Back to my digest started...

[Gina Heitz <brier@oregonsbest.com>]

I stared a digest last week, I have company from CA right now and have 
limited time to be here at this keyboard.  Not to mention these guys, new 
photos: http://www.briergoldens.com/phoenix_to_seajay.htm  :-)))  to proud 
or not?

I noted Demodex in my post with more later on that...  Here is a link about 
Demodex,

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&articleid=729

the only correction I will make here is that they do not disseminate 
between the two forms of this mite.  There are two forms and it's common 
theory that the form most often seen in *normal* dogs with *normal* but 
temporarily suppressed immune systems is the localized form and is not 
reason for great concern and DOES NOT require any treatment other than 
letting the immune system recover and take back over.  A few of our dogs 
during puberty have had localized demodex.  Age 4 mos to 18 mos is the 
normal range to see this come up.  So two litters that come to mind that 
could still be affected would be the One litter and the Casino litter.  If 
you see a balding patch on the face, front legs, or paws do not be 
alarmed.  This will pass right along with the falling out of all the teeth 
that the Casino litter is going though right now.

It's a theory only that vaccinations and other normal stress that puppies 
encounter can cause the immune system to 'forget' about controlling the 
mite that is btw present on all dogs and humans.

My first encounter with demodex was with one of Gidget's littermates.  So 
that was well over 3 years ago, the client freaked out and followed some 
rather aggressive protocols that her vet recommended, that I have since 
talked over with several vets who feel that this was over kill.  The dog 
had one spot of demodex on his front leg, they shaved the entire dog, and 
treated him with dips weekly for 6 treatments.  They also treated him with 
Ivomec at a low dose given daily for 30 days.  I am here to tell you that I 
was way upset though I never said anything to the client but did take a 
more aggressive mentor role from that point forward.

For the record, none of the dogs that we have bred have ever had demodex, 
yet, though DiTTo has had it.  However I will not hesitate to breed a dog 
that has had localized demodex contrary to what the link says about it.  I 
truly belive they are talking about the generalized form of this and that 
is an entirely different story and can be reoccurant and troublesome, 
needing to be treated, though the new treatments for it are much safer, and 
easier to deal with.

I don't mean to banter vet's I do trust most but sometimes just like us 
they can over react and sometimes we aide in that...  Food for thought!

Gina