Collie with demodex

[tjdmom]

I have an almost 11 year old collie who has been very healthy and about about 2 weeks ago I noticed a small lesion underneath her nose and some redness and thinning hair around her eye. The vet diagnosed a skin infection and said she saw one demodex mite around the eye impression and seemed to think it was just the skin infection. We went thru a round of antibiotics and the area under her nose looks better but around her eye, there is more hair loss although no redness, instead looks a little scaly. When I took her back, the vet again did an impression and said there are more mites but since she is a collie the normal medication can not be used, ivermectin, i think. She did a fungal culture but seems to think that when an older dog gets this, it is a sign of a compromised immune system and the mostly likely thing is cancer. She suggests blood work and xrays. Does anyone have any advice or has anyone been in a similar situation? She seems to be fine other than she's a little slow getting down the stairs now. She only seems to have the demodex in just the one area around her eye.....

[BratBoxers]

A dog of this age with Demo most always is a sign of something more serious like cancer. I suggest discussing a plan with your vet.

[borzoimom]

Interceptor can be used on a collie, and it works. The collie we had was on that. Also supporting the immune system helps as well. At 11 years old, I would discuss doing any addition to the diet should be checked with the vet. Low doses of vitamin C, vitamin E and addition of a little canned mackarel helped alot.

[alimel]

I would definately have more tests run as your vet suggests. If this is something serious, the earlier you catch it the better. I don't know too much about Collies, however, my sister has had them most of her adult life and cancer is one of the common illnesses she has had to deal with with her Collies as they aged.

[Sheltiemama]

There is another form of treatment they can give to collies shelties and whippets (or any of the other herding breeds) that are sensitive to ivermectin. It's called Ivomectin. Is the collie on any type of heartworm treatment such as Interceptor? If she is and hasn't had a reaction to it then she should be able to tollerate the Ivomectin.

[tjdmom]

Originally Posted by Sheltiemama

There is another form of treatment they can give to collies shelties and whippets (or any of the other herding breeds) that are sensitive to ivermectin. It's called Ivomectin. Is the collie on any type of heartworm treatment such as Interceptor? If she is and hasn't had a reaction to it then she should be able to tollerate the Ivomectin.

No she is on revolution and that's it.

[Dignity]

You might want to have her tested for ivermectin sensitivity. Many collies are allergic to ivermectin which is used as a treatment for many different things (worms and mites). You can work with your vet to figure out the best treatment. I know Denali (who is a pyrenees) went through the mitaban dip which cleared it up really really quick but I didn't really like the whole idea or the side effects of the dip.

[tjdmom]

Originally Posted by Dignity

You might want to have her tested for ivermectin sensitivity. Many collies are allergic to ivermectin which is used as a treatment for many different things (worms and mites). You can work with your vet to figure out the best treatment. I know Denali (who is a pyrenees) went through the mitaban dip which cleared it up really really quick but I didn't really like the whole idea or the side effects of the dip.

I was just reading about that and will probably do that. But if the underlying cause is cancer, I guess the demodex would be the least of our worries....