Suspicious and Frustrated

We may have a case of  demodicosis (demodectic mange) on our hands.

Originally I thought the crescent-shaped bald spots I was finding on Airlie's head were a result of playing too rough with Kansas, who regularly has Airlie's head in her mouth. I figured her teeth were scraping the fur away, much like they do when Kansas nips at Leo's legs, leaving a skinny, bald stripe in her wake.

I've been supervising their play, and keeping an eye on these 3 spots, which seem to be recovering and growing in new hair.

Yesterday I noticed a new patch.

This one appeared rather pink, whereas the others were just flesh-colored.

None of the patches have appeared irritated, nor is the skin broken, bloody, oozing or flaking in any way.

I looked closer.

Make that a total of 5 spots.

Oh, and she seems to be losing the hair around her eyelids, though she still has her eyelashes.

I compared her to the other two dogs.

I hit up the internet (and am about to check my books).

I've read a few sites and looked closely at a few pictures and I do think that this overgrowth of normally occurring mites is definitely what she has. According to the information I've got so far, it's localized. It's not contagious. It's rather typical of puppies and tends to correct itself within the first three months to one year (adult onset is a bit trickier).

The good news is there doesn't seem to be a secondary, bacterial infection, and I already have a handy shampoo that I can wipe her head down with daily just in case. Also, she'll be going to the vet this coming week for her monthly flea/heartworm treatment. Even better, the product I prefer to use is actually one of the medications used to treat this issue, so maybe I can convince the vet to go ahead and switch us to that.

Treatments of a serious case require clipping the coat, regular medicated dips, etc...

I think we can avoid that. I think the vet will agree with me that it's typical in a young puppy, localized and if she'll agree to the topical flea/heartworm treatment that contains the drug used to treat this issue, maybe we can nip it in the bud.

See? Even more reason to stick with my beloved Revolution.

Both my canine medical texts, which concur with the internet diagnosis, as well as the "typical in puppies, usually corrects its self in time, not a serious problem unless a secondary infection (from scratching/itching/licking/chewing) is present. One even says that a vet will be unconcerned and say it's not a big deal unless the secondary infection is present. The other also says that "unless 5 or more patches are present" (patches being defined as 1-inch or more in diameter, which doesn't describe Airlie's) on other parts of the body, not to be concerned".

One text says it should clear up on it's own in 6-8 weeks, but that the occasional recurrence is to be expected.

Both books mention benzoyl peroxide as a treatment. One also mentions a "mild ear mite treatment". Sweet. I have a 5% benzyol peroxide acne treatment gel, and I can snag ear mite solution from Wal-Mart if need be.

Benzoyl peroxide speeds up the sloughing of the skin. Since the mites causing the hair loss live in the hair folicle, normal shedding of the skin, or increasing the frequency of this skin sloughing is what rids the body of the problem. Hence the problem clearing up on it's own.

So, I don't have to panic. I can still ask about it when I take her in next week,  but it looks like I'll be able to manage it here with products I already have. And if all else fails, I had intended to try apple cider vinegar, anyway. That stuff fixes a host of things. I'm all about taking steps to change the pH of the body in order to make an environment less friendly to infections, germs, parasites, etc...

And to think the reaction of one of our former vets (when I was explaining why I liked Revolution so much and listing the parasites it protected against) was  to roll his eyes and scoff "Mites and mange aren't even that big of a deal."