My puppy on demodex meds has red spots. Could it be something else?

The only way to definitively diagnose mange (Demodex) is by skin scrapings which should be repeated every 2-3 weeks during treatment until 2 negative skin scrapings are found. Make sure that the flea and tick medication prescribed will also treat mites (milbemycin or moxidectin) and keep in mind that the dosage frequency is different for mite treatment than it is for flea preventative. Treatment needs to continue for 1-2 months after there is a negative skin scraping. Steroids are usually contraindicated in treatment of Demodex. Demodex mites are not contagious to other animals so your other dogs may not be affected.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Personally, I no longer use Ivermectin to treat Demodex. I stopped about a year ago. I started using Bravecto (flea and tick preventative) that is used to treat Demodex off label. It is not marketed for use in cases of Demodex but many vets, including myself, have been using Bravecto to treat Demodex cases with very fast responses to treatment. I would discuss this as a different treatment option with your veterinarian. Rather than using Ivermectin injections, the Bravecto is given as a treat and lasts for about 3 months for one single dose. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

It probably is demodectic mange. I suggest you talk to your vet about putting him on Nexgard or Bravecto. Both are oral flea tablets that coincidentally also treat demodex. Easy to do and relatively inexpensive. They are prescription drugs though so you need to get them from your vet. So much easier than all the things you are doing and it works better. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

It isn't uncommon for dogs going through mange therapy to initially get itchier as the mites die and cause inflammation. However secondary infections are also very common with mange. It is common for a dog to be on antibiotics and perhaps an anti-itch medication in addition while being treated for the mange. You could call the veterinarian that prescribed the mange treatment to discuss antibiotics and/or medication to help with his itching. Sometimes a topical shampoo helps but often oral medications are needed.

You didn't mentioned how long ago you started the treatment and how bad was the infection, Demodex can take between a few weeks to several months to clear up completly, it is important to renew the treatment as long as the skin seems to be affected. eventually the skin will recover but it will take some time, i usually recommend Bravecto for treatment.

Mara needs the medications to treat the mites. Some dogs do need lifetime treatment. The good news is that many dogs will respond to the new oral flea and tick medications such as Nexgard and bravecto which may clear or keep demodex in check. Mara should also be spayed- demodex has a genetic component so she should not have puppies but beyond this each heat cycle stresses her immune system and makes an outbreak more likely. Grain free is not necessary, while it shouldn't hurt her it is a marketing gimmick by food companies and not based on medical research. Please schedule her a veterinary visit asap to get her treated, the skin infections that accompany demodex are severely painful. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Jack. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian. Skin tests will likely need to be performed. Demodex is a mite that lives normally in the hair follicles of dogs. Puppies can experience an overgrowth. This is common in his breed. The veterinarian can diagnose this condition with a procedure known as a skin scrapes. Of course, there can be other conditions affecting his skin. In the meantime, I recommend bathing him with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to soothe the skin. Place an E-collar on him if he is licking or biting the areas. I hope this information helps!