January 17, 2005 update January 17, 2005 (Foster Mom update) January 20, 2005 (Foster Mom update) January 22, 2005 update February 2, 2005 (Foster Mom update) February 5, 2005 (Foster Mom update) February 7, 2005 February 10, 2005 (Foster Mom update) February 15, 2005 (Foster Mom update) February 22, 2005 #1 (Foster Mom update) February 22, 2005 #2 (Foster Mom update)

February 28, 2005 (Foster Mom update) March 3, 2005 NEW CLOTHES! March 13, 2005 April 7, 2005 Update and Pictures  May 19, 2005 (Foster Mom update) May 23, 2005 Update and Pictures May 30, 2005 PICTURE-what a beauty! (picture is above or for larger picture, click here.) June 5, 2005-Rosie is spayed and has complications June 26, 2005 Rosebud has a HOME! Updated Pictures of Rosebud - July 2006

Rosie was found running down a busy street by a very caring person. It was obvious Rosie did not know where she was or where she was going so she was safely picked up by a kind person and wrapped in a blanket. There was no sign of anyone looking for her so her savior took her home. Even though Rosie was frightening to look at it didn't keep her from being rescued nor treated with love and care. She was given two baths to counteract her odor, fed and watered, all of which she accepted with gusto. 

Rosie is the product of neglect and all of the factors that she exhibited pointed to never having been taken care of by her owner. Rosie had nails long enough to curl under her feet an ear infection and was totally bald because of untreated demodectic mange. Demodectic mange is transmitted from an infected mother to pups. The pups harbor the mange mite and upon stress (as simple as a placement in a new home) can trigger the mange mite to take over the parts of the body or the whole body if left untreated. It causes loss of hair, skin infections and discomfort from chronic itching. A low immune system doesn't allow the pup to conquer and fight off this mite but most owners of pups who show signs of demodectic mange seek proper veterinary treatment and eventually the pup returns to normal. Rosie's owners obviously did not begin treatment and allowed the mite to infest her entire body causing total hair loss, deformed skin, skin ulcers and staph infection.

However, Rosie's future is bright! Because she has just come into rescue we cannot predict her recovery, we can't even predict her COLOR right now. Rosie has no hair so we do not know if she is red, black and tan, blue and tan, or any other color. What a surprise it will be when the mite is killed, her skin begins to heal and her first hairs begin to emerge! 

Rosie is just one example of how rescue is so important. Everyone can have a dog but not everyone *should* have a dog. CCDR and other rescue groups are always here to help those in need. It takes money though and Rosie will have many expenses accrue before she is able to be placed in a permanent home. Her foster home will give her the love she deserves, the medical care she needs and CCDR will fund it all. If you'd like to be a member of the "Rosie Fund" CCDR gladly accepts any donation you can give. We will continue to update Rosie's page and show new pictures of her progress. CCDR thanks you and Rosie thanks you! You can donate using the PayPal buttons at the bottom of the page or use the donation button below.

"As I entered Sandi's home I could hardly believe the change in Rosie. She came running to me, tail wagging a mile a minute, I got down to her level and she belly crawled over to me. Then she ran back to sit beside Sandi. Rosie is really coming into her own little personality. It is beginning to show that she is truly a sweet loving girl. PLUS!!!! She is giving kisses!!!! She didn't give me any, but she did bring her nose up to my face. Sandi said Rosie is learning the word 'potty', doesn't seem to mind going outside anymore, knowing that she gets a treat when she is back in the house. They learn fast eh? LOL 

She begins her increased dose of ivermectin from .1 cc to .2 cc daily. The antibiotics will be finished in 4 days. She is getting a Seatec supplement to help her skin get healthy again. It also will help with her immune system. Sandi has been doing lots of gentle hand-stroking all over Rosie's body. I believe that this has helped Rosie gain trust and at the same time feels good. There are a few areas of her skin that aren't as rough with scales. During Rosei's last bath Sandi said she sloughed off alot of scales between the folds of skin around her legs. Not as many scabs either.

Now take a look at that patch of fuzzy soft fur on the top of her head! It's more than doubled in size since Day 6. 

It brought me alot of joy to see her so happy which means she is feeling much better. This would not be accomplished without Sandi's 24 hr commitment of care for Rosie. Bless our foster homes!

Will continue to keep you with updates on our beautiful Rosebud.

Rosie gave me my first real kisses today. She is showing signs of "puppyness" today. She is sprouting small patches of fuzz but I'm not giving any hints as to the color. She is really the sweetest little girl and seems to be adjusting well. Her foster sister Angel keeps an eye on her and is trying to teach her to play. She still has a long road ahead of her, but I am confident with the continued support of her buddies, and our local vet, she will blossom into a wonderful little Rose. The days of neglect are over for her, thanks to CCDR and all the donations made on her behalf. I promise to dedicate myself to her care and happiness. Thank you all!

Rosie finished her first 5# bag of food today. She is gaining weight and getting her strength back. Her little hip bones no longer stick out. I found her up on the loveseat for the first time. She hadn't been able to jump prior to this. She now lays up in the front window with her "sister" Angel. They also zoomed around the living room together for a few minutes. She still gets tired quickly, but I have seen improvement every day. There is now a bit of fuzz coming in on her ear, chin and tail. She seems so eager to learn and gives me her undivided attention when I talk to her. Thanks again to everyone for your support of our Rosie.
 

(These visits are by the CCDR member who brought Rosebud into our organization. She writes these follow-ups when she visits her foster home where Rosebud is staying with Sandy. Sandy posts to the forum updates also.)

She was so happy to see me yesterday, this sure is a friendly loving little girl. I noticed such a change in her since last week! She was more open to me, gave me her face but no kisses. LOL...she reserved those for her foster mommy who gets lots of dachsie kisses.

Part of her body is softer yet she still has such a long way to go. Still some pus oozing from her scabs but not nearly as many as when she was rescued. So the vet put her on another two weeks of clavamox. Rose has gained weight, not sure how much, but she has filled out in her rib and hip area. Also you can see some black fuzz growing around her nose. Though her skin on most of her body feels rough like an elephant's, she is doing so much greater. You can see that she is feeling better just by the way she has become playful and receptive to being loved on. She receives plenty of that from Sandi!!! 

The pic of Rosebud without her sweater, well I wanted everyone to see how much better she looks as far as gaining weight, but poor darling tucked her tail when it was removed. I was asked yesterday if Rosebud might feel as if her sweater is her 'fur'. It's obvious it gives her great comfort when it is on. She stops her scratching and instantly changes her posture. As if to say........ ahhhhhhhhhh....feels so good.

Well this is day 14 and doing better.
 

Rosie has made another great step. She now likes men. She was very timid up until yesterday. My boyfriend and my Dad are two of her biggest fans now. I had them get down to her level on the floor...she would wiggle and inch closer every few seconds. Her trust in humans is growing. I have been using positive reinforcement only for her potty training. We're using potty pads since she is still a little frightened about going outside. No accidents in 4 days now. It has been really entertaining to see her personality develop. She now plays more than she sleeps. Tomorrow we go for her 4 week check-up and boy are they going to be surprised to see how she looks. I'm sure we will be continuing her prescription meds, clavamox, ivermectin and miconazole/tresaderm, as well as her 3 daily supplements that CCDR provide for her. Judy (CCDR) will be visiting her this weekend to take some new pics so check the site for her update. Your prayers, thoughts, love and donations have made it possible for this little girl to begin to live, not just survive. We thank you ALL so much and will keep you updated.
 

Rosie went to the Vet Thursday for her 1 month follow-up. The good news..she is up to 13 lbs now and is growing hair on her feet, tail,down the middle of her back. Dr. McDonough says she at a good fighting weight now. The bad news is the skin infection, which is secondary to the mange, should be better by now. He switched her to a much stronger antibiotic and gave me special shampoo and cream rinse to be used at least once weekly. She also still has yeast infections in her ears. He cautioned me that I would need to be patient as she still has a very long costly road ahead of her. I told him that CCDR and I are commited to making her very strong physically and emotionally. Check back to our site in a couple of days to see her new pics.
 

(Updates written by Rosie's CCDR representative after she visits the foster home) 

Day 33 : When I went to see her yesterday I couldn't believe how much this little darling has changed! I was greeted with such exhuberation I was stunned. Rosie was like a firecracker! Was this the same dog I asked Sandi? Where was Rosebud? This couldn't be her! The little gray skinned dachsie that I was looking at was jumping all over me, giving me kisses, lots of licks, and little nibbles on my hand. She was just so happy to have a visitor! Then she began to flit here and there. So excited! Tail wagging constantly. Now where was the Rosebud from a month ago. The one that was so shy and timid....didn't know how to respond to a gentle touch, didn't know how to play, didn't know what doggie toys were, and what was a treat? The ole Rosebud would belly-crawl to Sandi and stay by her side, unsure of anyone else. The transformation of the sad little creature, hurting with sores, malnourished, dehydrated, is now one happy puppy! And I say puppy because that is what she is! As if she is a 4 month old silly pup. She has so many puppyish ways. A little mouthy right now but she is learning not to do it as she tries to get your attention with little nips. 
 

Her 'elephant' skin is much softer from the TLC given by Sandi. Rosebud had her one month vet revisit on Thursday. She is coming along great, up to 13 lbs and you should her 'thunder thighs'; the skin scraping showed that the mites are under control, continuing with the ivermectin treatments; because the sores still have pus she is now on Baytril instead of the Clavamox; had her ears flushed again. She is now being bathed with an oatmeal based shampoo and a creme rinse that can be used daily. Aside from all that she is doing terrific! 

The sweater remains on her, it continues to soothe her and prevents her from further scratching or irritating the skin.

And check out that black strip going down her back!!! And the reddish brown fur on her paws and inside of ears. We need to wait to find out if she'll be a longhair or smoothie. Whatever it will be, she'll be beautiful!

Rosie discovered squeaky toys today! Over and over and over again. LOL She has learned to bring the toy back to me after I throw it. I squeezed one of the toys and she froze for a second, cocked her head and pounced on it. When she realized she could make it squeak by biting it, she picked it up and run all through the house squeaking it. Needless to say, this is her favorite toy. I have 8 stuffed toys for her and my yorkie, Angel. Rosie pulled them out into the middle of the living room one at a time. It seems like she is making up for lost time. She is 100% puppy now. She has reached a good weight and is a very strong little girl. Her personality is so cute too....she really knows how to work a crowd. Rosie was so excited and playful when Judy came to visit on Monday that it was hard to get "still" pics of her. Her eyes used to have a very sad look to them, but not anymore! Now there is such life in them because of everyone that has cared enough to help her. It is truly a joy to have her as my foster baby and share her with all of you!! Check back for more updates on her progress.
 

I will probably have Rosie for a couple more months. Dogs have always been very important in my life and I know from personal experience that they help you both physically and emotionally. I don't think about saying goodbye to her....I think about her saying "hello" to her forever family. She has fought to stay alive for a reason. Someone out there really needs her. I have my forever baby in my yorkie, Angel. If Rosie can bring even half as much joy and love to a family as my Angel has given me, it's all worth it. Rosie is my 5th and most fragile foster baby. It is amazing to see the new "parents" meet their babies. You just know when the match is right. I have yet to have any regrets. The CCDR team is really good at what they do. The priority is always what is best for the dogs. I wouldn't be able to do what I do, if I felt these babies weren't the priority. So you see, it's a win-win situation for all involved. I appreciate all the wonderful messages that have been posted and always look forward to hearing from everyone who has taken an interest in our girl. Thanks to all of you!!
 

Rosie is really beginning to blossom. She is sprouting hair almost everywhere. I was looking at her this morning and her little head looks like it is covered in velvet. Rosie and Angel both had baths on Sunday. Rosie still isn't thrilled about baths but I can tell that she feels better afterwards. As a matter of fact, the two of them "zooomed" around the living room together for a good twenty minutes. This is a first!! Before, they were somewhat unsure of each other so I always played with them one at a time. Rosie now initiates play with Angel and is learning not to bite to hard. Angel had to growl at her once to set some limits....Rosies' reaction was so cute, she stopped biting and rested her nose on the floor until Angel gave her a nudge. They race around my recliner like it's the Indy 500!! After a while, I'm not sure who is chasing who. I can see Rosie gaining strength and confidence daily. I started hurricane repairs on my roof last week and wasn't certain how Rosie would react to all the noise and activity. She wasn't jumpy or scared at all!! Judi (CCDR) emailed me the other day to ask for Rosies measurements. Diane at Critters-R-Us.com read about our girl and wants to donate 2 new sweaters, so check back for her new pics and wardrobe. Once again, Rosie sends her love and thanks to all of you!!

Sorry it has taken longer than usual to update you. The girls, Rosie and Angel, have been supervising the hurricane repairs. Rosie isn't bothered by any of the new noises or people. I think at this point, she's seen it all. She is very curious, but sits and looks the situation over for a minute before deciding what to do. The wheels in her head are always turning...I can see it in her eyes. Rosie loves to get Angel to chase her all through the house. She is able to jump on the sofa very easily now. The only furniture she avoids is the recliner. It "belongs" to Angel and Rosie knows it. She has a favorite blanket that she likes to sleep under. Last weekend I was looking for her and then I saw the blanket flicking. She was listening to me call her name and the only thing that was moving was her tail, under the covers! Today she was sitting in the window when the mailman pulled up to my mailbox. She let out one REALLY loud bark and ran over to me. It took me a minute but I soon realized that it wasn't the mailman that scared her, it was her own bark. I could hardly believe what a big voice she has now. Rosie is 99% paper trained. (Nobody is perfect.) She is 100% treat trained. She knows which cabinet her dog food is in, which drawer her treats are in, and she especially knows where her chicken is. She gets all of her meds and supplements in a little boiled chicken every day. She is responding well to the new antibiotic, Baytril. Her skin is still bumpy in a few places, but no more pustules. (YUCK!) The shampoo is really doing a good job of getting rid of the dry scaley patches while the cream rinse is making her skin softer. Her neck, tummy, and rump are like baby skin. It's sooooo soft. I wouldn't have believed that her skin and hair could be healthy again unless I saw it for myself. Her ear infection, yeast, is almost cleared up also. Most of that odor is gone. I know she'll be glad when we don't have to put the drops in anymore. Hope to get some new pics posted soon. Love and thanks to all from the girls!!

Thanks for your generosity! Go to the page that has her pics and scroll down to the donation buttons at the bottom of it. If you click on any of them, it will designate for Rosie in the Buddy Program. Judy (CCDR) and I are both contending with hurricane repairs right now so we've had a bit of a delay in getting new pics taken. Check back...we'll do our best to keep the updates coming. Thanks again, and kisses to your babies from my babies. P.S. She is definitely going to be a black and tan beauty!!
 

Hi Everyone, Just wanted to let you know that Judy (CCDR) is coming for a visit tomorrow. She will take some new pics to share with you. It's been kind of hectic for both of us as we are both having hurricane repairs done to our homes. FINALLY! I have to tell you all....Rosie is doing GREAT!! She is turning out to be an incredibly smart little girl. I was watching her chase Angel through the living room yesterday and I noticed something new. Angel takes the same route almost every time and she "corners" better/faster than Rosie so, now Rosie backtracks and cuts Angel off at the pass. (my recliner) It was quite a surprise for Angel! Rosie is learning not to bite too hard when playing. She's still all mouth, but much more gentle now. Rosie is much more trusting also. She let me cut her nails last week. She is beginning to learn about sharing toys. She isn't as possessive anymore. It's so funny to watch them try to distract each other so they can steal the toy. Ever since the girls have really learned how to play, I've seen Rosie gain confidence and strength. She just needed the chance and she got it because of the best people there are. Dog people!! Thanks everyone!
 

Again I can hardly believe the progress from the last time I saw her, 2 weeks ago. Yesterday she ran right up to me with a greeting to behold! If I could just pin her down for a second I could have got a better picture but she was full of it! She squirmed on the floor like a wiggly worm, leaping up to my face to give me kisses, she's just so happy to see a visitor. I am sorry that I didn't take a video of her the day we got her to make the comparison to today. It's remarkable. Her 'elephant' skin is taking on a softness, especially on her belly. It is now smooth, no bumps or sores. She does however have those pus-filled bumps on her butt and around her hind legs, but all in all as Sandi says---she looks booteeful. 

Note in her pictures her front red paws and black legs. The coat is coming in on her head and back. Looks like a layer of velvet. Nothing on her back end, but take a look at those paws! They are big and furry!! I am still amazed at how smooth her skin has become. She'll be going to the vet again tomorrow for another skin scraping and to find out if she needs another round of antibiotics due to the infected bumps. 

Boy has she become very confident of herself....tries to boss her foster sister, Angel. But when Angel has had enough of this little pest, she asserts her authority in a very kind manner. LOL Rosebud is active as a puppy and sometimes can be overwhelming to poor Angel who is ever so patient with that whipper-snapper of a silly doxie.

Sandi said Rose is now paper-trained, loves to sleep under the blankets and comes out 'naked' because her sweater catches on the blanket. Still favors having a sweater on, makes her comfortable and not so itchy.

My heart just swells each time I see her progressing.

Love that little flower,
Judy

She is blooming everyone. Rosie is blooming. She is getting sweeter by the day. A bundle of high energy though when she first greets you, but as Sandy said, she does settle down. It's hard for me to believe! LOL.... Try to take a picture of her is a chore in itself. You have to have someone holding her as she wiggles and squirms while trying to get to you for some loving. I managed to get a few pictures, but not nearly as good as I had planned. Her vet said she is progressing more than what he expected. Another skin scraping showed no more mange mites, that's good news. So she is now off the Ivermectin, but still on the antibiotics. She has just a few scabby areas. What seems to bother her most is the itching. It happens as soon as her coat is off. And I mean as soon as it is removed. I took it off to try to take pics of her body but as soon as the coat was over her head she sat and began to bite at her back. Sandy said this happens all the time. I only kept it off her for a couple of minutes while trying to take more pictures. She was so relieved when the coat was put back on her. We'll going to check into getting natural herbs for the itching. Really don't want her on prednisone.

Her fur is coming in thick around her neck and back, but thin around her hind legs, under her neck, and belly as you can tell by some of the pictures. Our vet thinks she may never get a full coat around those areas, but Sandy and I are optimistic. I told her it took quite some time for her to lose her fur, I think it'll come back but it will take a longer time for those areas. She goes for another recheck in 2 weeks. She's holding her weight at around 12.5 lbs and looks great.

Sandy feels that Rosebud will do better in a home with a woman. Since observing Rose for 3 months she is more responsive to Sandy and getting to be very cautious with men. Rose is also learning her boundaries with her foster sister Angel. When Angel thinks that Rosie is getting a bit too much she'll just sit her paw right on Rosebud as if to say, okay, enough is enough now back off. Rosebud is very obliging. LOL....she's learning. 

CCDR would like to thank you for your comments, donations, blanket, and coats!
Greatly appreciated! Especially by Rosie, that sweet dear little bud of a flower :)
 

Hi everyone! Sorry it has been a while to get this update to you. We've finally gotten a little break in hurricane repairs.(note: from webmaster. Floridians are still trying to get repairs done from the 2004 hurricane season where they saw 4 hurricanes devistate the State. There are homes still not repaired or with roofs)

Rosie is really doing well. She's had some new adjustments to make in the last month. Her foster-grandma, my Mom, recently moved in with us and she too has a dog. Precious is a Pomeranian. Rosie is learning how to give her some space when she comes into the room. She is also learning to share and wait her turn. It now seems that Rosie favors women. She gets very shy around men. I'm working with her on it but it may take some time to work itself out. For the first couple of months that I had Rosie, she didn't really like to be outside. That was the main reason why I paper trained her. Over the last few weeks she has been able to watch Angel and Precious go out in the back yard to play and potty. Rosie would just sit at the patio door and wait for us to come back in. Last weekend she started to scratch at the window and bark when we were all out back. I guess she decided it looked like we were having fun. She isn't afraid anymore! She knows she will be able to come back in the house. I have also seen her interact with children for the first time. My 6 year old niece Emily came to visit for a day and just fell in love with all the 'girls'. Rosie let Em dress and undress her 5 times and take her for a short walk. Rosie goes to the vet again this week for another checkup. The mites are completely gone so we can soon schedule her to be spayed. She is still on antibiotics for the secondary skin infection and may have to stay on them for quite some time. The vet had told me last month that she may never get hair on her rear or underside. I'm happy to report that she has a fuzzy rump and chest!! She just continues to improve every week. I never would have believed that she could get almost all her hair back in only 4 months. Rosie thanks you all for caring and making it possible for her to have a healthy and happy life. She also told me she would like to pose for a few new pics this week to show off her new fur. Thanks again everyone!

How can I describe this sweetie that is ever-changing? She greeted me as usual as she will for anyone. She just loves, loves, loves, and the more you show her love the more she turns herself inside out for you. But watch out for those leaping kisses. Sit on the floor with her and she'll do that belly crawl with hind legs stretched out. Rosie the wiggly-doxie that longs for bellyrubs and kisses. Trying to snap a few pictures was near to impossible with both Sandi and I holding her. As you can see in the pics her fur is growing in so thick around her neck and back. She still does have a bare spot on her hiney, under her neck and chest, but we are confident that it will grow in. There's a little bit of black fuzz coming in on her belly. Rosie still needs to wear her sweater as she will immediately begin to scratch and get the itchies. Her sweater is her 'blankie' for now. Once her skin condition is relatively back to normal the areas that are sparse with fur should grow in nicely. There is still a long road ahead for Rosie but looking back to January when she was rescued, my goodness, she's come a long way baby. She'll be going in to be spayed June 1. 

Rosebud also continues to bloom in so many areas. She's getting to enjoy going outside, which frightened her several months ago. She's learned to trust which I attribute to the outstanding care that Sandi has given to the Rose. Our vet said Rosie is stable enough for adoption but advised she will probably need to stay on her meds for several months as this is a rather stubborn skin infection. So whoever adopts Rosie will have to commit to continuing with the treatment and regular checkups. She will be going on a remedy of natural herbs for her skin to help rebuild her immune system. As you can see in one of the pictures she has a very small area near her eye that has a few bumps and also on her left rear leg. Aside from that she looks terrific. Rosie still favors women but Sandi feels that given time, would adjust to a man in the house. She just isn't fond of men and may not bond. Also a home without toddlers or very young children is recommended because Rose is a very strong dachshund who loves to play and may inadvertently knock over a small child. She will need to have a few courses in obedience, heh..heh..because right now she thinks she is just so cute (which she is). She does respond to "NO", so that's a beginning. That's about it for now. 

Rose was spayed on Wednesday (June 1st) and stayed overnight to be sure that she'd be okay. It's routine at our clinic to keep females another day. Well when Sandi went to pick her up yesterday they found that Rose was bleeding from the incision sight. Dr. McDonough cleaned the area and ran a blood test to eliminate internal bleeding. It came out negative. There weren't any stitches that were broken either so he isn't sure why she is bleeding. He said she should stay the night to keep her calm and not tempted to run around at home. Also he will stop by during the night to check on her and call if anything worse should happen. Now here's the bummer, he did another skin scraping, the mites are back. I'll be meeting with him today to discuss treatment and prognosis. Gee, she was coming along so nicely. Last scraping showed no mites. She hasn't been under any stress. 

I'll let you know what's going on later today. For now, please keep her in your thoughts.

jude 

June 5, 2005 UPDATE-ROSIE IS HOME!
Rosebud came home from the vet late Thursday afternoon (June 2nd). He couldn't explain why her incision began to bleed, but said possibly because she got so excited that they were taking her out of her crate that she might have aggravated the surgical area. He did say that sometimes females will bleed a couple of days after a spay. When he changed her dressing Thursday morning he said that the bleeding stopped. Advised that she be kept quite...yeah, right. You'd need to chain her to the floor first! LOL.

She's back on antibiotics and treatment for the mange. I guess it will be a long healing road ahead for Rosie. She's on an excellent Omega fatty acid supplement for her skin, coat, and immune system so we're doing everything to help this little girl stay on the road to recovery. 

Thank you all for your private notes of encouragement and your prayers. If she were a male we'd call her Magnum, as she is quite a pistol! LOL

Wish you all could meet her. 
jude 

Dear Judy and Sandy,

Rosebud is getting very comfortable here.  She and Rosie (their other dog) are fast becoming close friends.  She loves to sit on the lanai and bask in the sun while we read or have coffee.  She is also quite a walker.  We practically have to run around the block with her.  She gives everyone good hugs and kisses and is already becoming a neighborhood favorite.  We have a Vet appointment on Friday and hopefully all will go well.  She is talking all her medicine with the addition of a vitamim espescially for a healthy coat.  We also are giving her a tablespoon of plain yogurt. I've read that any time a dog is on medication it can upset their digestion. yogurt helps maintain intestinal flora. She has a bit of a yeast smell to her and we think it has helped a bit.

We are thrilled that she is a new member of our family.  She appears to be very happy. 

Love
Anne Marie, Mary and the Rose sisters

New mom                                              Sandy (foster mom) and new moms and new "sister"

Rosebud doesn't look at all like she did when she came into rescue. She is glossy and gorgeous!	Rosebud and her "sister"

The abnormality in the dog's immune system is hereditary. This means the problem can be passed from the mother or father to the offspring. We do not want to breed dogs which could pass on this trait. Therefore, it is recommended that any dog with demodectic mange, its siblings, and its mother and father should not be bred.

Whether or not Demodex causes harm to a dog depends on the animal's ability to keep the mite under control. Demodectic mange is not a disease of poorly kept or dirty kennels. It is generally a disease of young dogs that have inadequate or poorly developed immune systems or older dogs that are suffering from a depressed immune system.

What is the life cycle of Demodex canis?

The demodectic mite spends its entire life on the dog. Eggs are laid by a pregnant female, hatch, and then mature from larvae to nymphs to adults. The life cycle is believed to take 20-35 days.

How is Demodex canis transmitted?

The mites are transferred directly from the mother to the puppies within the first week of life. Transmission of the mites is by direct contact only. That is, the mother and puppy must be physically touching, as the parasite cannot survive off of the animal. This is important because it means the kennel or bedding area does not become contaminated, and therefore the environment need not be treated. Lesions, if present, usually appear first around the puppy's head, as this is the area most in contact with the mother. Virtually every mother carries and transfers mites to her puppies. Most puppies are immune to the mite's effects and display no clinical signs or lesions. A few are not immune and it is these that develop into full-blown cases of mange.

What are the signs of demodectic mange?

Individuals that are sensitive to the mange mites may develop a few (less than 5) isolated lesions (localized mange) or they may have generalized mange, in which case, there are more than 5 lesions involving the entire body or region of the body. Most lesions in either form develop after four months of age.

The lesions and signs of demodectic mange usually involve hair loss, crusty, red skin and at times, a greasy or moist appearance. The mites prefer to live in the hair follicles, so in most cases, hair loss is the first noted sign. Usually, hair loss begins around the muzzle, eyes, and other areas on the head. In localized mange, a few circular crusty areas will be noted, most frequently around the muzzle. Most of these lesions will self heal as the puppies become older and develop their own immunity. Persistent lesions will need treatment that will be described later. In cases in which the whole body is involved (generalized mange), there will be areas of hair loss over the entire coat, including the head, neck, abdomen, legs, and feet. The skin along the head, side, and back will be crusty and oftentimes inflamed. It will often crack and ooze a clear fluid. Hair will be scant, but the skin itself will often be oily to the touch. Some animals can become quite ill and develop a fever, lose their appetite, and become lethargic. Patients with generalized demodectic mange need immediate vigorous treatment.

How is demodectic mange diagnosed?

Once Demodectic mange is suspected, it can usually be confirmed by a skin scraping or biopsy, in which case, the mites can be seen with the aid of a microscope. They are too small to be seen with the naked eye. The adults appear as tiny, alligator-like mites. Remember that these mites are present in every dog, so by themselves, they do not constitute a diagnosis of mange. The mite must be coupled with the lesions for a diagnosis of mange to be made.

How is demodectic mange treated?

The treatment of Demodectic mange is usually accomplished with lotions, dips, and shampoos. Fortunately, 90% of demodectic mange cases are localized, in which only a few small areas are involved and can often be treated topically. A treatment that has been successful for years has been a 1% rotenone ointment (Goodwinol ointment), or more recently, a 5% benzoyl peroxide gel applied daily. Bathing periodically with a benzoyl peroxide shampoo and feeding a high quality diet and a multivitamin with a fatty acid may also help some dogs. Most of these localized lesions will heal on their own and do not require overly aggressive treatment.

If a dog develops generalized demodicosis more aggressive treatment is usually required. Studies show that between 30% and 50% of dogs that develop the generalized form will recover on their own without treatment, but treatment is still always recommended for the generalized form. The treatment of choice continues to be Amitraz dips applied every two weeks. Amitraz is an organophosphate, and is generally available under the product name Mitaban. It is a prescription product and should be applied with care. Humans should always wear rubber gloves when applying it to their dog, and it should be applied in an area with adequate ventilation. It is recommended that longhaired dogs be clipped short, so that the dip can make good contact with the skin. Prior to dipping, the dog should be bathed with a benzoyl peroxide shampoo to help remove oil and cellular debris.

Most dogs with generalized demodicosis require between 4 and 14 dips. After the first three or four dips, a skin scraping should be performed to determine if the mites have been eliminated. Dips should continue until there have been no mites found on the skin scrapings taken after 2 successive treatments. Some dogs develop sedation or nausea when dipped, and toy breeds in particular are sensitive to amitraz. Half strength dips should be used on these sensitive animals.

Ivermectin should not be used in Collies and similar breeds. 
Some dogs may not respond to this treatment, and the frequency of the dips may have to be increased or additional treatments may need to be instituted. Recently, two new products have been used to help treat demodicosis. These products are not FDA approved for the treatment of demodectic mange, but are being widely used by veterinary dermatologists and general practitioners with some good results. Ivermectin is a broad-spectrum deworming agent that is available in a 1% solution for cattle. Ivermectin is the active ingredient in Heartgard, however, the concentration in Heartgard is not high enough to be effective against Demodex. The liquid ivermectin is given daily and continued for thirty days after the mites have been eliminated. It should only be used under close veterinary supervision. Another drug, Milbemycin oxime (Interceptor), has also been given daily and been shown to be effective on up to 50% of the dogs that did not respond to Mitaban dips.

Dogs that have generalized demodicosis often have underlying skin infections, so antibiotics are often given for the first several weeks of treatment. In addition, we usually recommend the dog be put on a good multivitamin/ fatty acid supplement. Because Demodex flourishes on dogs with a suppressed immune system, it is wise to check for underlying causes of immune system disease, particularly if the animal is older when they develop the condition.

Prognosis and impact on breeding

Demodectic mange is not an inherited condition, but the suppressed immune system that allows the puppy to be susceptible to the mites can be. Remember that all puppies receive the mites from their mother, but only a few have ineffective immune systems and develop the mange. This sensitivity can be passed genetically through generations. Individuals that have a history of demodectic mange, and their parents and siblings, should not be bred. Through careful breeding, most cases of generalized demodicosis could be eliminated.

Can I get Demodex from my dog?

The various species of Demodex mites tend to infest only one species of host animal, i.e., Demodex canis infests dogs, Demodex bovis infests cattle, and Demodex folliculorum infests humans.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a few important points should be repeated. The mites are transferred from the mother to offspring in the first few days of life. The first sign of hair loss usually does not occur until after four months of age. Demodectic mange is almost always curable or controllable with persistent treatment, except in rare cases with very immune suppressed individuals. The immune system condition that allows for the development of demodectic mange can be an inherited condition, and breeding of these animals should not occur.

Source: peteducation.com