Demodex has affected our boxer family.  Our poor little Caine was diagnosed with demodex in June of 2007.  Caine was in pretty bad shape and had a staff infection consistantly until we got the demodex under control.  When all of this started, we were giving him Mitaban dips every 2 weeks.  That didn't even touch it.  We switched from the dips to IVOMECTIN.  That was the best choice we made.  Caine today has all of his hair back.  He is such a pretty boy!  We neutered Caine to prevent this from being passed on.  Below is some information on Demodex.  It is also refered to as red mange.  Please keep from passing this on by spaying or neutering your pet if she/he is diagnosed with it. 

 Demodectic mange is caused by a microscopic mite called Demodex canis.  All dogs raised normally by their mothers possess this mite as mites are transferred from mother to pup via cuddling during the first few days of life.  (After the pup is older it is unable to pick up demodex mites. Puppies raised by hand, do not ever get demodex mites.)  For some reason, conditions change in certain dogs to allow demodex mites to "gain the upper hand;" the mites proliferate and can cause serious skin disease.

• Mites are not transmitted to people or other dogs except from mother dog to pup as described. Demodectic mange (unlike Sarcoptic mange) is not contagious.
   
• Mites live inside hair follicles -- a difficult place for miticides (chemicals that kill mites) to reach.
   
• Mites are a normal residents of dog skin; it is only in some individual dogs that mites cause problems.

For more information, please visit:

www.marvistavet.com/html/demodectic_mange.html

(Above)This is a picture of Caine while we were trying to control his demodex with Mitaban dips and antibiotics.  He developed a staff infection in addition to the dips not being effective.

(Below) These pictures were taken of Caine December of 2007.  He hasn't been on any medication for some time with no reoccurance of the Demodex.

ONLY USE IVOMEC UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF YOUR VETERNARIAN.  UNSUPERVISED USE OF IVOMEC CAN CAUSE DEATH TO YOUR ANIMAL WITH THE WRONG DOSAGE OR IF YOUR ANIMAL HAS AN INTOLLERANCE TO IT