This information is given solely as an alternative for those people who either cannot afford veterinary care for their dog(s) and/or who do not have access to veterinary facilities. By reading or utilizing this information, the reader agrees to waive any and all rights, claims, causes of action, or any other allegations of injury, property damage, and/or emotional distress against California Jack and/or its owner, affiliated entities, associates, partners, etc. Further, the reader/user of this information agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless California Jack, and/or any of its owners, affiliated entities, associates, partners, etc., against any and all such rights, claims, causes of action, or any other allegations of injury, property damage, and/or emotional distress against California Jack, etc. The utilizer of this information agrees to use this information AT HIS OR HER OWN RISK TO HIS OR HER OWN PUP(S)/DOG(S), with the full and total understanding that mange is a variable disease which can sometimes even kill certain dogs irrespective of what kind of treatment the pup (dog) receives, or from whom. By reading, and/or using the material contained herein, the purchaser, reader, or user of this information fully understands the above and again agrees to utilize this information AT HIS OR HER OWN RISK TO HIS OR HER OWN PET.
SARCOPTIC MANGE:
If your dog has the easier-to-treat sarcoptic (red) mange, you can very safely just use the Ivomec. Again, if you're using Ivomec (1%) to treat SARCOPTIC MANGE, the dosage here is 200 mcg./kg ORALLY or SUB-Q, in one treatment followed by a second treatment TWO WEEKS LATER. The breakdown for this in ccs is as follows:
DEMODECTIC MANGE:
If, however, your dog has the tougher-to-treat demodectic mange, you may be in for a battle. The cause of demodectic mange is one part genetic predisposition and one part lack of kennel cleanliness, usually arising at its worst when a kennel of pups are kept together for far too long a time, rubbing shit and piss on each other all day long, day after day, for months - regardless of how clean you try to keep them. Get pups on a chain ASAP; don't leave them as a litter for too long. Wiping sh!t on each other every day contributes to the genetic propensity they may already have.
The good news is demodex will usually disappear on its own by the time a pup is a year. This is in a mild case. In severe cases, the animal's life may be at risk, because it will ooze blood and plasma to such an extent it can actually die. If your puppy has more than 1/16th of its body affected, active measures need to be taken. The first step is to isolate the dog and keep him clean. Then you need to use the appropriate drug.
The most effective remedy for demodectic mange is a drug called AMITRAZ, which is available by prescription via the brand name Mitaban. It is used it as a dip, not as a consumable or an injectible. There are ways to go around having to buy amitraz through a prescription. Amitraz is available to the consumer, over the counter, LABELED FOR CATTLE AND SWINE, in a product called Taktic (you can get this through Jeffers or KV Vet Suppliers). Keep in mind that a bottle of prescription Mitaban contains 15% amitraz, but the amitraz in over-the-counter Taktic is only 12.5%. This is easy to compensate for: Mitaban (15% Amitraz) is dosed at one 10.6 cc bottle per 2 gallons water, which solution is to be applied to all furred areas of your dog until they are wet (using great caution to yourself by using industrial-strength rubber gloves, a bib, and a face mask - as well as avoiding getting any on your dog's eyes, ears, nose, genitals, anus, etc.)] Since Mitaban is a 15% Amitraz solution, and Taktic is a 12.5% Amitraz solution, this means Taktic is 1/6th less potent than Mitaban, although the drug is the same. To apply the same ratio of Amitraz in Taktic-to-water as you would in Mitaban-to-water, simply keep in mind that Taktic is 1/6th less potent than Mitaban. Since Mitaban calls for a 10.6 cc bottle to be diluted into 2 gallons of water, what do you do? You simply take away 1/6th of the 2 gallons of water recommended in the Mitaban ratio. Well, 1/6th of 2 gallons is roughly 3 pints. This means you would take 2 gallons of water, remove 3 pints of water from it, and then just add in your 10.6 ccs of Taktic. You would then just apply the solution as you would Mitaban, as it would contain an equivalent amount of the active drug, Amitraz. You would then just follow the instructions on the label.
Now, keep in mind you don't need a gallon and a half of this stuff to treat a dog, you simply reduce the amount, but keep the same ratio. That is, you can add 5.3 ccs of Taktic to 3 quarts of water, etc. I personally use 1.4 ccs of Taktic to 3 cups of warm water which I put in a small stainless steel water bowl NOT used for feeding. Wear rubber gloves, get a scrubbing sponge, and dip it in the stuff. Scrub all areas of your dog, except the eyes, nose, ear canal - outer ear is OK - anus, and genital opening. DO NOT DRY. Just leave it. Again, I repeat, the active ingredient Amitraz is very toxic, so don't just dump it out. Dispose of it as a contaminating substance - and don't get it on you. Works like a charm though. Since taktic comes in a 720 cc bottle for about $40, that's a lot of treatments you have for a small price :)
EXTREME CAUTION MUST BE USED IN THE HANDLING OF TAKTIC OR MITABAN, AS THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT (AMITRAZ) IS A POTENT SUBSTANCE, AND ALL PRECAUTIONS ON THE LABEL MUST BE FOLLOWED, INCLUDING ITS DISPOSAL AS A TOXIC SUBSTANCE (you do NOT just dump it out in your yard).
Some people say use burnt motor oil instead; others say it causes cancer. I am not sure if it either works or causes cancer, as I have never used it. It seems unlikely that it would cause cancer, otherwise auto mechanics would constantly be getting cancer on their hands. I can see how it might work for killing mange, however, due to it cutting off all of the supply of oxygen to the mites that are covered by it. This can present a danger to your dog also, however, if used in large amounts - as your dog needs to breathe through his skin too. I have heard of dogs being dipped in motor oil and dying shortly after. No doubt due to asphyxiation, or perhaps because it is a toxic substance the dogs have licked it off and thus poinsoned themselves, I don't know. If you have to use motor oil, I suggest it be done SPARINGLY - and put an Elizabethan collar on the animal so it can't lick it off ... and don't cover too much area at one time. I personally have used the Taktic dip once a week with double-dose Ivomec sub-Q shots once a week with success. Also keep in mind that Demodectic will usually disappear on ITS OWN by the time your pup matures (like acne does on teenagers), usually. Kennel CLEANLINESS, and separation from others, is also essential in effective treatment.
If you're using Ivomec (1%) to treat DEMODECTIC MANGE the dosage is 600 mcg./kg ORALLY and DAILY. The breakdown for this in ccs is as follows:
Remember, for sarcoptic mange the dosage is moderate, and in two applications spaced two weeks apart. For demodex the dosage is high and DAILY ... until cleared and you get two negative skin scrapings in a row. You can use Ivomec concurrently w/ Amitraz or by itself for demodex. You should use antibiotics (like Cephalexen) if the demodex is severe. Do NOT use cortico-steroids if your dog has demodex, as this is contraindicated.
Anyway, I decided to look this up and this is what I have found. The above is solid info I just got out of the Merck Veterinary Manual, but if you try this do so at YOUR OWN RISK. I make no warranties or claims here.
Hope this helps,
California Jack
Taken from the website of Vise-Grip Kennel: http://www.angelfire.com/ca7/CaliforniaJacksDogs
Last Updated: June 25, 2002
