Before we get to our scheduled post we have some information to share about our friend
Sweet William the Scot
Many of us were surprised to visit his blog the other day and were told either
the blog had been removed - or we did not have permission to view it.
Mom heard from SWTS and Lee and it seems their blog was hacked.
They have shut it down for now while Lee makes sure everything is safe
It may not be back up for a bit as Lee will be having knee surgery on the 20th.
We hope the surgery goes well and they will be back to Blogville soon.
Now on to our regularly scheduled post
Dearest Friends!
A while ago we revealed to you my struggle with mange and we thought you would like an update on how I am doing these days
I am happy to tell you that for the most part - I am doing very well Thank you!
Except for the Zen Collar which we will get to later in the post
So here is a Timeline of how things have gone
Mid June - diagnosed with Demodetic Mites. Sent home with Mitaban soak.
Mom and Dad were to mix a solution of this pesticide, soak me in it and then let me air dry. They did this on a Saturday morning, they had to wear gloves and they kept me separated from Bailey & Hazel till I was completely dry. It made me sleepy. They were supposed to do it again in 2 weeks , then recheck at the vet 2 weeks after that. The whole process freaked mom out so she started looking on the internet for alternatives. Meanwhile I started looking worse. We did not do the Mitaban soak again.
Late June - Mom found a web site called Happy Dog Naturals. They had tons of information and also sold Holistic treatment solutions. One thing they stressed was not only killing the mites but supplementing the immune system. We bought a kit with 12 treatments (twice weekly soaks) and Mom also started putting several different supplements in my food.
July 18 - recheck with a different vet. The holistic soaks were helping but slowly. Skin scrape still showed mites. This vet recommended Oral Ivermectin as much safer than the Mitaban. We went home with 7 days of the ivermectin.
July 28 - recheck skin scrape showed mites but all appeared to be dead. Went home with another 7 days of Ivermectin, vet felt this should take care of it.
Aug 10 - recheck skin scrape showed No mites!
Aug 24 - Mom noticed a red spot on my eye. Saw a different vet this time, Since there was not much improvement in my skin, mom asked for a skin scrape and the vet found 1 mite. One is too many.
She sent us home with ointment for my eye and 15 days of Ivermectin - slowily increasing the dose over the 15 days
Aug 31 - Recheck on eye - not much improvement - and had vet look at bump that had grown on front leg.
Sept 1 - Under anesthesia had bump removed, and scar tissued "rolled" on eye. Was also given a slow drip IV of an immune booster. Skin scraps showed no mites.
Sept 16 - Recheck on eye - looks like it is healing. Mom has gotten real good at "reading" my skin and although I am showing new hair growth in places she asked for a skin scrape on my neck - Mites ! arrggghhh!
This time the vet wanted to try something new. A newer Flea & Tick chew called Bravecto that studies have shown also kill demodetic mites - and it lasts for 12 weeks. that is key - you must keep killing the mites as they hatch till you wipe them totally out.
I scarfed it right down!
That night I was very itchy - mom took it as a sign the Bravecto was working.
Sept 30 - recheck at vet - I was looking well enough that no scrape was done.
Since then I have continued to improve and I look almost normal again!!!!!
These two pictures were taken on August 24
You can see the darkness in my neck and legs
Now here are two pictures that Mom took on Tuesday Oct 13
Mom is thrilled with my progress!
And that brings us to my "Zen" Collar.
I have stayed itchy since getting the Bravecto, mostly I scratch around my ears and I have made my head bleed and the skin around my ears a little raw. Mom & Dad thought the Zen Collar would be better than a cone.I don't wear it all the time - just when I need to.
I tolerate it fairly well but it makes some things difficult -
like going in and out the doggy door! and Eating!
Tuesday we went to the Vet and she seemed to think it was either an allergy thing or I might have a little bit of a secondary infection going on so now we have an antibiotic spray - I HATE sprays! Mom still thinks it has something to do with the Bravecto and hopefully when it wears out of my system the mites and the itchies will be gone for good!
We are The PugRanch Kids
Bailey, Hazel & Mabel
