Their arrival - 6/11/10

CAUTION:  Graphic images not for the faint of stomach

I seem to keep finding these little demodex Chi pups at the local shelters... In this case, there were four, but two did not make it (although we do not know if they all came from the same mom or litter)... Eros and Venus were referred to as the 'crunchy Chihuahuas' and I found them in as bad a shape as BabyLove, but in a different way.

In BabyLove's case, her skin had stayed moist (?) and the lesions had cracked in numerous spots where secondary infections had begun...  BabyLove 'sweated blood' wherever there was pressure on her skin (such as picking her up or holding her)... 

In Eros' and Venus' case, the lesions were dry and scaly, very similar to what you'd find in a lizard's skin... (double click on images for close-ups)

In Venus' case, not only was her skin totally engrossed with the scabby, scaly skin, her right eye was dramatically affected by the damage done by the demodex.  In addition on both pups, the demodex was into their ear canals and while a different kind of tissue, it had to be just as painful (if not more) inside their ears.  When testing Venus' eyesight, it was apparent she was scanning with the good eye to fully see what was going on around her.  It was almost as if closing her eyes was painful... sigh...

I did not continue the treatment of Ivermectin but instead immediately switched to a treatment recommended by Dr. Novy of Valley Veterinary Clinic... This has proven in the past to be highly effective and once again so far, the results are amazing... 

Simple, but consult your own vet before attempting yourself... 

1. Warm daily baths of Ketochlor are done with GENTLE washing - use a VERY soft cotton washcloth or luffa
2. Once warm and dried, application of Promeris between the shoulder blades (every two weeks) and application of goodwinol ointment for the first week every day after their bath
3. Once the dried scaly scabs are gone, the goodwinol is replaced with aquaphor to promote the moisture and healing properties as the skin regenerates itself and the hair starts growing back in
4. Clavamox daily for 14 days
5. GOOD nutritional diet (I use a home-made diet of chicken and rice, peas and carrots along with Royal Canin #27 - once a week I add olive oil to the mix) and fresh water plus goats milk as these pups are little ones still

Wish me luck!