to bathe daily if the topical yeast is out of control, and then reduce to weekly or twice weekly.
In addition to the baths you might consider a grain free food if the current diet is not grain free already. Multivitamin is good, but you might also consider Echinacea and goldenseal combo for 2 weeks, as well as upping the vitamin c. In between Ted's treatments you can bathe with a soothing formulation that includes oatmeal and aloe and lavender to help calm the skin.
Lastly you might consider alkalizing your dog's drinking water; by altering is PH you make the entire dog less appetizing for yeast or mange. Some dogs readily accept baking soda water, some need to build up to it. A maximum dose is 1 teaspoon per liter of water for 5 days and then drop down to a maintenance dose of 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon per liter of water; have this water be his only source of drinking water.
There are additional approaches using sea salt water and or borax in the water but start with the baking soda and monitor your results for at least 1 week if not 2 and report back.
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★★★★★
Harley is a 4 1/2 year old pit bull/lab mix. Our vet told us about 2 years ago that he had demodectic mange and a weak immune system due to heredity. Harley also has repeated ear infections. He gave us Promeris. I began using it and it did seem to help at first, but his mange came back with a vengeance and I haven't been able to get it under control.
He has developed skin infections from the constant scratching that made parts of his skin rough like elephant skin, and even scratches to the point of bleeding. He has hair loss on his entire trunk/chest, legs, and around his eyes and top of head. I have changed his food to Nutro Natural Choice, started him on a multi-vitamin, and have been using GNC antibacterial/antifungal shampoo/conditioner. This all has helped a little, but not nearly enough.
I have read about this treatment before, but was always hesitant in the past - afraid of possible side effects and safety. I decided to try it and after one treatment, I have noticed an improvement. Harley has hardly scratched and appears a lot more comfortable and less miserable. The redness is also disappearing. I plan on continuing this treatment in hopes that it rids him of this problem.
My question, though, is since his vet said he had a hereditary condition and weak immunity that makes him susceptible to mange and the ear infections, is there anything that can be done to prevent it from returning?
Thank you, Colleen
Hey Christine!
Demodectic mange typically starts off as small bare spots on the coat, very often on the face first. The bare spots then turn reddish in color -hence the nick name 'red mange'. Demodex typically is not itchy; secondary skin infections caused by staph or yeast can cause intense itching. This type of mange is not contagious.
Sarcoptic mange -aka scabies - can be picked up from wildlife, and can spread to people as well as other pets, and can be very itchy.
It is entirely possible your dog picked up sarcoptic mange, however I do agree with your vet re: black patches of skin = yeast bloom. Your vet could perform skin scrapes to confirm the demodex if you are certain you are dealing with demodex.
You may find that Ted's Anti-fungal/Anti-staph remedy provides more relief than the mange remedy - JMHO! In addition, if you are indeed dealing with yeast, you might consider the addition of probiotics in your dog's diet, and might consider alkalizing her water and /or other water treatments to fight the yeast from the inside out.
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I'm wondering if you can help me identify if my pup has demodectic mange.
I know her immune system is poor and she has been diagnosed with severe allergies/intense itching, which we've been dealing with since she was 6 months old.
She was put on a raw diet over a year ago and I've seen a massive improvement overall in her itching and general disposition! Additionally, she is not suffering as frequently from the cycle of nonstop itch-open wound-infection-secondary yeast infection. It is typically during this cycle that she begins to get black circles on her sides and belly. Those circles have, many times, turned into full black skin. A vet had suggested that the black skin circles (which spread across her trunk and lady bits) were simply caused by the yeast blooms.
After reading your site, I am suspecting she might have demodectic mange. Overall, her skin looks good (relative to its usual state) but she is beginning to develop more black circles. I've begun the treatment described on your website and am attaching some photos before treatment. We are only 4 treatments in at this point.
Thank you!
~Christine
Hey Robert!
The brief known history you provided for Amber sounds like the perfect storm for an outbreak of demodex.
It sounds like you are doing all the right things for Amber. I would next consider nutritional supplements for the immune system - adding 500mg vitamin C to each meal, and also dosing Echinacea and kelp. I would use these nutritionals for 3 weeks and check results.
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Hi! Again Theresa, Amber is a rescue so I am not sure of her age, somewhere between one and three. She had a litter, was abandoned, was given flea and tick topical poison, given shots, maybe heart worm meds, an hysterectomy, and put in a rescue kennel . Enough stress to compromise her immune system, I think, leading maybe to a demodex population increase, She doesn't look like she has had the demodex all her life so I am hoping lots of love, no stress and good food will help her bounce back. Thanks a lot for your information, you have been a real help . I am almost out of shampoo so I will try an oatmeal based type this time . The poor girl is not happy with all these baths and doesn't go near the bathroom anymore. Oh well. Have a super day Theresa, Robert
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Hi! Lizzy, An afterthought. I have seen such an improvement in Amber after starting her on the Reel Raw food it is amazing!!! More energy, smaller stools and she just seems more alive . The meals are balanced with no fillers, blueberries, broccoli, grains or any other junk that dogs can't digest, Just top quality diversified meat. I hope this is helpful to you. Love my dogs, Robert
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Thanks a bunch Lizzy, for your help. I am feeding Amber raw food from Reel Raw dog food company which is human grade USDA approved . You might want to check them out. They have a pre-measured, daily, individually wrapped service according to the dogs weight. Their customer service, Alissa, is incredible. Not cheap but when I considered the shopping, organizing, and wrapping it saves me, it is not a bad deal at all. Thanks again and have a Happy Day, Robert
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Hey Robert!
One other thought: the next day after the mange dip, you could bathe her in an oatmeal based soothing shampoo, and I would add to that essential oil of lavender.
Also, how old is your girl? Demodex is typically an affliction of puppies, however in mature, adult dogs the development of demodex is typically associated with an underlying disease condition, ie hypothyroid, cancer, severe bacterial infection.
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Thanks, Theresa . She has had scrapings in three areas which confirmed demodex. She was eating Fromms and then Merick but I am feeding her pre-measured raw food from Reel Raw dog food company which is a great company with incredible customer service. I will follow your instructions and shampoo her prior to treating her. Thanks From me and my sweet red nose. Have a happy day, Robert
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One thought for Lizzy:
If Selsun Blue is providing you results you are not dealing with mange, rather you are dealing with yeast. The Anti-fungal/Anti-staph remedy should prove more effective than the mange remedy in this case, and anti yeast protocols would apply.
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hi Robert,
I have been having similar issues with my dog for quite some time now. Ted's mange cure did not work. What HAS been helping the most (but must be done regularly) is applying organic apple cider vinegar mixed with water (50/50) and a teaspoon or more of DMSO. I apply it to all the areas that he is red and inflamed, which is around his hips and along his spine, under his armpits and the bottoms of his feet. If an area is too inflamed, it will really burn, so you must dilute the apple cider vinegar even more with water. I apply it while he is eating a meal to distract him. The DMSO (found online at amazon.com) is fantastic at dropping a remedy below the skin's surface. I use bleach free paper towels to apply the mixture. I have tested this mixture on myself several times and have had no side effects. But do read up on DMSO before you use it as you need to be careful with it.
Last week, upon my holistic vet's suggestion, I switched him to a raw food beef diet (Nature's Variety, very expensive) and include human grade probiotics, vitamin E and fish oil with every meal. I haven't seen much change yet, unfortunately.
Another thing that will help is baths every 3-4 days with Selsun Blue medicinal shampoo and finish off with a 50/50 apple cider vinegar rinse. There's a post on Earth Clinic detailing the Selsun Blue protocol. It is definitely the best shampoo I have tried so far, including 2 the vet gave me.
Apparently a LOT of dogs are suffering from skin issues these days and it's very challenging to figure out what will help them. Good luck!
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hey Robert!
You should be shampooing your dog right before the treatments - so shampoo, rinse, and then treatment. I would also have no problem bathing her 24 hours later in a soothing shampoo with such ingredients as oatmeal. If you did 3x a week and then 2x a week you should be able to reduce it to once per week at this point.
Was your girl scraped to confirm demodex? Itchy skin often has a secondary infection such as staph. You might consider a staph dip - scroll down the latest pet posts for the formula [or I will post later]. Also consider adding an oil to her food - evening primrose oil can help with dry skin, as can salmon oil in the chow. Also consider some of the advice to Om for her dog with ear gunk re: water additives to help combat yeast internally [scroll down through latest pet posts to find or I will post later].
One thing to do is to feed top groceries - no Purina, rather think Fromm, Taste of the Wild, and the like.
I have a thing for red noses - please report back!!
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I have been using Teds remedy for three + weeks. My chocolate brown pit bull is now a blond. I saw a little improvement in scratching after the first treatment but she is back to chewing and scratching again. I treated her three times a week for two weeks then twice a week. She is losing a lot of fur all over and the initial two spots the size if a nickel seem the same. Should I be shampooing her right before or in between treatments or just let the treatments buildup ? Her skin seems dry. Is there anything additional you can recommend ?
Thanks, Robert
Hey Tim!
You use as much of the diluted hydrogen peroxide as you need. The key is to make a *saturated* solution with the borax. So if you need a gallon of the 1% h2o2 to bathe your dog, keep adding the borax crystals to the point where they stop dissolving. The correct prepared solution should have undissolved grains swirling around.
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Hello, I understand the dilution factor for the H2O2, but it does not indicate how much of the diluted H2O2 to use. Tim
Hello Brenda --- I very much agree with Theresa.
I would add that at this moment you need to give SLIPPERY ELM powder to your pet. I gave it recently to a cat with good results. Find it online plus info on this very effective herb. It heals damage to the stomach and digestive tract and is a blessing for all who have leaky guts. Give it with honey made with warm water, using a whisk (1 tsp) for a few days mixed into a bit of the food. About twice a day. You can get it also a a health food store. Good health to both of you.
Namaste, Om
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Hey Brenda!
Sorry to hear about your senior Yorkie's troubles.
For the itchy skin, you might consider using Ted's Anti-fungal/Anti-staph remedy:
Mix 1 tbsp of MOM with 1 tbsp epsom salt and 1 tbsp borax into 1 cup of water and 1/2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide - this is the brown bottle of hydrogen peroxide sold at the grocery store. Double or triple the amounts if you need a bigger batch to thoroughly saturate your dog. You follow the directions for dipping her same as the mange remedy.
I have heard of 2 other situations where dogs have vomited after Ted's mange dip; my only thoughts were that one case might have had a super nervous dog and the other might have been a Herx reaction. Your situation sounds different; your dog was already vomiting before the dip, and since the dip you now see blood. Drinking too much water and spitting it back out from her throat makes me think conditions such as megasophagus; you would have had a history of vomiting if this were the case. I also am thinking there could be a collapsed trachea involved, but you would hear coughing if this were the case. Reaching at straws here, but the over drinking could be a sign of pain; blood in the vomit might indicate ulcers in the GI tract or another stomach disorder.
Aside from the itchy skin, and the over drinking/vomiting - is she OK and normal otherwise? Is she happy or is she not her normal self?
And no, borax does not become boric acid when mixed with hydrogen peroxide :-)
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The Vets do not know what is wrong with my 5 pounds 13 year old Yorkie. I have come to believe that it is some kind of mange me even though skin scrapings showed nothing. She has an enlarged heart probably due to the prednisone and antibiotics she was living in for months! I tried baking soda and vinegar, even diluted, and she scratches like crazy. Same with baking soda and peroxide. I tried the borax and peroxide, diluted, (Ted's) and she seemed much better, however, I was afraid to continue because before trying this she had a problem with drinking too much water and spitting it back up only out of her throat, I figure, because even after eating no food came up out of her stomach. After using the borax and peroxide treatment, when she spit up the water, now there was also blood. I am really big on natural treatments, so I immediately feed her Cayenne and coconut oil. After 3 or 4 times she was fine. I want to know, has anyone else had experience of dog spitting blood after using borax and peroxide treatment? Wondering if it is due to her licking it off of her. Can it cause that type of irritation? Does mixing the borax with the peroxide cause it to become boric acid?
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Hey Mandi!
And - whoa!!! What a turn around! He looks GREAT! :)
Thanks for the update!
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Hey Mary Ellen!
Thanks for sharing your experience!
You might consider reading up on EC's ringworm page:
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Hey Mandi!
It sounds like it is healing up very nicely! :)
I think you are OK stopping with the treatment now that you have had such good results.
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I have been at my wits end with my year old pup. When I rescued her about a month 1/2 ago, she had a bald spot on her back. I was told that it was a hot spot. It seemed crusty, then suddenly flared up. I now have ringworm! I imagine I got it from her. I have been treating her/me with "athletes foot" fungus cream. The vet has done a skin test, also plucked a few hairs from her, to see if fungus grows. But, this will take 3-4 weeks! I'm also wondering if this might be mange. Today, I tried the Borax/peroxide bath on her. She didn't drink any! After she was almost dry, I let her out in the sunshine. About 2 hours, she was throwing up! I saw a post from someone asking if this ever happened with their dog. Well, it sure happened with my dog! I finally bathed her again to get it all off of her! Just FYI
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Hello Theresa,
hope you're doing well! Thanks again for all your help! I submitted a couple of pictures of Tiko. I added the Epsom salt and MOM as you suggested to the h202 and borax and applied it every night. It has worked beautifully. His fur is growing back in and all that is eft are the pigmentation marks from the sores. I stopped applying it just two nights ago. Do you think that's ok ? Or should I keep it up for another few days just in case?
Blessings, Mandi
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★★★★★
I just want to say that this worked awesome. My 1 year old pi tbull had suffered from mange and we took her to the vet and they put her on 6 weeks of Ivomec. It worked for about 5 weeks then I started to see the balding spots with redness again and knew it was coming back. I knew I needed to try something different especially because I was just laid off work and couldnt take her to the vet again for something that wasn't going to work. I have given her one bath in the solution and it has done wonders; she is no longer red and no longer scratching. I will do this once a week until her spots completely clear up. Thank you so much from a concerned pitbull mom
Hey Angela!
For sure try Ted's Mange Remedy; it is not toxic, and your dog would only get an upset stomach if he drank up a gallon of the solution :-). You can try bathing every other day for a total of 3 dips and monitor results in between - does the itching get less or stay the same?
I would not bother with the E-collar, however I would strongly look at his diet -is he eating a grain free natural diet, or does his diet contain corn and other grains along with coloring agents and dyes and sugar? Upgrading the quality of his groceries can go a long way in keeping a dog less itchy.
Along those same lines you can add baking soda to his water to help alkalize his system and balance the PH. A maintenance dose is 1/2 teaspoon into 1 liter of drinking water, and have that be his only drinking water. For a break out of intense itching I might try 2 or 3 teaspoons into 1 liter of water and do this for 5 days max, then drop down to the maintenance dose.
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Hi. I'm suspecting mange in my dog, it's very aggressive right now, red rash all over and he is scratching like crazy (5 months old Labrador). My vet seems careless, he says that it will pass with time, but it seems to be getting worse. I've been giving him apple cider vinegar in his water for the last few days, but it does not look like it's helping, it even looks worse. I bought borax today, but I'm not sure if it's safe for my dog since he licks himself a lot? Should I buy an E-Collar or something? I hope this will help, I'm very desperate. Thanks a lot and sorry for my English :)
Hey Terry!
NOT Ted, but the treatment is safe to use on 3 week old puppies - but a caution: 3 week old puppies are unable to maintain their own body temperature so will need additional heat and must be protected from getting chilled.
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Ted, I am fostering 3 three week old puppies and have noticed flaky patches of skin and thinning hair on the tail and back. They are not scratching at this point. Are they too young to try your home remedy for mange?
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Oh Goodness, Thank you so much Theresa! :) I would do the procedure tomorrow. I'll let you know if it works on her. :) thank you so much :)
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Hey Charisse!
It would appear the welding flux is OK for topical use but not for taking internally.
Check out where to buy Borax in the Philippines here - you will have to scroll down and read the various discussions, and also even look at Thailand for sourcing:
https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/borax15.html#philippines
You might also consider sulpher powder -
Make a salve by mixing one part "flowers of sulphur" and two parts vaseline - and then add a thin oil such as baby oil to thin the salve for easy application.
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Hi there! I came across this Ted's mange cure discussion because I suspect my mutt has mange. we adopted him when she was 3 weeks old because the owner wants to throw them off the roads. She is very sweet and obedient, but this past few days, she was itching so much and crust appears on the edge of her ears. the problem now is that I can't take her to the vet because budget is very tight. So thankfully I found this website. I already have hydrogen peroxide but unfortunately, borax is nowhere to be found in our local groceries and drugstores here in the Philippines. The only place where I found borax was in a local hardware store BUT it was in can and labeled as for welding/brazing flux. My question is, is this borax the same as the one being used as laundry booster? Can I use it on my dog? Please help, I dont want her to suffer anymore. By the way she is turning 5 months.
Thanks again, Theresa.
I did Ted's 3x for the first two weeks and she had her last one 5 days ago. So I will wait a few more days and if she's scab free, I'll give the ACV one a try. If not, I'll stick with the hydrogen peroxide so she doesn't get stung.
I'll keep you posted!
Thank you,
Lexi
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Hey Lexi!
I agree with you, but not sure you need to act *now*; I think you could hold off a few more days to allow the skin to heal. How many treatments with Ted's remedy did June Bug get? 2-3 the first week, and then once per week up until just a few days ago?
You only need to dip once per week - this in keeping with the life cycle of the mite. Can you follow this up with a moisturizing bath/treatment an hour or two after the dip? I would suspect with her skin healing up now that the secondary bacterial infection is being treated, her skin would be less irritated with the 1% hydrogen peroxide.
I have not used the recipe with vinegar, although I know I read about it - I just can't find it, particularly now that everything seems to be sorted out ;-). What I have read - what I could find - is that vinegar is likely to be far more irritating/will sting. I have used the solution with cuts on my own hands and also done vinegar rinses on my dogs and the vinegar does sting the raw skin whereas the 1% hydrogen peroxide did not -this from my own personal experience.
All that said I was able to find this for you:
Posted by Kc (Newtown, Ct) on 04/05/2010
[YEA] It worked!!! Thank you Ted! I was so stressed out when my dog started to show signs of mange. I made this remedy using 1 part Apple cider vinager (AC vinager instead of peroxide because I didnt want to "highlight" her black fur) to 2 parts water, and added borax laundry detergent until it wouldnt dissolve anymore. I put her in the tub and splashed on the solution until she was soaked, no gloves needed. I used a cottonball for around her eyes. I then washed every pillowcase, blanket, and rug that I could and sprinkled the borax powder all over the rest including the couch. Left that overnight and vacumed it up the next day. It was winter outside and I admit it wasnt fun for anyone to have a soaking wet dog running around, but it was worth it. Immediately the itching stopped. Within the first few day, I could see improvement. I did this intense house cleaning and borax soak with her once a week for 4 weeks and In 5 WEEKS it was completely gone! Thank you thank you thank you. Super easy, SO MUCH HEALTHIER, and wicked cheap!
- See more at: https://www.earthclinic.com/pets/dog_mange_cure7.html#sthash.47KmmrB8.dpuf
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Hi there,
So we're on day 4 of antibiotics and things are already looking a bit better.
However, my gut is saying that I shouldn't take a break from treating the mites or I am losing precious time since I do believe I was going through a major die-off.
I think the hydrogen peroxide mix was too irritating and read that there is a Ted's version using apple cider vinegar as the borax carrier...if this is correct, do you have a recipe for that? And experience with it?
Thanks again!
Lexi
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Hey Mandi!
Glad your AKK is on the mend!
I don't take donations, but if you ever see a French Bulldog figurine in an antique store, I would be happy to take it off your hands.
Please keep me posted on your boy's muzzle!
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Hey Lexi!
Looks like you scored big time with the new vet! My vet also utilizes tapping, among other approaches. So glad you are on the right track with June Bug!
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Thank you as always, Theresa...they have a gem in you!
I threw the towel in this morning after feeling June Bug's very enlarged lymph nodes under her jaw late last night and after reading your post this morning...
Loved my vet today (new vet). After a "taping" of all her spots, it came back exhaustingly (depressingly) positive for staph and cocci. She prescribed dewormer (2 doses over the next 2 weeks) and antibiotics only and told me to keep at the supplement immune building, the benzoyl peroxide/sulfur/salicylic acid baths with my DermabenSS shampoo (but not more Ted's for a week at least). She didn't want to do any Ivermectin until we got the secondary bacterial infection under control. I really respected this...she said she wants to get the discomfort under control and give it a few months before we put the anti-miticide chemicals in her. So after I get the bacterial infections under control, she wants me to try again with Ted's.
I have been feeding a no grain/no potato food source (NutriSource kibble) with Alaskan fish oils (live the closest to it! ), coconut oil and probiotics along with all immune building supplements.
And because I've done the lavender/neem/tea tree, etc., we decided with the antibiotics to keep things simple and only treat skin topically with coconut oil.
I will certainly keep you posted and thank you again for all your help...it has been much appreciated and I hope our conversation can help someone else!
Forgot to mention that the taping results came back negative for yeast, which is a relief in some way. At least we're just battling bacteria...!
Lexi
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Namaste, Om!
Do you refer to Bees Knees Pomade? I am unable to find a mite spray under that name. I do recall Oxime for mite control in a poultry setting.
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Hi Theresa --- You probably know it but here for visitors to the EC site BEES KNEES mite spray.
This was from the poultry keepers blog which I visited just to make sure I am missing something. After reading a long column of woes, I sent them my condolences with a remark, here on EC sometime ago that a grandmother had yearly put lard under the wings of her flock. With success because she did it every year. Wish my dog had wings.
My big hound has probably red mite infestation. But as with all mites, they defy everything but nuclear fission. Last year I treated it with orange cleaner essential oil. Now, in the heat, it is back. They are all over the world; just read up and it raises ones heckles. They increase in the millions and invade house and home.
I treated my boy with Ted's but with his water dog fur it slides all off and it is worse thence. I have a little ten pound Maltese with mites. Easy to do but no noticeable results and with the treatment he looks like a toothbrush now.
As with my own mites, I have them sort of under control by means most people may not believe in. But they do make a difference. Firstly, mites do jump. They did from the used pillow I used once. Slowly my hair lost its beauty and I am still fighting the invasion in face and hair. Luckily, not the rest of my body. One poster on EC said that a green Led light would get them out of the eye socket and ears. Mine are invisible.
So, what I use is a mixture of Palma Christie (cold pressed castor oil) and VCO. If it does not go into the eyes one can add an essential oil to the mix. But even without essential oils, the eyes do well because they are killed evidently because of the "sleep" around the eyes.
Other posters in the past had mentioned the applying of ones saliva when the tickling is first noticed. This is very effective, I must agree. After application, no more bother. This points to the body's defensive mechanism designed for the individual constitution. This then leads to my no.1 weapon which is urine therapy (UT). This is the blueprint of ones own individual condition creating the anti bodies for everything out of balance. I use a washcloth and rub my face well with the result of very fine, perfect complexion and it is as good in the eyes. This what has helped a lot. Also the hair, which can be rinsed after half an hour or so. Being vegan the scent is very delicate and pleasant.
On the list is still flowers of sulfur, homeopathically as well. Added to which raw veggies processed and the only exception of grains is barley for our friends.
So, the Bees Knees is a number of toxic essential oils , clove, cedarwood (not for cats) rosemary, lavender. NEEM OIL interrupts the breeding cycle. These are all toxic to mites. Twenty drops of each one tsp of liquid soap and fill the spray bottle with water. Shake.
This is not inexpensive but has helped some.
Even our feathered friends have a lot to suffer from. Namaste, Om
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Hey Theresa!
wow you know your dog breeds! Not many recognize an Alaskan Klee Kai :) he's 16 months old, .. Full grown! He is a cutie pie , thank you! Hoping he won't have permanent scarring, where the first sores were they have healed but left a pigmentation mark but that's the least of my concerns ;) I've used the mange cure 3 nights in a row and it seems to be working! He has no open sores anymore and the one I thought was going to erupt seems to have stopped with the cure ( it didn't erupt, turned the skin whitish). I will make the other remedy and apply it tonight instead. I don't think he needs the antibacterial ointment because there's no open sores but I'll get some jic. He gets lots of good supplements, including garlic and Vit C and especially for the skin issue he's getting homeo Sulphur and ledum palustre. I'll report back in after a few days And send a pic. Thank you so much for all your help to us and for helping so many people and animals! May many many blessings return to you all for your service! :) do you all accept donations? I'd like to offer something in exchange for your time/ energy.
Thanks again, Blessings, Mandi & Tiko :)
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Thank you again. I took her to the vet this morning because of the mammary glands. She said the larger one is fat but there is another one of which they took a sample to examine it. Hope is nothing bad. I will let you know. Thank you and God Bless you.
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Hey Lexi!
After re-reading all your posts and updates, to me it sounds like June Bug has a systemic bacterial infection going on and very likely needs antibiotics. The remedy is working on the mites, but the secondary bacterial infection is fighting from the inside out, so the topical solutions will only work so far. You can go the 100% natural route and possibly avoid dosing antibiotics, but I think you would have an entirely bald very unhappy dog if you do down that path.
If this were my dog I would throw in the towel and see the vet. They will prescribe an antibiotic, which IMHO is appropriate; this means stopping the probiotics for the duration of the antibiotic treatment [2-3 weeks]. They will prescribe an antimiticide such as daily oral Ivermectin which is a human drug; at this juncture I consider dosing it for 5 days. I would NOT use Amitraz dips, which are both spendy and IMHO highly toxic, or Milbemycin Oxime.
I would additionally consider worming her for roundworm at least 1 more time if not 2-3 more times as the worming schedule you outlined was not sufficient for roundworm.
I know you are feeding good groceries but you may wish to try RAW or switch to a diet that has zero grains and potatoes to help starve the mange mites from the inside out. I would consider adding 500mg vitamin C and echinacea to the mix am and pm. I would also consider using homeopathic Sulpher.
I would back off on the dipping in the remedy to 1x week, and consider doing a essential oil of lavender and Neem oil rinse on the other days to help calm the skin. The Homeopet salve sounds like a winner, and I would use that on the spots that ask for it or the home made combo you were using prior.
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Hey Nayibe!
The best food is the one she does the best on - there is no one brand I can suggest as it is an individual thing. I like to use the dogfoodadvisor.com website to search out different brands, and I try to feed only the top ranking diets. There are entirely grain free and potato free diets; one well respected diet that fits your criteria is 'Origen' - some people report great results feeding this diet, however I wasn't happy with the results for my pack; I suspect they need a bit more fat and more carbs due to our harsh winters. Again, this is for my dogs and you may have completely fantastic results feeding Bailey on this diet. One word of advice - since grain free diets are very concentrated you need to feed less, meaning if you normally feed 1 cup of grain/potato/meat kibble you should start off by feeding 3/4 cup of the meat based diet. If you see loose stools this is often the result of feeding too much of a calorie dense food, so try cutting it down to 1/2 cup, etc.
Keep an eye on the mammaries and feel around; *hard* lumps that feel like dried peas can be cancer, while extreme tenderness around a swollen knot could be mastitis.
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Hey Mandi!
What a cyootie patootie! I cannot tell if he is a Siberian or an Alaskan Klee Kai, but I can see for sure he is a beauty!
That does not look like demodex; 'ringworm' comes to mind but it doesn't look like your typical ringworm.
If this were my dog I would: scrub the whole muzzle, not just the affected sores and get any crusty, scabby skin off the sores while working at it. The anti-staph/anti-fungal solution would be a good choice to use after the washing/scrubbing is complete; you want to flood the entire area with the solution and really saturate it down to the skin. I would also consider using an OTC tripple antibiotic ointment on the sores. Try flooding the muzzle with the solution every day for 3 days in a row, and try applying the antibiotic ointment twice a day for the next three days and then report back.
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Hi Theresa. I want to tell you about Bailey. I started giving her the borax, but I don't know if it is normal, she was with diarrhea. So I stopped and started her with the baking soda, and spraying her with the solution you told me. She is doing much better. Thank you. Something else - what is the best food for her. She needs grain and potato free. Do you know a good brand, Now she has her mammary glands really swollen. I am giving her coconut oil with turmeric once a day. What else can I do for her. Thank you for helping us and our pets.
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Thanks again, Theresa!
When I got her, she did have worms (the breeder had her on an OTC mild puppy wormer). I noticed her stools were mucousy and sure enough, when I looked closer, there were tapeworm segments. I got a strong, broad spectrum dewormer (one dose) from the vet and she passed dead tape worm segments and one HUGE roundworm. I wonder if that dewormer/chemical made her immune system even more susceptible??
Anyway, now she's worm free, but demodex full. :/
I am definitely making the remedy right and I keep her in the sink and keep squeezing it over her skin for about 20 minutes each time and let her air dry. Her oldest spots seem to be getting better - at least they're not continuing to have new red bumps/pustules. But other spots have lost more hair/spread and are all ridden with the red spots and little pustules.
I am doing the anti-staph (really dries it out) and I recently discovered Homeopet First Aid ointment (has all sorts of great things in it, echinacea, sulphur, chamomile, etc. in mineral oil) and that is helping quite a bit.
It's just tough keeping the faith during this healing crisis. If yours had the healing crisis/die off effect, how long did it last?
And should I keep doing the aggressive Ted treatment (3x/week) for more than two weeks? Or what should be my indicator to back off to the once/week schedule?
So I wanted to specify how much worse it's gotten after 2 weeks of Ted's remedy 3x/week:
Existing spots are all red, bumpy and have pustules.
New spots have popped up - her biggest area on her chest is spreading down her entire arm to her toe. Three new separate spots have popped up in independent areas, and the spot on her head is spreading as well.
Does this sound normal? Or should I be worried her mites aren't reacting to Ted's remedy?
So far everything has gotten worse...some of her older spots may be getting better - they don't have as many red bumps and are darker in color. But other than that, it's spreading and new spots are popping up (all with red skin and bumps.)
I'm just feeling anxious...ah!
Thanks, Lexi
EC: So I wanted to specify how much worse it's gotten after 2 weeks of Ted's remedy 3x/week:
Existing spots are all red, bumpy and have pustules.
New spots have popped up - her biggest area on her chest is spreading down her entire arm to her toe. Three new separate spots have popped up in independent areas, and the spot on her head is spreading as well.
Does this sound normal? Or should I be worried her mites aren't reacting to Ted's remedy?
So far everything has gotten worse...some of her older spots may be getting better - they don't have as many red bumps and are darker in color. But other than that, it's spreading and new spots are popping up (all with red skin and bumps.)
I'm just feeling anxious...ah!
Thanks,
Lexi
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Thanks again, Theresa!
When I got her, she did have worms (the breeder had her on an OTC mild puppy wormer). I noticed her stools were mucousy and sure enough, when I looked closer, there were tapeworm segments. I got a strong, broad spectrum dewormer (one dose) from the vet and she passed dead tape worm segments and one HUGE roundworm. I wonder if that dewormer/chemical made her immune system even more susceptible??
Anyway, now she's worm free, but demodex full. :/
I am definitely making the remedy right and I keep her in the sink and keep squeezing it over her skin for about 20 minutes each time and let her air dry. Her oldest spots seem to be getting better - at least they're not continuing to have new red bumps/pustules. But other spots have lost more hair/spread and are all ridden with the red spots and little pustules.
I am doing the anti-staph (really dries it out) and I recently discovered Homeopet First Aid ointment (has all sorts of great things in it, echinacea, sulphur, chamomile, etc. in mineral oil) and that is helping quite a bit.
It's just tough keeping the faith during this healing crisis. If yours had the healing crisis/die off effect, how long did it last?
And should I keep doing the aggressive Ted treatment (3x/week) for more than two weeks? Or what should be my indicator to back off to the once/week schedule?
Thanks again! Lexi
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Thank you Theresa for your reply! My dog ate a few advil pills on a Saturday then this started the following Tuesday. At first I though it was a reaction to the ingestion of toxins.... Our vet said it seemed like a bacterial or yeast infection but it hadn't spread at the time. Today I noticed a new crusty bump appearing on the margin of the last eruption ( which is in the process of healing now) which probably means a new eruption is brewing :( it has not spread beyond his muzzle and my husband and I have not gotten anything and neither has our other dog in three and a half week's time. I will email some pictures as I am not able to post them here. Is there a particular email I should use? Thank you very much! Mandi
EC: Hi Mandi,
Please email your pics to [email protected] and we'll post them in your thread.
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Hey Mandi!
Demodex mites do not tunnel under the skin, the stay in the hair follicle. I have seen traumatized skin - a cut or area scraped by a tooth during puppy play - turn into a small patch of demodex, this because the mites were able to take advantage of the damaged skin which allowed their population to over grow. I have seen in the more advanced cases what appear to be black heads. What I have not seen with demodex are crusty scabs followed by eruptions.
I will say that I have used Ted's mange cure many times, and have gotten it splashed into my own eyes and mouth and it did NOT sting my eyes and only tasted salty, and I did not get ill from it, so you can relax about using the remedy on your dog's face.
I would love to see photos of your dog's skin funk -from across my keyboard and reading what you have posted it does not sound like demodex mites.
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She only ingested it in as much as she could lick off her shoulder as it ran down before I stopped her, she didn't lap from the bath. It must have been the unfamiliar situation, that and being lifted in - I think that's the first time she's been lifted since she was a pup. She's a bit of a sensitive lump is our Kody :-), big dog and beautiful temperament. She's almost dry now, all dusty white looking but she's happy enough. She's only scratched twice since her bath but I expect that's because she's cool being damp.
I'll do as you suggest and get her most obvious problem areas done again tomorrow. I'll sponge soak her outside I think, might be easier and less stressful for her (and me, it didn't do my back much good lifting her out quick to avoid her getting covered in the floating yellow goo she'd deposited in the bath). She has a black tipped topcoat so I expect that will turn colour as we progress but her black will come back won't it. I hate to see her so miserable with this horrible itching, I really hope this works.
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hello!
We suspect a case of localized demodex mites on our dog's snout (on top of the bridge of his nose only). This started approximately 3 weeks ago when I first noticed a black crusted scab followed by an eruption a few days later. Another couple of scabs appeared and then erupted as well.
I was applying a 50/50 solution of ACV and water For the first 3 weeks. The initial sores are healing, but now I see just above the last sore that erupted a spotted line of black spots. I'm assuming these are the tunnels of the mites! I started Ted's mange cure. Since it's on his nose I really can't dip it. I've been doing my best to saturate the area using a cotton swab and doing it 4 or 5 times in one application. I want to be careful not to get it in his mouth or eyes! I decided to do it two days in a row and perhaps daily since I can't fully blown soak it. I would be happy to share pictures ( I've documented with photos almost daily since the onset). Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated! Keep up the good work! Thanks, Mandi
ps: my dog is on a raw dog food diet since he was 3 months old, gets great supplements etc.
This is the first I have heard of it; did she ingest the solution? This doesn't absorb through the skin - so being bathed in the solution would not cause vomiting, only if she drank a goodly amount of it, ie quart. What might cause an upset is undue stress due to unfamiliar routine.
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Has anybody's dog thrown up while being treated with borax and H2O2? I know I got the solution right - no doubt about that. It could have been the situation, Kody's never been in the bath before - I usually do her in the shower. She vomited three times - yellow bile (luckily she hadn't yet had her breakfast). She's absolutely fine now but I just wondered.
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hey Paulaj!
My experience with sarcoptic mange/scabies is that it starts where it starts - no starting on the ears and face [text book for demodex] rather it just starts where it can - AND can be super tricky for your vet to figure it out until the situation becomes extreme, and thus readily apparent as to what the problem is.
The borax/hydrogen peroxide solution is not toxic, does not have an accumulative effect in the body at the cell level, and is effective. I have used it literally hundreds of times - it is my first "go to" when I see any skin issues in my pack. And it is not that I suspect each time I see a skin issue that it is the result of a parasitic mite, rather the solution has a broad spectrum appeal so covers mites and bacteria and yeast.
If it gets worse after application it could be mites - but without confirming with a microscope cannot be sure. And flea allergy simply means that your pet was exposed to fleas at some point in their life and developed an allergy to their bite; even if the environment if free of fleas, if on a walk your dog get's bit, then it will react accordingly.
One thing I do know is that dogs of any age can develop allergies to all sorts of things that they had no problem with prior. Perhaps your dog now has a grass allergy, or a pollen allergy. You sound like you are savvy on your critters so likely feeding a top diet, grain free kibble or RAW - but do check the ingredient panel and consider shopping around if you have been feeding the same brand for a number of years. Some find switching protiens to be of great benefit for dogs with food allergies, so they feed a beef diet one week [or one bag] and a fish diet the next, and then on to poultry, then pork, then venison, then duck - and so on.
I do think you are on the right track with alkalizing the water. Do try the dipping solution for the entire dog and consider doing it daily, right after your walk, on just the affected areas.
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hi Theresa, thanks for replying. I do worry that vets sometimes treat animals for the wrong reasons, I wish I had a vet like yours :-). Both of my dogs are insured anyway so the bills don't bother me. My main concern is to avoid the toxic chemicals for all the dogs - the vets would have it otherwise.
I can't quite pin the symptoms on sarcoptic mange as it generally starts on the ears and face apparently and I can't see any hair loss at all on Kody - I can see, with my overly paranoid gaze, thinning of her fur on her thighs I think. It can't be demodectic because apparently that isn't contagious outside a litter situation. Kody only started nibbling at her legs and thighs yesterday.
I can't hurt her with this treatment can I, that's what I'm bothered about. Neither dog can live like this so something has to be done. Hopefully this borax and H2O2 treatment will sort it. If not then it's back in the hands of the vet but I'll be worried sick about the toxic treatment.
With the Borax and H2O2 treatment I gather that the situation will initially appear worse as the die off starts? I'm figuring that if it does get a little worse then it confirms that it is actually mites. Do you think that's so? And if it's been a flea bite allergy would it go on this long once any fleas that may have been on her have gone?
I've put the sodium bicarbonate in their water with a little borax as someone else suggested (I've taken this myself so I know its ok). I'll let you know how we get on.
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hey Paula!
I have to say, that I for one have an excellent relationship with my vet, he doesn't scam me, isn't in it "just for the money", has talked me out of expensive tests that I insisted I needed [he was right, I didn't need them] and has always been fair with his pricing and when I thought things were expensive has always explained the bill in detail so I could see all fees charged were reasonable. Even if I don't like paying expensive vet bills, they are part of owning a pet and not all vets are crooks. So if you had a good relationship with your vet please do not let other's poor experiences change the way you relate to your vet.
Now, it is entirely possible your dogs have scabies mites; this is a contagious form of mange and as you already know, skin scrapings by their very nature can be hit or miss. If these were my dogs I would treat all three with the mange remedy. Do it twice the first week, and thoroughly clean and launder all bedding. Keep this up once a week after the initial 2 dips for another 6 weeks.
Also, alkalizing may help if what you are seeing is NOT contagious and just a huge coincidence that the Dodgy Dog did not give your dogs a bug; it is entirely possible all three are dealing with allergies. So try this; 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda into 1 liter of drinking water, this as the only drinking water for 5 days, then drop down to 1/4 to 1 liter as a maintenance dose. When my dogs go through an episode of itchies I do this with their water and take it myself! If the dogs are reluctant to take the water I will do 1/4 into 1 liter for the first 2 days and then bump it up to 1/2 for 5 days and then drop down to the maintenance dose for 2 weeks. I don't keep them on the baking soda all the time, but during allergy season I will dose it 2-3 times a season.
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hi, I have two dogs; both around 90 lb in weight. Kez is a 10 year old GSD and Kody is almost 3 years old and is an Alaskan Shepherd. Both are long coats, really thick coated. All was fine until my daughter bought a "German Shepherd" pup from a dodgy looking woman in the street. This was about 5 months ago. Mika, my daughter's dog, who is really of non-specific breed, seemed ok and played with my Kody a lot in the first few months and everything seemed fine. About six weeks ago my daughter tells me that Mika is itching - so we changed her food and she got a bath and was treated with frontline for fleas. I check both my dogs and they seemed fine. Then five weeks ago Kody started scratting round her ears and neck. I bathed her in a neem oil soap that I make myself but she continued to scratch. I sprayed her with ACV and essential oils of lavender and orange and brushed her, hoovered her, washed all the bedding, boraxed the carpets etc - all several times - and still Kody itched.
We haven't seen Mika for the last four weeks - then my daughter tells me that Mika is pulling her fur out. I went to see her and Mika's coat is looking thin and her belly is red and sore looking. I suggested that my daughter take Mika to the vet. I took Kody to the vet. The vet took a nit comb down Kody's back and announced that it wasn't fleas. The vet looked at Kody's stomach, which is mainly a beautiful healthy pink but had about half a dozen red spots and a couple of black head-looking spots on it. The vet announced that Kody had a bacterial infection and prescribed anti-biotics. I
was concerned about Kez getting this and the vet said it wasn't contagious (I thought anything bacterial was contagious?). Kez has nothing - no itching, no red spots. Kody has been on the anti-biotics for a week now and has a week to go but she's getting worse. Now she's nibbling at herself and has broken the skin in a couple of places. She's mainly nibbling her legs, sides and thigh but she's still scratting at her neck and ears. Given all this info could anyone tell me what they think this is? Kez has no symptoms whatsoever - but then she avoided Mika and, although Kez and Kody get on really well, they don't contact so much with each other physically. Mika and Kody had very close contact - laying on each other and play biting each other a lot.
Today I'm going to start this borax and H2O2 treatment on Kody because she's getting miserable with this. I was going to take her back to the vet but my trust in vets, particularly after the last visit and after reading this forum, isn't so high. Kody is a healthy and strong dog, I can't think that her immune system is low because she's generally very healthy but I'm going to get her the supplements suggested on here anyway because she's had the anti-biotics.
Any ideas from anybody would be appreciated - I'm not sure what I'm dealing with and given that skin scrapings are so unreliable, by all accounts, I don't want to go down that road. I certainly don't want to use toxic chemicals on an otherwise very healthy dog. And I'm dreading the thought that Kez starts to itch because she's a rescue (four years ago) and isn't as easy to deal with as Kody who I've had from a pup. Kez is old and has arthritis and hates to be messed with - should I treat Kez "Just in case" or wait and see what happens? My gut says treat them both but I don't want to put Kez through unnecessary stress :-(
Hey Lexi!
Demodex typically takes months to resolve. I want to say my puppy took 12 weeks of treatment. She had generalized demodex according to the definitions, but I think the definitions are kinda screwy, ie if on the face only it is localized. Mine had spots on the face, on the legs, on the trunk - more than 6 that I recall; I am wishing now I took photos! I gave her 2-3 baths the first two weeks and then weekly thereafter. Mine got worse before it got better, so much so I ordered a bunch of other remedies *just in case*. By the time the other remedies arrived in the mail I could clearly see the remedy was working after all, so I did not use the additional remedies I had purchased. If I had to recommend a second remedy, I would mix up sulpher flowers in castor oil and apply that to the spots... but I really think you should hold off on and just wait one more week.
There appear to be some species or strains of demodex mites that do not respond to this remedy. However make sure you are doing it right; making a saturated solution by adding so much borax that the grains of borax do not fully dissolve; treat the entire dog, not just select parts; dip your dog in the solution for at least 10 minutes straight, working the grainy solution down to the skin, and then put in a crate with no bedding and allow to drip dry for half an hour - after that I let them out and towel them off and work the grains of borax out of their coat; it is like they run around the house leaving 'sand' all over when the dried borax falls off.
It sounds as if a secondary staph infection may have set in; if you wish to stay with the holistic as opposed to getting antibiotics, use the Staph remedy daily if not twice daily. Boost immune system with Vitamin C, Echinacea and Zinc. It is advised to keep demodex dogs calm and stress free, however I am not sure that is possible with a 5 month old puppy.
Was your puppy on a regular worming schedule from the breeder? Being parasite free on the inside will help.
It is not likely that the mites are migrating to infect new spots, rather, the populations of mites were already present in what appeared to be unaffected areas and the treatment is causing those populations of mites to die, and the decomposing bodies of the mites are releasing toxins which are irritating, causing the itching, redness and pustules.
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hi again!
I need some encouragement in keeping the faith with these natural remedies...
So I was curious how long it took your Frenchie pup to recover from mange using Ted's remedy (and how bad was yours)?
Also, how long does the healing crisis last ... I know it is supposed to get worse before it gets better but it seems like it's spreading (I'm guessing that the mites are angry and moving from a previously infected spot to a new one close by??)
Just trying to manage my expectations!
Thank you! Lexi
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hey Lexi!
I originally found this website because my brindle pied frenchie had demodex. The littermates had it also, but I was the only puppy person to go 100% drug free/wholistic in treating my puppy. The other puppy owners used Ivermectin and other drugs and out of them all my puppy healed up the fastest using Ted's Remedy. I find that after the first episode of puppy demodex that it does not return; should it appear in an adult dog it usually happens due to an underlying disease condition, or a very stressful event.
I find that for allergies, if you are going to be allergic to something, you need to first be exposed to it; this is where your immune system decides if it is friend or foe. Upon the next exposure the immune system has decided friend or foe and reacts accordingly. So, the first year your puppy may appear to be free of the seasonal allergies that affect so many frenchies - but next year, when the allergens are again exposed to your pup, the immune system will have an opinion, and you may find that your pup is sensitive to grasses or spring pollens or fall pollens or the mold that occurs during the spring melt off on your lawn.
Please keep us posted on June Bug!
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★★★★★
Thank you again, Theresa!! I can't tell you how valuable your feedback has been and how great that you too have Frenchie experience!
Did you find that if you let a female go into heat after having demodex as a puppy that she had another outbreak (or were the allergies that manifested the second year come after a heat)?
I will try the drinking water fix as well, thank you!
I can tell you that her itching flat out STOPPED last night (first night ever without itching!! ) and I had applied that anti-staph/yeast solution earlier in the day.
I will write again hopefully when she's fully recovered, but so far, Ted's remedies (and your faithful help) are curing little June Bug!
Thank you,
Lexi
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★★★★★
Just want to thank Ted for caring enough to make this wonderful treatment accessible. It saved two more lives; my boys had red mange and my Ditto was so miserable that I decided to put him down BUT I decided to see if I could find anything on the internet first and there IT was. For the first week of just ivemectin all he did was cry and wanted to be held. It just took a few dips and he was running and playing and yes, new hair growth. My boys are beautiful, full of energy and happy again. I am more grateful than I can say.
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hey Lexi!
What you are describing sounds like normal pigmentation for a pied -and sounds like you have a very pretty black masked fawn pied. In dogs where the skin turns dark from allergy, they are typically much older and have a history of allergy. I find with frenchies that the first year - demodex aside - tends to be fairly problem free, but the second season hits with a vengeance, and any allergies that did not appear in the first year manifest during the second.
One other thing you can do that may help/help a lot/certainly won't hurt - is alkalizing by adding baking soda to her water. There are two doses - 1/2 teaspoon into 1 liter of water, this as her only drinking water, for 5 days; the maintenance dose is 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to 1 liter of water. When I notice that my pack of frenchies are starting to get the seasonal itchies, I do the crisis dose for a week, then drop down to the maintenance dose for another few weeks. I also take this myself while I treat the dogs ;-) So, this may help with the current demodex situation by balancing your dog's PH and thus making her less attractive to the demodex mites.
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Thanks again for getting back! I just applied the mixture you supplied and we'll see if that helps!
She is mostly red, but has a black mask, but striped with white on her face, white chest, white belly and a few white spots on the top of her neck Everything else is red, except the slight black mask on her muzzle and ears.
She does have varying skin colors where she's hairless on her belly and it ranges from white to dark purplish. The infected spots that are turning color were first much more white and now are turning the purple color like what's on her belly. And they're turning darker on both the red and white parts of her body....hmmmmm, so after reading about black mange or hyperpigmentation being a bad sign, it got me worried that maybe this natural remedy isn't working! But her skin is flaking away where old bumps used to be, which to me is good!
I know beating this is a patient game and I'm just not that patient. :)
Thanks again,
Lexi (& June Bug)
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hey Lexi!
The darkening of the skin could be part of the normal pigmentation process that occurs as your pup matures and not related to the demodex at all - or it might be allergy related. What color is your pup?
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Thanks, Theresa! I will try that other mixture as well...
So do you think the darkening of her skin is also a normal reaction during the die-off, healing crisis?
Thanks again,
Lexi
Borax and Peroxide User Reviews
Hey Lexi!
IMHO what you are seeing is normal. When the mites experience a massive die-off, their decomposing bodies that are deep in the follicle release highly irritating toxins, resulting in the pustules that you are seeing.
You might consider using Ted's Anti-staph/Anti-fungal remedy to stack the deck against a secondary infection to the traumatized areas.
Take 1/3 cup of hydrogen peroxide [the bottle contains a 3% solution] and add 2/3 cup pure water; this gives you 1 cup of a 1% solution of hydrogen peroxide. To this add 1 teaspoon EACH of: Epsom salts, Borax, and Milk of Magnesia. Blend well until all crystals have dissolved and apply to the affected areas. This has a 'working' effect for 24 hours; you can apply daily or as needed.
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Hi there,
So our 5 month old French Bulldog puppy got diagnosed after a scraping with demodex, and it is generalized. We have about 6 1-2 inch spots on her trunk, in front of both ears, middle of face, a big patch on back leg, large patches on front chest with consistent red bumps and pustules.
After all of my research and wanting to give her immune system the best chance at battling it off before using chemicals, I have put her on an great diet (no starches, grain free NutriSource), Nupro supplement, alaska fish oils, and more probiotics with a teaspoon of melted coconut oil on top.
I started doing the Ted's remedy baths exactly a week ago and have have done it three times this first week. I am hoping what I describe is a part of the healing crisis and would appreciate any insight:
So her spots started bald and after doing Ted's remedy once or twice, big red bumps and pus bumps/pustules started popping up in the bald spots only. In between Ted's treatments, I clean with povidone iodine twice a day and have mixed my own neem, lavender, tea tree oil in almond and vita E oil that I put on her at night.
So after a week, the red bumps are on all the previously smooth bald spots and open up, or turn pussy, but they are drying out even though they keep popping up.
I am assuming this is the onion/layer/healing crisis since demodex is so deep in the follicles and takes time to kill at the deepest source. And her skin is turning a darker color (almost purple). Is this normal to expect during the healing crisis? I know treatment of mange takes a while, but it's killing me to see her with so many red bumps/pustules.
Her energy levels are great, she plays/wrestles with our other dogs, eats well and is happy - no change in energy.
Any insight or experience with something similar would be great to hear - or if it sounds like I should take her in and give in to the chemicals (I DON'T want to do this since she's so young).
Thank you!
Lexi
Hey Erikajay!
Sarcoptic mange mites are very contagious and cause 'scabies' in humans; they cannot reproduce on humans, but will live for about 5 days and cause an itchy rash. You should contact your physician if your kids develop an itchy rash and let them know they were exposed to scabies.
The good thing is that with treatment your dog should not be contagious after about 5 days. While you have already treated your dog via your vet - and I am assuming it is an oral miticide, it would be wise to use the mange remedy on this site to address the exterior of your dog to kill as many mites as quickly as possible to reduce possible transmission to your kids. It is also a good idea to use the mange remedy on every single other pet in the household to avoid those pets getting infected with scabies as well.
Lastly, don't forget to clean, clean, clean - and sterilize any dog bedding, the crate or area where the dog resides, and all areas where the dog may access.
Good luck, and thank you for rescuing this dog!
