thought I'd chime in here in case anyone reads this thread in the future... be nice to get an informed point of view in this discussion though I doubt the original dog and owner starting this thread will still need any input at this time. Demodex is a mange mite. Dogs basically get two forms of mange, this one and scabies. This one is the more serious form in adult dogs (far less serious in puppies usually) and takes more time to treat, but it is certainly NOT contagious in any form. Demodex rarely causes much itching, but secondary Staph infection (aka pyodermas) are common, can cause some itching, and often need to be treated as well. Scabies, on the other hand, is contagious and causes intense itching. Fortunately it responds very quickly to many forms of treatment. Both Demodex and Scabies are species specific. We can get Scabies from a dog but ony for a very short time and then the mite will die off. However, during that time, we can be pretty itchy, too. We have our own species of Scabies mite (commonly known as crabs) and it, too causes severe itching. All dogs have some demodex on their skin at all times... people do, too. These mites normally do not cause a problem unless present in large numbers. Large numbers only occur if there is some immune problem. Some puppy breeds end up with Demodex infestations since their immune systems have not matured yet (particularly pit bulls and chihuahuas). Puppy demodex is usually self limiting, meaning it will go away on its own. However, it can cause serious problems while puppies have it, so we still treat it. Adult demodex is more serious as there is some fundamental problem with that dog's immune system, and most dogs with demodex as an adult end up battling it for a long time, if not the rest of their lives. It is best to look for other reasons if an adult dog has demodex (eg Cushings, diabetes etc... some cause of immune dysfunction) and treat those if found. But Ivermectin is usually a good choice to treat this infestation. Mitaban Dips (Amitraz) are another option, but more toxic and sometimes less effective. Promeris has been touted as another option, but I have not found this to work very often and the stuff frankly stinks horribly. Ivermectin weekly rarely does anything for demodex (as that poor Westie at the start of the thread was being treated). Daily is usually what is recommended and I have yet to not have this work in the many many hundreds of cases I have treated (some dogs were never cured, but all were well controlled). Only dogs I did not treat with ivermectin were the breeds sensitive to that drug (Collies, Aussies, Old english sheepdogs etc.). But those dogs did well on other drugs such as Milbemycin (lots more expensive, however). Demodex is a pretty easy mite to diagnose, so second opinions on its existence are rarely necessary (though obviously second opinions on how to treat i properly are needed sometimes). Scabies mites are much more difficult to diagnose and sometimes the mites simply cannot be found... so then we just treat for assumed Scabies and see what happens. Demodex can occur in cats, too, and hamsters as well (and probably many other species). So far most respond well to ivermectin.

IMO, weekly bathing of a dog is excessive. Labs have a natural oil in their coats which protects them when they are in the water retriving ducks.

Patti, your DGD had a staph infection and has been staying w/ you? hmmmmmm. Share any linens? Just FYI a brown recluse probably would not be in your garden/yard and if it was it would leave a crater in the middle of the swelling area. Black widows also prefer darkness. grandaddy long legs can't bite our tough skin, thank God. Any other varmit bite might cause that kind of reaction, but please do watch it and follow-up with the dr. Take care & heal quickly. Jan

Yes it could be fried fabric. Laundromats make their money by making sure that dryers dry quickly and efficiently. When I had to use public laundromats I usually had three or four loads of laundry that I came home with wet and hung out on drying racks rather than dried in their dryers. I used the dryers for sheets and towels and perhaps heavy jeans only. I always tried to do my laundry on Wednesday or Thursday nights so that I could have all the drying racks down by the weekend....