IVERMECTIN 4 DEMODECTIC MANGE

Ivermectin is one of the few medicines that vets regularly prescribe for dogs with demodectic mange. The drug is easy to administer, and results are usually seen within a short period of time. It’s been proven many times over that Ivermectin is successful in curing the skin problem, but that doesn’t mean it can be considered as the de-facto solution for it.

The problem with Ivermectin is that it’s not the wonder drug most people think it is. Yes, it does seem to get rid of the mange, but it’s only a temporary solution at best. And that’s not to mention the various negative side-effects that can result from its use, some of which can even prove fatal.

How do you know if Ivermectin is the right type of treatment for your dog? Here are a few questions you should ask to help you decide.

What is Ivermectin?

Simply put, Ivermectin is an active ingredient in several medicines, specially designed for getting rid of parasites on a body. In the pet world, these are available in several products meant for different animals, like horses and dogs.

For dogs, two of the most popular products are ‘Ivomec’ or ‘Heartgard’, both of which are marketed as parasite control drugs. They affect skin parasites and several others that inhabit the bloodstream of the dog, such as heartworms. Incidentally, it is also used to prevent heartworm infestations in dogs as well, although that’s not its primary purpose.

How is it administered?

Ivermectin is usually produced in liquid or tablet form, which are administered to dogs orally – that is, the dogs are fed the drug.

The dosage measurements vary for each dog, determined by their weight. Usually the vet will provide the appropriate dosage, but generally speaking, a dose of 0.3mg/kg once every two weeks is sufficient for the treatment of demodectic mange. The liquid version of Ivermectin is sometimes packaged in filled syringes with set amounts, which makes it easier to gauge the dosage levels.

How does Ivermectin work?

Once it is administered to the affected dog, Ivermectin enters the bloodstream, using it as a means to affect the demodex mites in contact with the dog’s skin.

Picture of a Demodex Mite. If you look closely, you can see the legs resembling a caterpillar. Ew!

Picture of a Demodex Mite. Source: Wiki Commons

From that point onwards, the drug does two things: Firstly, it disables the nervous systems of the mites, effectively paralyzing them. Then, it manipulates the dog’s white blood cells into attacking the mites and killing them. In this way, the mites will no longer cause further skin damage to the dog’s body. So long as the drug remains in the body, the demodectic mange will be kept away indefinitely.

A minor note about Ivermectin: it doesn’t affect unhatched demodex mites still in their eggs. Therefore, more than one dose of Ivermectin is required to completely eradicate the mites from the body.

Advantages of using Ivermectin

Ivermectin has actually been proven to be capable of destroying the mites efficiently, which is why vets are still recommending it as their first choice in treating demodectic mange.

The drug is also very easy to administer, since they’re designed to be ingested orally and not given in the form of injections. This removes any effort required to calm the dog, since an injection can be a stressful experience.

Lastly, Ivermectin is relatively safe when used responsibly. This requires the vet and the owner to fully understand the dog’s condition and to adapt the treatment accordingly. If extensive care and caution is exercised, Ivermectin should not cause any trouble in the short-term.

Disadvantages of using Ivermectin

So far, Ivermectin seems like the perfect method of demodectic mange treatment; it’s safe, easy to use and most of all, it’s effective. In spite of all this, however, there are still a few disadvantages of using Ivermectin that should be highlighted:

1.)    It only solves half the problem. As we’ve said before, the purpose of Ivermectin is to kill off the mites that are causing demodectic mange to happen. However, that only settles part of the equation. The true key to stopping demodectic mange is to repair and rebuild your dog’s immune system, because it’s the only thing that can stop the demodex mites from appearing again. Even if all the mites are killed in one go (which is impossible, due to Ivermectin being unable to affect unhatched mites), the weak immune system will always be unable to prevent the mites from causing demodectic mange in future.

2.)    Reliance on Ivermectin. This is somewhat related to the first point. Some owners may discover by themselves that the drug is indeed a short-term solution; once the treatment stops for the affected dog, the mange might come back. Because the immune system wasn’t strong enough to handle the mites on its own before the Ivermectin was withdrawn, it still remains vulnerable to another attack and may cause a relapse.

At this point, the owner can pursue two options: keep the Ivermectin flowing to shut the mites out permanently using chemical drugs, or start building up the immune system to help the dog to recover on its own. Unfortunately, some owners choose the first option and suddenly find themselves spending a lot more in pet medical bills, just to keep the problem from spreading.

Besides the increased expenses, depending on Ivermectin as a long-term solution can also cause the immune system to ‘slack off’, letting the drug do all the work. When the Ivermectin doses eventually cease (which it eventually will), the dog will be essentially defenseless against the mites because its immunity is non-existent. The demodectic mange will most definitely reappear with a vengeance then.

3.)     Possible allergies to Ivermectin. This drug may be the default treatment recommended by vets to treat demodectic mange, but Ivermectin should never be given to some dogs due to possible allergic reactions.

Border collies and other herding breeds in particular are highly allergic to Ivermectin; a relatively low dose for another dog may be too much for a collie, and will cause severe side-effects such as lethargy, dehydration and even death.

Most people know about this innate allergy and will keep their dog away from the drug, but it actually isn’t as widely known as it should be. Some professional vets may not even know that a border collie shouldn’t receive a Ivermectin dose!

4.)    Long term use may cause liver damage. This is another reason why Ivermectin should not be given over a long period of time. While relatively harmless when used as a temporary solution, the drug may cause damage to the liver when administered long term. It’s important to remember that Ivermectin is primarily a pesticide for use against parasites, which means that it’s essentially a type of poison. Giving your dog Ivermectin for a year straight may hurt your dog as well.

Conclusion

Ivermectin is used to cure demodectic mange by killing the mites, and it does its job very well. The problem only starts when dog owners and even vets start treating it as a wonder drug due to a lack of understanding, and depend on it exclusively.

The one thing that you should know is that Ivermectin only solves the problem of a mite overpopulation on your dog’s body as long as it’s being administered; the mites will return as soon as it stops and will start the cycle all over again. The mange will only clear up if the mites are denied the chance to spread, and the only thing that can do that is the immune system of the dog. Unfortunately, the Ivermectin does nothing to help in that regard.

The only other way to control the mites is through continuous use of Ivermectin, but as we have discovered earlier on in this article, it’s definitely not a feasible treatment plan for your dog.

Ivermectin is only one method of treating demodectic mange, and it’s definitely not meant for long-term use. If you’re looking for a safer and more effective alternative, why not take a look at some home remedies instead?
http://dogskintreatments.com/articles/demodectic-mange/ 

CANINE STD'S

What Is Dog STD? What are the Symptoms and How Do I Prevent?



Dogs can acquire sexually transmitted diseases from mate partners that have them. Before allowing dogs to mate, it is best to check if they have STDs to prevent infections from transmitting to the other dog and to prevent miscarriage during pregnancy.



***Canine Brucellosis. This sexually transmitted disease is a bacterial infection ca...used by Brucella canis. This bacterium is transmitted through mating, urine, dead fetuses and through vaginal or seminal fluids. The bacterium can live in the vaginal and uterine tissue in bitches. A female dog may look healthy, but she can be a carrier. Male dogs may have uneven testicles. The bacterial infection can cause miscarriage and result to infertility in both male and female dogs. Humans should be extra cautious in handling dead fetuses and vaginal fluids since Brucella canis can be transmitted to humans.



***Canine Herpesvirus (CHV). This is a viral infection that can be spread through vaginal and penile secretions, and through nose discharges. It can infect the reproductive tract and unborn puppies can acquire them. Female dogs infected with this virus can have miscarriages, still births, and may never get pregnant again. CHV may also cause hemorrhages in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, liver and kidneys of infected dogs.



***Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumors (CTVT). This sexually transmitted disease can result to wart-like tumors found in the vagina and penile areas of infected dogs. This can be spread through bodily fluids. Although this not life-threatening, the tumors can easily and rapidly spread in different areas of the body.



Do not breed infected dogs.



Testing the dogs if they have STDs prior to breeding can prevent STD from spreading. It is best to spay and neuter infected dogs to prevent accidental breeding.

Antibiotics. Antibiotics can be given to dogs infected with Brucella canis. The antibiotics can decrease bacterial count, but these cannot totally eliminate the bacterium.



**Vaccination. There is a vaccine for Canine Herpesvirus that can be given to bitches in heat and one to weeks after whelping.

**Disinfection and sanitation. Keeping the dog area clean can kill most viruses and bacteria. The virus causing CHV can easily be killed by disinfection and high temperatures.

**Injectable antibodies. Injectable antibodies can help puppies infected with CHV survive.

**Chemotherapy. This therapy is best in treating CTVT. Surgical removal of tumors may not work because of the location of some tumors.

**Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy may be used when chemotherapy did not work in treating CTVT.

Food Allergies: The Natural Approach

Allen M. Schoen, D.V.M., M.S.



Food allergies are simply defined as an allergic reaction caused by the ingestion of particular food substances. Food allergies can be a significant cause of a wide range of symptoms in both people and animals. Some experts estimate that at least 60% of Americans suffer from negative reactions to foods or chem...icals on foods. Veterinary experts estimate that 5% of all skin disease and 10- 15% of all allergic skin disease in dogs and cats may be caused by food hypersensitivity. It appears to be the second most common cause of pruritic (itchy skin) skin disease in cats and the third most common cause in dogs according to Dr.’s Tilley and Smith in “The Five Minute Veterinary Consult”. Along with food allergies, one has to also consider allergic reactions to medications such as medications for heartworm prevention, flea prevention, antibiotics as well as additives to the foods such as preservatives, artificial food colors and flavors etc.



Food allergies can show up at any time and can mimic other hypersensitivity reactions. It is easy to differentiate from seasonal allergies, because food allergies occur all year round, as long as your pet is on the offending food. There does not appear to be any sex or breed predilection, though german shepherds and labrador retrievers seem to have a high incidence of food allergies in my practice.



Food allergies can not only affect the skin, but they can also affect the gastrointestinal system and rarely the nervous system. Typical skin symptoms include severe pruritis (itching), hairloss, redness (erythema), skin infections and ear infections. Gastrointestinal signs include vomiting, diarrhea, sometimes bloody diarrhea and straining and increased frequency of bowel movements. Rarely, seizures have been associated with food hypersensitivity. In people, food allergies have also been associated with irritable bowel syndrome, hyperactivity, depression, headaches, irritability, arthritis and joint pain, asthma, chronic bronchitis, hypoglycemia and sinusitis. Occasionally I feel like I have seen some of these symptoms in dogs and cats associated with food allergies, but that is difficult to document.



How do you know if your pet has food allergies? If your furry friend has any of the above symptoms, you should check with your veterinarian. Sometimes, you can figure it out just by doing a bit of simple detective work. Check when the itching or other symptoms began to show up. Was it right after you changed your dog or cat foods? If so, that is easy enough to figure; change back to the former food and see if your pet stops itching or whatever the problem was. If it clears up, you have a very simple answer.



Food trials are actually probable the easiest way to figure out food allergies. I usually recommend a food elimination diet as our first attempt to diagnose food allergies. The ideal way to do it is to limit your pet to one protein source and one carbohydrate source that they have had none or limited exposure to previously. For instance, if your pet was on a basic generic dog or cat food and it had wheat and corn and beef as its main ingredients you might want to choose either a homemade diet of fish and potatoes or one of the prepared hypoallergenic diets of prepared fish and potatoes. The challenge with these trials is being patient. Ideally you should see some improvement of the problems within four weeks. however sometimes it may take as long as three months and there have been reports of food elimination trials where symptoms did not improve for six months.



Most of the time though, I see improvement within a few weeks. Once you have realized that your pet is allergic to a particular pet food, then the question is what product in it is causing the allergies. Is it the carbohydrate source such as wheat or corn, or the protein source such as beef or chicken? Could it be something else entirely like the artificial colors, flavors or preservatives? All of these are possible. One can simply add one food source back at a time, which is commonly known as a food provocation trial. For instance, if you add back wheat and the symptoms reoccur you know that that is the offending allergen. The most common food allergens for pets include: beef, chicken, pork, what, corn, soybeans, eggs and dairy products. During this avoidance trial you will also want to avoid antibiotics and steroids, heartworm medications and any other potential offending substances. Also be aware that certain toys and snacks such as bones or other chewables may have offending substances in them as well and therefore need to be removed during food elimination trials. There are blood tests for food allergies, but there is still some controversy about how reliable they actually are. Food allergies can also mimic other diseases including other allergies such as inhalant or contact allergies, flea allergies as well as parasitic infections.



Once you have diagnosed that your pet has a food allergy, what can you do about it? The easiest thing of course is to avoid the offending allergen. That is definitely what you want to do. Normally, to make life simple, you can find a particular brand of dog or cat food that they do not react to. However, sometimes, this can be easier said than done with all the different foods and chemicals that are in a pet food. Some people choose to cook a homemade diet for their pet and figure out which individual foods they are allergic to. Though this can be quite time consuming, I have seen the most improvement with pets that are cooked a homemade balanced natural diet, avoiding the offending substances. These pets seem to thrive much more, as long as it is a well balanced homemade diet. Balanced homemade diet recipes can be found in books such as Dr. Pitcairn’s Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats as well as a number of homemade diet books published by dog breeders and owners as well as in my book “Love, Miracles and Animal Healing”.



Sometimes, simple nutritional supplements may also benefit a pet with food allergies. Supplements that I recommend include a good essential fatty acid supplement such as organic refrigerated flax seed oil or black currant oil or evening primrose oil at a dose of about one teaspoon daily for a 50 lb. dog. . In addition, I will use digestive enzymes and supplements such as quercetin (a bioflavinoid ) and bromelain (pineapple source digestive enzymes) combined. They actually help prevent the release of histamines in the gastrointestinal tract. There are other natural supplements I prescribe for more challenging patients.



To give you some examples of food allergies, I once treated a cat that had been on all sorts of medications for chronic itching including cortisone, hormones, antibiotics and it was still itching and getting worse. When I first saw the cat, I suggested stopping all medications and just trying a simple balanced diet. The itching and skin problems resolved within two weeks and we had a happy kitty! One time I saw a german shepherd with a history of all sorts of skin and gastrointestinal problems, including itching, loss of hair, ear infections, skin infections, diarrhea and straining to defecate. He too had been on all sorts of medications. Three weeks after we put the dog on a natural diet, all the symptoms resolved and we had another happy camper! Not all are that easy, but it is surprising what a proper balanced change of diet can do! Eat naturally and be well till next time!



If you would like a consultation with one of my Veterinary associates in the greater New York or Connecticut region, you can go to the practice part of my website, call the appropriate office and make an appointment with one of them to see how we can help your kindred spirit.



No article can replace the services of a trained veterinarian. This article is not intended to encourage treatment of illness, disease, or other medical problems by the layman. Any application of the recommendations set forth in this article is solely at the reader’s discretion and risk. You should consult a veterinarian concerning any veterinary medical or surgical problem. If a veterinarian is caring for your pet, for any condition, he or she can advise you about information described in this article.

Botanical Medicine & Herbal Tonics for Pets

Allen M. Schoen, D.V.M., M.S.



A number of years ago returned from a course titled “Botanical Medicine for Doctors” at Columbia Medical School in New York. As the token veterinarian amidst 150 human physicians, it was fascinating to see how various herb remedies that I have been using with pets for over fifteen years are becoming quite mainstream today... in human medicine. Dr. Andy Weil was one of the keynote faculty at this course. He shared similar enthusiasm as well as concerns for botanical medicine that I have shared with you in earlier articles.



Botanical medicine, also commonly known as herbal medicine, shows some exciting potential in animal health care. However, significant concerns are noteworthy. First of all, we do not know definitive dosages for dogs and cats. All dosages were developed for mice, rats and people. Essentially, we are adjusting these dosages to the weight of our pets. This is not unreasonable to do, but with a few caveats. Cats often have unique reactions to numerous medications and many can actually be toxic to cats. For instance, aspirin is deadly to cats at normal human or even dog dosages. Also ephedra, a commonly used herb for asthma in people, can also be toxic at reasonable dosage for cats with feline asthma. Therefore, if you are thinking that you can use a human herbal formula for human asthma on your cat with feline asthma, think twice! Most of the human formulas have ephedra in them. There may be and probably are other herbs that may be potentially toxic to cats. Make sure you discuss any herbal products with a holistically oriented veterinarian in your area.



Other challenges in using herbs include the question of herbal quality, sources, percentage of active ingredients, pesticide contamination, and drug interactions. Herbal quality is a real issue. Mark Blumenthal of the Herb Research Foundation is completing an evaluation of hundreds of ginseng formulas currently available. He was amazed how many of them had virtually no active ingredients of ginseng. So you may think that you are giving your dog or cat ginseng as a tonic and feel that it is not working, when your pet may actually not be getting any ginseng at all! Your best bet is to look for standardized extracts with guaranteed potency, or check again with a veterinarian trained in herbal medicine. I always try to use herbal formulas from ethical companies that use organically raised herbs wherever possible and only fresh herbs that are produced without deleterious effects to the culture or environment of any country. These days there are a number of reputable companies that have developed herbal formula’s specifically for animals.



Taking all these concerns into consideration, certain herbal remedies can be beneficial for our pets with judicious use. There is always the temptation to use the “herb of the month club” recommendation. One should always consult with a veterinarian trained in the use of herbs. Herbs and herbal formulas have been documented to be beneficial as tonics for cardiovascular conditions, gastrointestinal, dermatologic, immune- mediated as well as musculoskeletal conditions and behavior problems.



Let’s discuss some tonic herbs now. Tonic herbs help normalize bodily functions and increase resistance to stress. “Tonic” actually comes from the word “tone”. Tonics tone or tune up our bodies defense mechanisms. There are no real tonics in western medicine. Tonics can benefit any pets who are chronically ill, debilitated or older geriatric patients who lack energy and vitality. These herbs are also called “adaptogenic” meaning that assist in the modulation of the endocrine system. Ginseng is probably the best known of tonic herbs. Ginseng is considered the supreme tonic in chinese medicine. It increases energy, longevity, skin and muscle tone and bone strength. There are different types of ginseng. American (panax) ginseng is preferred for female patients and older pets. Siberian (eleutherococcus) ginseng is one of the best adaptogens, or stress-protective tonics. It improves resistance to infections as well as stamina in pets. Adjust the dosage by weight from the human products used to the weight of your pet. For instance if it is in a capsule and the recommended dosage in two to three capsules twice a day for an adult person and you have a fifty pound older dog, one may give one capsule twice a day. If you are administering tinctures, be careful with cats, because they often times have too high an alcohol content for cats, so you would want to boil off the alcohol before administering or dilute it greatly. If you are using ginseng long term, use for only two to three months at a time and then give a break and stop it for a few weeks. Again, consult with a naturally trained veterinarian.



Ashwaganda is an Indian (ayurvedic) herb that is the Indian version of ginseng. It is less expensive than ginseng and more abundant. It also can be quite beneficial in the elderly, debilitated or recovering dog or cat. Again, dosages need to be adjusted from human recommended dosages.



Dong quai (also spelled tang keui), another Chinese tonic, contains volatile oils that assist in the balancing of hormones. It has been mistakenly called “female ginseng”. In China, it is used by both men and women even more often than ginseng. It is a good general tonic for the female reproductive system and may be beneficial for unspayed dogs and cats, especially for weakness after giving birth. I use it as a tonic in dogs with chronic diseases such as liver disease, cancer, and general old age problems. It is related to carrots, parsnips, fennel and other common edibles and therefore nontoxic. It too is less expensive than ginseng. In Chinese medicine it is usually used in combination with other herbs.



Astragalus, another excellent Chinese herbal tonic, enhances immune function. We discussed this herb in previous articles on herbal antibacterial and antiviral remedies. It can be used similar to other tonics for the elderly or debilitated pet. I recommend it for all my cancer patients, both those undergoing conventional treatment and those who have elected not to. It can be taken regularly. I also use it in treating viral infections and any chronic disease. It is completely nontoxic and animals normally respond quite well.



There are tonic herbs that are specific for certain organs or organ systems. Hawthornberry for instance is an excellent heart tonic. It can be used for just about any heart problem from cardiomyopathy in dogs and cats to congestive heart failure or arrhythmias. However, If your pet is on digoxin, a very potent heart medication originally derived from the plant foxglove, you want to make sure you work with your veterinarian, because it actually potentiates the effects of digoxin. It may require lowering the dosage of digoxin, so again, it is vital that you monitor this with your veterinarian.



May you and your animal friends be healthy and happy!



No article can replace the services of a trained veterinarian. This article is not intended to encourage treatment of illness, disease, or other medical problems by the layman. Any application of the recommendations set forth in this article is solely at the reader’s discretion and risk. You should consult a veterinarian concerning any veterinary medical or surgical problem. If a veterinarian is caring for your pet, for any condition, he or she can advise you about information described in this article.