Thinking about how Bruce is doing in the hospital robs me of sleep. It's been like this for three days now. I wake up before the sun rises and I find myself surfing in my phone and googling things that just adds up to my paranoia. I've relied on this method for months and for questionable things that need an answer. I wouldn't say it's entirely healthy, but I've got to admit, not all information are hoax or pointless. They give us some sort of knowledge to filter and counter-check. In Bruce's case, it kind of saved his life.
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Sometime last May I blogged about Bruce having Mange and his first few sessions of treatment. It doesn't take a profound genius to realize that something's wrong with his skin. Though he seldom itched, I knew there's something nasty growing underneath. I can feel it and see it in broad daylight. Naturally, I was in denial. I knew there was no way that he could get mange. He pretty much enjoys his baths every other day. He uses the same Dr. Kaufman soap that my other dog uses (which makes their coat very clean and soft btw). He's not entirely a very dirty dog. He's not like Harvey at all. He just likes to lounge around. He's a pretty manageable dog.
So I researched and found that there are kinds of Mange that affect dogs. There are demodectic, sarcoptic, cheyletiella and so on. Basically all kinds of mange are considered a skin disease and caused by these nasty parasitic mites. According to Bruce's veterinarian, all dogs are naturally born with it. Mites mostly attack puppies and other breeds that are short-haired or with minimal hair at all. But for dogs with strong immune systems and genetic make-up, these mites naturally die away and never reach the "mange" stage. In some cases, it's provoked by exposure to an infested area.
Demodectic mange are overgrowth of mites. These are usually inherited by very young puppies upon birth. Since most dogs are born with mites, puppies that harbor its overgrowth may have suppressed immune systems. Dogs may have mild to moderate itching and this could be localized or generalized. Localized is that mange is only concentrated in one area (Ex: Belly) and generalized is it affects mostly the entire body. These are not contagious.
Sarcoptic Mange are due to infection of parasitic mites called sarcastic scabei. They catch this disease via contact. Unlike demodectic, dogs with this kind of mange tend to itch and scratch themselves more. These mites burrow into the skin and they are very contagious. However, according to a few websites, sarcoptic mange is easier to cure than demodectic since they don't bury themselves as deep into the skin.
Cheyletiella mange is also a contagious mange due to infection. Against the other types of mange, these mites do not bury themselves in the skin. They are known as the walking dandruff and true enough, you do see dandruff flakes mostly at the neck or at the back of your dog, which is one of their most favorite hideout.
Inherited or infected, these types of mange are nasty. They make your dog feel so uncomfortable. They could be localized or generalized and they are indicators of a suppressed or faulty immune system. Left untreated, these could cause moderate to extreme hair loss, open wounds from scratched skin lumps and in some severe untreated cases, these parasites could so much infest their host that the dogs might have internal complications like heart worms, fever that leads to death and even brain or organ damage.
There are lots of known treatment on the net. Obviously, the first known advise to bring your pet to the vet. Your vet could should rule out any other skin disease by scraping and confirming presence of mites. Then he would perform medicinal baths and other oral or injectable medication. Then as a pet owner, disinfecting the beddings or areas in the house could help eliminate survival of the mites. And there are tons of natural remedies shared by dog bloggers and veterinarians that worked for their pets. These natural remedies are to be included in the diet or applied to their skin to attack the parasites and to boost their immune systems. I've read about raw honey, peroxide and borax, fish oil, vitamin E, raw apple cider vinegar, chamomile, neem oil extract, sliced lemon and so on and so forth.
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When I brought Bruce to the vet he already developed bumps that are visible even underneath his fur. the bumps' silhouette could be highly seen in broad daylight. Though Bruce I've noticed doesn't itch too much and it's mostly located at the neck area and at the back. I've checked the belly area and there were minor red spots, but no bumps. I figured it must be just the heat or minor skin irritation. What worried me is that the bumps from the back gradually cascaded down to his hind legs. His forehead also developed white spots like something burrowed in the area. There were dandruff also all over his neck, back and face. I could from the get-go figure out that it's Cheyletiella mange. How he got it, I had no idea. All I know is that I had to get it treated.
BRUCE'S MANGE
Bruce, even with mange, displayed his normal energy. He eats well, interacts well albeit with some discomfort induced by the itch. His looks didn't drastically change at all. There was no hair loss and red spots although there were some wounds at the back area caused by his scratching. Compared to the images on my research, Bruce was nowhere near that so I was feeling optimistic. Also, general treatment of mange is seen to be successful.
Veterinary treatment is a must. On my first session with his vet, the doctor did scrapings and made me see through the microscope. Bruce's hair follicles and strands were smashed or in disarray. Something was really wrong. The doctor advised us to destroy his beddings or blankets. He had 2 favorite blankets that he tucks himself with to sleep, unfortunately those had to go. The doctors advised him to limit his backyard wanderings for a time until treatment is being done. And the doctor shared that this is not an overnight process. He would still have to come back to the vet for his medication and for me to do my part that he eats the right food and gets his play and sleeping areas clean at all times.
Like most of the feedbacks I've read in the blog, bringing your dog to the vet every week for medication do not immediately give the desired results. Some dog owners warn that treatment left to the vet could be expensive and disheartening. After all, these are pesky parasitic mites. They don't leave immediately and much of it has to do with your dog's immune system. The Vet could only do so much and constantly exposing your pets to strong medication and dips aren't advisable either. Because of the repeated costs of going to the vet and the danger of relying heavily oh chemically induced treatment, these pet owners researched and developed their own natural remedies to help boost immune system and also to help eradicate mange. These areas I poured my time into. I read some blogs as the pet owners swore by the efficiency of their natural remedies. I knew this was a positive area to look into. I also knew this was something that I can personally do.
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TREATMENT
I've noticed the intense mange buildup end March of this year. He usually has baths 3-4 times a week using Dr. Kaufman bacterial soap. His area had been disinfected with his blankets time and time again, but his situation got worse.
He formed bumps underneath his coat at the neck, back and hind legs area. He had dandruff. He had white infected burrows in his forehead. He scratched from time to time (mild).
No baldness yet. No major wounds and sores. Appetite is not affected. Energy is not affected.
VET
On the first weekend of May, I brought him to Dr. Peralta in Better Living. He was his vet ever since. Dr. Peralta performed scraping and confirmed presence of mange.
- He injected a medication in Bruce
- He performed a lime-sulfur dip with Bruce. We usually leave him in the morning and come back for him in the afternoon. Whenever we pick him up, Bruce would smell like some gas or chemical. His fur would be smooth, but the smell was horrible. He would just look at us funny while we tell him "You Smell bad!" The doctor advised that Bruce should not take a bath for minimum of 3 days straight, if he can, probably for an entire week so that the dip might seep in.
- COST: Treatment costs 750 pesos per session.
- SESSION: Treatment is at every 2 weeks
- DURATION: We did this for 2 months straight
- PROGRESS: Definitely not overnight. Gradual mange loss.
HOME REMEDY
I somehow knew this would happen. I read in blogs that repetitive treatments in the veterinary clinics could only do so much. I need to help him boost his immune system and somehow naturally eradicate this pesky mange. I am a believer of science and alternative / natural healing. Frankly I'll do anything. I don't care as long as it works.
- Out of all my research, I singled out on NEEM oil. Neem oil is a vegetable oil pressed from fruits and seeds of the neem plant present in India subcontinent. Neem is known to have miraculous effects to persistent conditions. It's often used medicinally. Neem oil boosts immune systems, fights, boosts hygiene, fighter of various skin diseases and infections. Most of the dog owners swear by it.
- I couldn't find a concentrated neem oil in the Philippines. (CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?). I only get Tea Tree oil, chamomile and they are expensive. Although they do help alleviate skin diseases, I'm more intrigued on the known powerful effect of neem especially on mange. The problem is I can't find a store that sells neem oil here in Manila.
- Until I came across neem.ph. It's an online shopping site for anything neem related. Their warehouse is based on Cainta, Rizal. Thank God for Online Shopping! I became confident that this is my answer because they widely cater to beauty and skin products like soaps, lotion and they even developed their own pet products such as Neem Pet Powder and Neem Pet Soap. It makes a lot of sense. They wouldn't devote a product line for pets and dogs if neem is not known to work.
- Before ordering Neem products I consulted this with Dr. Peralta and he said that it does help and gave me the go-signal to do my own therapy.
- Cost: I got Bruce Neem Capsule supplements to boost his immune system. I got a bottle for 300 pesos. I also got Bruce Neem soap for for 75 pesos (I initially bought 3). And I got him the Neem Powder also for 75 Pesos. Overall costs including the shipment is at around 750 pesos.
- Once I ordered everything I needed online, which is very easy, I made a call to confirm if my orders went through. It was a Saturday and the only payment method was through bank deposit. Thankfully BDO was open! I got my orders Tuesday Morning.
- Half a capsule was given with his food in the morning, baths happen every other day, his beddings were removed and I bought him a no-hassle mat for easy clean up and comfort (500 Pesos in Ace Hardware). I included fish oil in his diet and occasionally sprinkled some powder on his coat during his non-bath days.
With the rigorous area clean up and home remedy, coupled with Bruce vet medicinal baths for 2 months straight, Bruce Mange was conquered! I'm happy to report that the bumps were gone, the white spots in his forehead were gone. In broad daylight I can see the smoothness and vitality of his coat. He doesn't itch anymore and his vet visits ended at the last weekend of June. Although his vet visits may be eliminated, I still continue with the neem soap, capsules and powder. And I always make sure that his sleeping area is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
**If In case the neem soap is out of stock, I use the ANTI-MANGE or HERBAL multi purpose soap for 85 Pesos that can be bought in the pet section of Ace Hardware.
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This was Bruce's first battle. I learned a lot about this skin disease and appreciated so many good things in life. I appreciated science as well as believing also in the power of natural healing remedies. I relied on patience and ended up sacrificing comfort and time to help eradicate mange. I believed in prayers and in Bruce.
Mange of any kinds should be treated before it becomes life threatening. As a pet owner, you will allot time and resources to get this done. It's NOT an OVERNIGHT process. Do not be disheartened if you see little to no results. Follow your vet's advise and also research on the natural remedies that might work for you.
Sources:
neem.ph
pets.webmd.com/dogs/mange-dogs-canine-scabies
www.myhomeremedies.com/topic.cgi?topicid=294
www.2ndchance.info/mange.htm
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