How to treat a subcutaneous tick in a dog - drugs, treatment regimens, prevention

how to treat a subcutaneous tick in a dog
How to treat a subcutaneous tick in a dog

Hello! I do not like to share the negative aspects of my life, but often it helps other people.

For example, when large pieces of wool began to fall out at my brother’s dog, I immediately determined the activity of the subcutaneous tick. I knew for sure, because I had to spend a lot of energy to rid my dog ​​of this problem in due time.

I have already tried all the means of effective healing in practice, so I can share it. Want to learn how to treat a subcutaneous tick in a dog? Now I will tell you about the most effective methods.

Subcutaneous tick in dogs: home treatment, symptoms

Every dog ​​has subcutaneous ticks (another name is demodex), but they do not always manifest themselves. What triggers the development of the disease? What are the signs and how to cure a subcutaneous tick in a dog? Details about this in the material below.

How does infection happen, and what are the consequences?

Demodex canis is a very small parasite that lives in the epidermis of the dog, hair follicles and sweat and sebaceous glands. Each pet has such a tick and it parasitizes only in the skin. The size of an adult is 201-260 microns.

Important!
Demodecosis is not contagious to other dogs and humans and is not transmitted to sick animals from healthy animals.

The parasite begins to manifest itself only if the pet's immune system suddenly weakens (hypothermia, other systemic diseases, poor nutrition, estrus, pregnancy and childbirth, etc.).

The disease proceeds in two forms:

  1. scaly (another name is squamous);
  2. pustular (another name - pyodemodecosis) - may be a consequence of a scaly form or an independent disease.

According to statistics, the disease often develops in young pets under 2 years of age (juvenile demodicosis), since it is during this period that the animal's immunity has not yet strengthened.

In terms of prevalence, the disease can be localized (local) and generalized (general).

Symptoms and Diagnosis

All forms of demodicosis have one common symptom: hair loss in certain parts of the body (while the skin in these places coarsens and turns red). Itching is not always a sign of reproduction of these parasites.

Symptoms of demodicosis in dogs appear differently depending on the type of disease.

Scaly demodicosis is the mildest. Rounded bald patches appear on the dog’s body (usually on its face and paws). The skin in these areas turns a little red, it can become rough and cracked.

With pustulose demodicosis, the skin swells, pustules form on it (their color can be yellowish, brown-red or even black), from which pus is secreted. If an infection joins the disease, pyoderma occurs, which leads to the formation of ulcers. The skin is very itchy, becomes wrinkled, moist, thick, smells bad.

First of all, the skin on the head (ears, muzzle, eyebrows) and the legs of the animal is affected. Symptoms of a subcutaneous tick in dogs with a localized form are 4-5 foci of lesion (no more), and their diameter does not exceed 2.5 cm. In other cases, demodicosis is generalized.

Advice!
In order to make a diagnosis, the veterinarian examines the animal, then carries out a deep scraping from the affected area of ​​the skin (the upper layers of the epithelium are removed with a scalpel until blood appears and placed on a glass slide). The resulting tissue is examined under a microscope.

If 1-2 individuals of a subcutaneous tick were found in a scraping, the procedure is carried out again to confirm the diagnosis. With localized demodicosis, not only affected, but also healthy skin is studied (a large number of parasites indicates the danger of developing a generalized form of the disease).

To assess the general condition of the animal and identify major diseases, a blood test (biochemical and general) is carried out, an analysis of urine and feces, if necessary, an ultrasound examination is prescribed.
Subcutaneous tick in dogs: home treatment

Treatment of demodicosis is a long process. Even 1-2 years after the onset of remission, the animal is not considered healthy, since with any weakening of the immune system, the disease begins to manifest itself again. The most difficult to treat is the generalized form, since in this case a large area of ​​the skin suffers.

Subcutaneous tick in dogs: treatment at home begins with a decrease in the vital activity of parasites, and prevents their active reproduction. To combat the localized form, acaricidal preparations are used: Amitan, Acarabor, zinc-sulfur ointment, etc. If there are few foci (up to 4-5), about 6 treatments are performed.

The treatment regimen for the pustular form and generalized demodicosis is as follows (the dosages of each of the drugs are prescribed by the veterinarian after examining the animal):

  • Animals with long hair are sheared, pus crusts are removed with hydrogen peroxide.
  • After the haircut, the pet is washed with antiseborrhoeic shampoo (Sulfoden, etc.).
  • Treatment of subcutaneous tick in dogs necessarily includes external treatment: antiparasitic drugs are applied to the lesions: Mitaban, Gemitraz, Stomozan, etc.
  • To destroy the tick, Immunoparasitan, Ivomek, Amitraz, Ivermek, Dektomaks are used according to the instructions.
  • If demodex in dogs is accompanied by a bacterial infection, antibiotics are prescribed (after conducting a test for sensitivity to antibiotics).
  • To protect the gastrointestinal tract, the dog must be given prebiotics, probiotics and hepatoprotectors (Prokolin, Essentiale, etc.).
  • To strengthen and stimulate the immune system, vitamin and mineral supplements, fatty acids (Omega-3, Omega-6), immunomodulators (Fosprenil, Maksidin) are used.
  • A good effect is given by the drug Lawyer. It can be used both during the treatment of any form of demodicosis, and in the spring and autumn months for the prevention of relapse of the disease.

Collie, bobtail, sheltie dogs and any of their crossbreeds, which contain ivermectin, are strictly prohibited.

Folk remedies

In addition to the traditional regimen, treatment of demodicosis in dogs with folk remedies is allowed. Here are some recipes:

  • Celandine roots are poured with sunflower oil in a 1: 1 ratio, then heated for 3-4 hours at a temperature of 50 degrees and filtered. The mixture is applied to tick-affected areas of the skin once a day.
  • Sour apples or juniper berries are ground, after which they are applied to problem areas.
  • To wash a dog suffering from demodicosis, tar soap is used. Birch tar can be applied to affected skin.

The use of folk remedies must necessarily be agreed with the doctor who observes the pet.

Prevention

Females who have been diagnosed with demodicosis should be excluded from breeding, as there is a high risk of transmission of the disease to newborn puppies.

Attention!
The immunity of animals must be strengthened (good balanced nutrition, timely treatment for all types of parasites, vaccination from puppyhood, etc.).

A subcutaneous tick is a parasite that lives in the skin of a pet and leads to the development of demodicosis. This disease is not contagious to humans and dogs. Demodecosis is not dangerous for animals with strong immunity, but if the pet is weakened, or his mother suffered from such an ailment, it is likely that the subcutaneous tick will manifest itself.

Subcutaneous tick treatment in dogs

Subcutaneous tick in dogs is a very common skin disease caused by abnormal growth of Demodex tick. Each animal (including humans) is a carrier of a specific species.

Tick ​​rarely causes demodicosis disease in cats, horses, cattle, or humans. The tick itself is not contagious.

A tick that provokes a disease in dogs is called Demodex canis. Ticks live in hair follicles and sebaceous glands. The tick feeds on the breakdown products of cells. If the tick hit the skin of the dog, its life cycle does not last very long - only about an hour. The entire life cycle of a subcutaneous tick lasts from 25 to 30 days and ends on the host organism of the parasite.

Four stages of the life cycle can be distinguished by scraping on the skin of a dog. The life cycle includes the following forms of manifestation of the tick: spindle-shaped eggs, six-legged larvae, octopus larvae, and octopus adults.

The pathogenesis of a disease state associated with the spread of subcutaneous ticks in dogs is not entirely understood. Most animals are carriers of very small demodex colonies. On the other hand, in infected dogs (and other animals), ticks breed in very large numbers in the hair follicles.

What are the symptoms of demodicosis in dogs?

The mite-affected skin has redness, papules, pustules, areas of hair loss (alopecia), acne, peeling and skin covered with excessive pigmentation. Itching may also be, but not always.

Important!
In some dogs, hair loss does not develop, but itching develops instead. Such dogs may be diagnosed with an allergic reaction. Especially often, such a diagnosis is made due to the presence of ulcers or red spots on the face and legs.

There are two completely different clinical forms of demodicosis: youthful (less than two years old) and adult (age two years or more).

Juvenile subcutaneous tick in dogs

Juvenile demodicosis is further classified as localized and generalized. The prognosis and treatment are individual for each condition.

Some dog breeds have a higher degree of demodecosis (Afghan Hounds, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Dalmatian, Chihuahua, English Bulldog, Doberman Pinscher, American Pit Bull Terrier, German Shepherd Dog, Old English Shepherd Dog, Pug, Shar Pei, American Staffordshire Terrier Collie, etc.).

Localized subcutaneous tick. In this form, demodicosis affects only one area of ​​the body. The disease, as a rule, has a benign and self-limiting form, and can consist of one to several lesion sites (redness, hair loss).

Typically, the affected areas are in the face and paws.In the case of the presence of a bacterial infection, the development of pustular rashes and / or drainage of skin areas may be observed depending on the degree of damage.

The prognosis for recovery is very high, despite the fact that in more than 90 percent of cases spontaneous remission occurs within three to eight weeks, despite the course of therapy. Only 10 percent of animals diagnosed with subcutaneous ticks will have a generalized form.

Generalized form. Lesions are present in more than one area of ​​the body. Dogs with affected paws are classified as having a generalized shape. There is a list of breeds susceptible to this form of demodicosis (pit bull, bulldog, Boston terrier, beagle, collie, Dobermans, boxers, dachshunds, Dalmatian, shar pei, shih tzu).

Advice!
This form of the disease is much more severe than localized and sick dogs have a hereditary predisposition to this disease.

Relapses are common and the prognosis for recovery is not accurate. However, up to 50 percent of dogs with a generalized form of demodicosis can still recover on their own without antiparasitic therapy, provided that the secondary bacterial infection is considered immunosuppressive (i.e. suppressing the immune system).

Sterilization of the animal is recommended, even if recovery has occurred spontaneously, without treatment.

Subcutaneous tick in dogs is a secondary disease in relation to other diseases or immunosuppressive therapy. Conditions for the development of the disease are usually associated with diseases of the endocrine system (hypothyroidism and Cushing's syndrome, metabolic diseases and cancer).

Subcutaneous ticks can also be caused by prolonged steroid therapy. This is the most common cause of the onset of adult demodicosis.

The prognosis for recovery in adult demodicosis in dogs depends on the nature of the underlying disease. In some cases (up to 50 percent), the underlying disease was not detected at the time of diagnosis, since a subcutaneous tick may be the first sign of immunodeficiency in dogs.

Subcutaneous tick in dogs (demodicosis). Symptoms, prevention and treatment of the animal

What disease can lead to serious consequences for the dog’s body or even death?

Attention!
The most common and dangerous disease is demodicosis. At the initial stage, signs of infection do not manifest themselves very strongly and are almost invisible. However, one should not relax.

Breeds such as Rottweiler, Boxer, German Shepherd, Collie, Dachshund, French and English Bulldogs, Scotch Terrier, Sheltie and West Highland White Terrier are especially susceptible to this skin disease.

Causes of occurrence

The increased activity of the Demodex tick is the main cause of demodecosis. The causative agent of the disease is so small that it can only be seen under a microscope.

There are a huge number of demodex types - scientists counted as many as 140 species! It is worth noting that a person cannot be infected from pets, including a dog. Just like he will not be able to pass the "human" tick to his pet.

In Latin, the full name of the tick is Demodex Canis. This is a very small elongated parasite, something like a worm. His mouth is equipped with sharp "teeth." A sexually mature mite crawls to the hair shaft, frees its way to its follicle or sebaceous gland, gnawing cells of the upper layer of the skin.

Demodecosis in a dog does not appear immediately, but only when large parasitic colonies are formed. So, in one sebaceous gland or in the hair follicle can be more than two hundred individuals.

Such a number of microorganisms is formed due to active reproduction and subsequent transformation of larvae into a mature individual.Note that only adult ticks corrode the upper layer of the skin, while young individuals feed on dead cells.

Ways of infection with demodicosis

Some scientists claim that the Demodex tick is an integral part of the normal flora of any living creature. That is, the tick lives on the skin of any dog, but not every time it causes such a complex and dangerous disease.

Important!
It is believed that demodicosis is transmitted from mother to puppy, that is, inherited. According to research by another group of scientists, demodexes are not so friendly "neighbors" for dogs. And only eight percent of dogs have it, therefore, the sources of infection are other sick dogs.

Thus, we can talk about two points of view about the ways of infection of domestic dogs:

The first is that contact with an infected animal is potentially dangerous and leads to demodicosis.

The second - the animal can get sick without contact with the tick carrier, provided a sharp and strong decrease in immunity.

Forms and symptoms of demodicosis

Choosing the right treatment is very important. To establish the necessary course of medicines, veterinarians first determine the form of the disease. There are three of them.

The first form is focal (local). This is the easiest and most harmless degree. The disease proceeds as follows - several small flaky patches of skin appear. They are located quite randomly. And their number reaches an average of three to five.

In the event that the pet does not feel severe ailments, successful self-medication is possible. However, it can almost always lead to subsequent deterioration of the dog’s well-being. Therefore, we recommend that you still contact your veterinarian.

Generalized demodicosis is the second form of the disease. It differs from focal in greater damage to the skin of the dog. In addition to the skin, internal organs can also be affected.

Flaky hairless areas in their number exceed five pieces, their borders are constantly expanding, and the skin acquires an extremely unpleasant odor.

Advice!
This form of demodicosis without timely and competent treatment can lead to the death of the dog, as the animal’s immune system is severely damaged.

And the last third form of the disease is called juvenile. It is more common in individuals up to one year old. In this case, we can talk about the hereditary predisposition of the dog. Then the veterinarians recommend treating not only the puppy, but also its mother.

Disease treatment

Again, there are at least two points of view on the possibility of a complete recovery of a pet:

The first is pessimistic. No matter how you treat the dog, the disease will return. The owner can only facilitate the course of the disease and prevent its possible recurrence.

The second is more optimistic. You can completely get rid of the disease if you strictly follow all the doctor’s instructions.

The treatment, of course, is complex and consists of several types of drugs of various kinds. If a bacterial infection is added to demodicosis, then in 90 percent of cases, the sick dog is prescribed antibiotics. In addition, local processing is applied. Ivomec injections and its analogues are also used to maintain liver function.

Please note that analogues should be without vitamins! To strengthen the immune system, the pet is prescribed immunostimulants. A diet low in B vitamins and protein is very important during the treatment period.

The owner must also provide a comfortable stay for the dog - it must be a dry room, without drafts and moisture. All this can adversely affect treatment and cause relapse.

After a course of treatment, prophylaxis should be continued for another two weeks after the complete disappearance of all symptoms of the disease.

Attention!
Thus, a pet is considered healthy if not a single recurrence occurs within eight months after the illness. Scraping the epithelium is done three times. Analysis in all three cases should show a negative result. In addition, veterinarians often advise passing a blood or urine biochemistry analysis to determine the general condition of the dog.

This is necessary, since treatment occurs when using strong medications that affect the liver and other internal organs.

The treatment of demodicosis in dogs is very long and, frankly, an expensive process. Therefore, it should be remembered that the best treatment is prevention. Take care of your pet's health today.

If you see the first signs of the disease, do not pull and rather run to a good, proven veterinary clinic. After all, lost time can adversely affect the health of your pet. And even fatal.

Demodecosis (subcutaneous tick) in dogs and cats - pathogenesis, symptoms, treatment and prevention

Demodecosis (subcutaneous tick, “iron gland”) is an invasive disease of dogs and cats caused by endoparasitic ticks Demodex canis, which are parasitic in the hair follicles, sebaceous glands of the skin, as well as in the internal organs.

It manifests itself in the form of dermatitis, hyperkeratosis, damage to internal organs and progressive exhaustion. Distribution is ubiquitous. Demodecosis is recorded in dogs and cats from 2 months of age, but more often from 6 months to 2 years.

Animals with reduced resistance of the body are sick (more often than others - dwarf pinchers, toy terriers, boxers, East European shepherds, etc.), subcutaneous ticks are most common in cats of Siamese and Burmese breeds, and young animals with immunodeficiency are most susceptible to this disease.

Animals are infected by contact with patients and tick carriers, as well as through surrounding care items and materials.

Pathogenesis, symptoms and course of demodicosis

Parasitizing in the hair follicles and sebaceous glands, ticks mechanically violate the integrity of the skin, irritate the nerve endings with waste products, as a result of focal inflammation of the skin, hair falls out, vesicles and pustules form. Dogs and cats lick the affected area, while swallowing ticks.

Important!
Then, complications of the second microflora (usually staphylococci) join the inflammatory process, abscesses of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands develop. Necrotic skin tissues and products of its inflammation undergo putrefactive decay with the appearance of an unpleasant specific smell. General intoxication of the body develops.

Primary lesions usually occur on the skin in the head (eyebrows, lips, cheeks), elbows, on the neck, and then the process is generalized, capturing the skin in other parts of the body.

The hair in the affected areas falls out, the skin turns red, thickens, becomes folded, becomes covered with bran-shaped scales, often crackes and a fern stands out from the cracks.

Itching is absent or mild, but the animals lick the affected area. The scaly form of demodicosis lasts several months.
The pathogenesis, symptoms and course of demodicosis (subcutaneous tick) in dogs and cats
Demodecosis in dogs and cats appears in three forms:

  • Scaly (squamous) - a light form, self-healing is possible.
  • Pustular (pyodemodecosis) is a severe form.
  • Generalized (mixed) - especially severe form.

With a pustular form, dense nodules form in the skin with a size of 1 to 4 mm in diameter, filled with inflammatory products, ticks and containing secondary microflora. Such nodules are most often recorded on the muzzle, chin, fore and hind limbs, between the fingers, on the tail, around the paw pads.

In places where tick colonies are localized, the hairline is sparse, and in the center of large colonies, the hairline is absent and demodectic nodules are clearly visible through it. The contents of the nodules stand out through the hole at its apex and dry out.

The skin turns red, becomes rough-folded, in advanced cases, a fetid odor emanates from the animal. Patients develop anemia and progressive exhaustion. Animals can die with the phenomena of cachexia and chroniosepsis.

Squamous (scaly) form is characterized by the formation of alopecia and wounds. The demodectic process usually begins with the head, legs and gradually spreads to the entire surface of the animal’s body.

Causes of the disease

Altered skin areas become dry, with a flaky coating of gray-white color. In places of damage, baldness, thickening of the skin and the formation of folds are noted. Often there are scabs of dark red color of soft consistency in the form of tiny masses. The number and size of them depends on the intensity of the invasion.

Advice!
When itching occurs, the animals lick and gnaw at the lesion sites and introduce infection into the skin wounds, more often staphylococci and streptococci. In this case, demodicosis is complicated by staphylococcosis and streptoderma, resulting in persistent eczema, dermatitis and neurodermatitis.

The generalized form of demodicosis combines the signs and changes characteristic of both the squamous and pustular forms. In addition to damage to a significant surface of the skin, a depressed state, a distortion of appetite, and exhaustion of dogs and cats are very pronounced.

With this form of ticks, the lesions caused by them are found in the lymph nodes, walls of the intestines, liver, spleen, kidneys and other organs and tissues.

In the cortical substance of the lymph nodes and the liver parenchyma, mites are found in the generalized form of demodicosis. At the site of their introduction, granulomatous inflammation develops with the presence of giant multinucleated cells.

In the kidneys, hemocirculatory disorders are detected, expressed by uneven plethora of the cortical and brain zones, expansion, swelling and fibrosis of the walls of blood vessels of the juxtamedicular zone. Numerous calcified cylinders are recorded in the tubules of the medulla.

Ticks can enter the lumen of blood vessels and enter the internal organs with blood. In this case, a local circulatory disorder and granulomatous inflammation with the formation of non-causative granulomas of the tuberculoid type occur. Once in the kidneys, ticks calcify and are removed from them by fragments.

The course of demodicosis in dogs is usually chronic.

Infection mechanism

More often this disease affects dogs and cats with short coat of purebred breeds. These are German shepherds, boxers, French bulldogs, rottweilers, sharpei, pugs. Infection with a subcutaneous tick occurs, as a rule, from 6 months to 2 years.

The source of infection is sick animals. Transmission is possible through direct contact through the face, lips, ears, eyes, care items. Very often infection of puppies and kittens from the mother occurs.

Attention!
The development of the disease is facilitated by poor nutrition of animals, infectious diseases and surgeries, rickets, worms, stresses, long-term antibiotic treatment, and a decrease in immunity, which may be associated with teething or ear stopping. Scientists suggest that some pets have hereditary forms of immunodeficiency.

Healthy animals, as a rule, cannot catch the disease from the sick.
A person will never be infected from his pet, since demodecosis in him is provoked by subcutaneous ticks of a different species. Each type of parasite affects only a certain genus of animals.

Diagnosis of the disease

The diagnosis is made taking into account epizootological data, symptoms of the disease and the results of microscopic examination of deep skin scrapings (with a scaly form) and the contents of the tubercles (with a pustular form).

To confirm the diagnosis, a skin scraping is taken. During its execution, the skin is squeezed on both sides by fingers to squeeze subcutaneous ticks from the hair follicle. It is scraped off until blood droplets appear. Sometimes the parasite can be detected in healthy animals. In this case, 1-2 individuals are detected in the scraping, and the analysis must be repeated.

Sowing of the collected material is also carried out on special nutrient media, on which, after some time, parasite colonies grow. To identify concomitant ailments, a general analysis of blood and urine, a study of feces, ultrasound are prescribed.

The severity of the course of demodicosis in many cases is determined by complications that often arise as a result of skin damage and the penetration of second (secondary) microflora into the dog’s body, mainly staphylococci, streptococci and fungi.

Recent studies have shown that a significant factor in the occurrence of the disease, its course and outcome is the state of the dog’s immune status.

Demodecosis Treatment

It is generally accepted that demodicosis is a systemic disease of the whole organism, externally manifested by skin lesions. In this regard, the treatment of dogs with demodicosis should be comprehensive.

With a generalized form, the veterinarian needs to conduct additional tests to identify the root cause of the disease. Only after this can be completely cured. Fighting just with the signs of a subcutaneous tick in cats is useless.

Important!
Start with the destruction of ticks on the surface of the skin. For this purpose, the animal is washed with a 5% warm emulsion of soap K or a 1% aqueous solution of chlorophos. At the same time, they decontaminate the room and care items.

With a slight skin lesion (one to three lesions on the body), the hair is cut off in these places, the skin is wiped with a cotton swab moistened with gasoline, ether or acetone, and smeared with 14% tincture of iodine or with Acrodex aerosol. Three days later, Vishnevsky ointment is applied to these places as an anti-inflammatory agent.

This treatment is repeated 2–4 times with an interval of 5–6 days. With an average lesion (3–5 lesions), 5–6 treatments are performed with an interval of 5–6 days, while rubbing a 2% aqueous solution of chlorophos or a 1% emulsion of coral, bitex, and suspension of sevin into the skin. At the same time, chlorophos (1%) is given orally at a dose of 25 mg / kg.

In severe cases of the disease (extensive lesions in various parts of the body), the skin every 5-6 days is irrigated with a 2% aqueous solution of chlorophos and given inside. Then, “Acrodex” aerosol or Vishnevsky ointment is applied to the affected areas with the addition of 2-3% sevine or dicresil to the animal until the animal is clinically recovered.

Good results were obtained with subcutaneous administration of ivomec (1% solution of ivermectin at a dose of 1 ml or 10 mg of ivermectin per 50 kg of body weight). With a mild form, one such injection is sufficient; with an average degree of damage, repeated administration is necessary, and with a generalized form - at least five injections with an interval of 7-10 days.

Some dogs and cats have individual hypersensitivity to ivomek. To avoid anaphylactic shock, you should first make a test injection of this drug in a minimum dose (0.2 ml) after the preliminary administration of diphenhydramine.

In individual animals, with repeated administration of ivomec, lethargy, salivation, red spots on unpigmented skin areas are noted (allergic reaction). These phenomena usually disappear after 2-3 days without medical intervention. If necessary, apply symptomatic treatment (diphenhydramine).

Treatment should be approached very carefully and with care, especially when identifying a subcutaneous tick in kittens, making a discount on their early age and weak immunity.

Advice!
The final result will depend on this. It is necessary to carefully lubricate all the affected areas, treat the skin in time and give the animal medicine, to prevent new sources of the development of the disease.

Also, treatment in cats and cats must be accompanied by a complete diet containing the necessary vitamins and nutrients. In the period of illness, proteins are especially needed, but do not forget about them during the recovery period.

Scottish shepherd dogs (collies) are hypersensitive to Ivomec and therefore should be used carefully to treat dogs of this breed. You can intravenously administer trypsin in a dose of 0.5–1 ml two– or three times with an interval between injections of 3–6 days. At the same time, it is necessary to use antibiotics that act on the microflora found in the lesions.

Demodecosis Prevention

The most important thing in the prevention of demodicosis is to prevent contact with animals whose health is in doubt.

Owners of dogs and cats should regularly contact veterinary specialists for a clinical study of animals with palpation of characteristic places of formation of demodectic foci. Sick animals are isolated and treated.

Healthy dogs and cats undergo prophylactic treatments with acaricides (pyrethroids). Each dog and cat must have an antiparasitic collar, for example, Bolfo.

In addition to the destruction of ticks on the body of animals, the premises, materials and care products with which they came into contact are sprayed or wiped with Bolfo's preparations, 0.1% aqueous solution of chlorophos, dichlorvos, carbosol and other insecticides. At the same time, the conditions of keeping and feeding the animal are improved, and vitamin and mineral nutrition is included in the diet.

Resistance is increased by regular hardening of puppies and adult dogs.

Subcutaneous tick in dogs: how to treat

Demodecosis or iron gland is a common disease in dogs caused by the subcutaneous tick Demodex canis. Almost all animals and people can be carriers of this insect. To treat a dog from a subcutaneous tick is quite simple, but for a long time - for a positive result, a whole complex of medications will be required.

Attention!
The course of treatment involves the neutralization of the causative agent of the disease and the elimination of the effects of demodicosis. The ultimate goal: to restore the animal’s immunity and the integrity of its skin, as well as rid the dog’s body of hormonal complications.

The treatment process is quite long and lasts at least two to three months.

So how and how to treat a subcutaneous tick in dogs?

Of modern antiparasitic drugs, Immunoparasitan, which contains a protein-lipopolysaccharide complex and is available in suspension, helps in combating ticks. Usually it is prescribed for intramuscular injection with an interval of 4-5 days for 5-6 weeks.

In some severe stages of the disease, at the end of the course of using Immunoparasitan, intravenous injections of Ivomek or Amitrazine are prescribed.

Dermally for the treatment of iron can be applied preparations of Stronghold or Advocate.

To disinfect animal hair, do not use chlorophos. Due to the presence of phosphorus compounds in it, which are poisonous, it can cause unpleasant and painful complications.

In parallel, to reduce the effect of staphylococcal microflora on the body of the pet, it is recommended to introduce antistaphylococcal drugs - antibiotics.

To strengthen the hair follicles, sulfur-containing preparations should be added to the dog’s food. Also, their liniment Amitraz and Cyclone can be rubbed into tick-affected areas of the skin.

Important!
If the skin immunity of the dog is suppressed and there is an increased content of corticosteroids, it is recommended to add a few drops of a 5% solution of iodine to it with the addition of Chloditan.

With a disease of iron in the dog, areas of baldness appear, which, to alleviate itching and irritation, must be treated with sea buckthorn oil with Pikhtoin and vitamin A.

During treatment, the dog must be combed out to remove dead skin particles that will form during peeling. Also, the dog’s body is treated daily with antiseptics - Fucorcin or salicylic acid solution.

Due to the use of antibiotics in the animal, side effects of liver function may occur. In order to prevent this from happening, we can recommend the use of hepatoprotectors: Heptral, LIV-52, Carsil.

It is important to prevent demodicosis, especially in pedigree bitches, giving them, a week before the offspring, Ivomek. This will prevent puppies from becoming infected.

Traditional medicine will also help

Subcutaneous If you find a subcutaneous tick in dogs - treatment at home or with folk remedies can be quite effective.

Often used is a wormwood decoction with honey, which is given to the dog to drink half a cup about every two to three hours.

You can prepare an ointment from the roots of celandine, which is poured with refined sunflower oil. The composition should be heated at a temperature of 40-50 ° C for several hours and filtered. Before the procedure, you can add sour cream. Ointment is rubbed into the scalp of the animal, ears and buried in the nose.

You can also make masks from mashed sour apples, from frayed juniper berries or elecampane roots.

But it should be borne in mind that folk remedies are, of course, sparing means of combating ticks, but are much less effective than medications, as a result of which the treatment may be delayed. So the final choice is yours!

Treatment of demodicosis until complete healing

Demodecosis is an invasive disease caused by a microscopic tick. It is characterized by dermatitis, local baldness. It is accompanied by pustular, papular rashes on the skin, and immunodeficiency. The demodex tick is localized not only on the skin, but also has the property of penetrating into the subcutaneous tissue and even the lymphatic system.

Forms of the disease

The following options for demodicosis are distinguished:

  1. squamous (scaly) - the formation on the scalp and extremities of bran-shaped scales of copper-red color;
  2. pustular - the formation on the skin of vesicles filled with pus;
  3. generalized - the simultaneous manifestation of the first and second forms of the disease with damage to significant areas of the skin.

Treatment of generalized demodicosis is a long process, difficult to predict and requires great patience from the owner of the dog. In each case of the disease, an individual approach is important, since there is no specific scheme for getting rid of a tick that helps absolutely all pets.

Attention!
In any case, to begin with, they carry out differential diagnostics, excluding the following diseases: true food allergy, lichen, sarcoptosis, sifunculosis, dermatitis.

The principle of therapy is based on two pillars: the complete destruction of the tick population and the elimination of all predisposing factors (poor maintenance, poor immunity, improper feeding, etc.).

Main rules

During treatment, to achieve the maximum effect you will need:

  • do not self-medicate: the entire process should be carried out under the strict supervision of a veterinarian with the exact implementation of all recommendations on the dosage and use of specific drugs (many of them are toxic and can cost the dog’s life);
  • therapy should be administered with hepatoprotectors to protect the liver;
  • you will need to abandon the use of hormonal corticosteroids (dexamethasone, Kenalog, prednisone, etc.),
  • organization of conditions of detention as close as possible to sterile;
  • additional antibacterial and fungicidal therapy, developing fungal and staphylococcal skin lesions;
  • the use of external preparations that soften the skin, relieve itching and have a beneficial effect on the regeneration of the skin as an auxiliary symptomatic therapy (sulfur, fatty acids, pichtoin, etc.);
  • the use of immunoparasitan and other immunomodulators to stimulate the body's defenses;
  • organization of the correct diet of the dog - it should consist of easily digestible feeds (ideally, use special dietary hypoallergenic feeds or prepare natural food. Of course, you will need to completely eliminate spicy, salty and fried foods;
  • the use of an additional source of vitamins and minerals.

Result control

Given the insidiousness of demodicosis, the main strategy is not to relax and not stop there!

  • a control deep skin scraping is required every 3-4 weeks from the start of treatment;
  • continue treatment until three consecutive negative results of bacterioscopy for ticks are obtained, regardless of the apparent improvement in the appearance and condition of the dog.

The difficulty of getting rid of the tick with acaricidal external means is associated with their vital activity not only on the skin, but also in the subcutaneous tissue, and in the lymph nodes, where the ointment cannot penetrate, so in many cases it is necessary to resort to complex treatment (ointments, injections and tablets).

Specific preparations

Amitraz. It comes first in terms of effectiveness in defeating dog demodicosis.

The principle of treatment and dose:

  • dogs with long hair are cut short and washed with a keratolytic shampoo containing sulfur;
  • the drug is diluted with warm water according to the instructions, the animal is bathed in the resulting solution, allowing it to dry naturally or dried with a hairdryer (you can’t use a towel for drying),
  • each time only a new solution is used,
  • the treatment is repeated every 10-14 days until three consecutive negative results from skin scrapings are obtained (in most cases 6 treatments should be enough).

The chronic course may require a longer course of treatment with large doses of amitraz, but in this case there is a possibility of side effects such as poisoning, depression of the nervous system, lowering body temperature, and high blood sugar, in addition, there have been fatal cases among chihuahua .

In the absence of a therapeutic effect from the use of the usual dose, it is increased by two, sometimes three times, and the number of treatments is adjusted to 1 time per week.

All decisions on changing the dosage should be made only by a specialist. It is desirable to carry out the treatment in a hospital setting in order to immediately resuscitate the animal if necessary.

Amitraz is prescribed with extreme caution:

  1. dogs with diabetes;
  2. puppies under 4 months old
  3. animals with pronounced pyoderma, the presence of drainage channels (purulent fistulas) - treatment with amitraz in this case is possible only after a course of antibiotics.

Ivermectin. It can be put in second place in the effectiveness of therapy.

Basics of application and dosage: For treatment use both the injectable form of the medicine for subcutaneous administration (approximate dose of 0.4 mg / kg), and in the form of tablets (approximate dose of 0.6 mg / kg once a day). On average, the duration of treatment is about 5-6 weeks, after which there is a significant improvement in the general condition of the animal.

Important!
Avermectin preparations, as a rule, are prescribed for those dogs that do not have positive dynamics from treatment with amitrase.

Unfortunately, long-term use of drugs in high doses in almost 100% of cases causes a hepatotoxic effect, which should not be forgotten. Therefore, the course of therapy is accompanied by monitoring the liver and taking hepatoprotectors to minimize the risk of hepatitis.

Features:

  • not recommended for puppies under 6 months of age;
  • it is forbidden to use collie and its crosses, bobtails (these breeds have a high degree of penetration of the active substance of the drug into the central nervous system and its accumulation there, which significantly increases the toxic effect on the body).

Organophosphorus Compounds

In the recent past, organophosphorus preparations (chlorophos, ronnel, etc.) were used to combat demodecosis, but recently, more and more veterinarians refuse this method of treatment due to the high toxic effect of these drugs.

Nevertheless, a relatively safe cytioate belongs to the same group. The drug is available in the form of tablets and is intended to get rid of fleas, however, it also perfectly destroys adult (adult) ticks.

Limitations on the use of cytiotate:

  • absolute contraindication for use in greyhanuds (there is a likelihood of developing muscle tremor and increased excitability);
  • not for pregnant bitches, emaciated animals;
  • dogs after stress;
  • with anemia.

Apply twice a week for 45 days (10 mg / kg).

Treatment regimens

As mentioned above, there is no single scheme for getting rid of a subcutaneous tick and all appointments must be made by a professional. In extreme cases (for example, when it is not possible to consult a specialist), you can consider the most common treatment options. They are not a dogma, much less a guide to action for self-treatment.

Scheme 1. Suitable for the treatment of generalized forms of demodicosis complicated by staphylococcus and / or fungus.

  • Nystatin with tetracycline - 10 days, after a week Trichopolum - 10 days.
  • Simultaneously with chemotherapy, marasasd is applied externally every five days three times. Marasasd - a mixture of refined sunflower oil and ASD-3, has a bactericidal, fungicidal property with a weak acaricidal effect, accelerates the regeneration of the skin, promotes rapid hair growth.
  • Zooshampoo keratolytic action to soften the crusts before applying the oil emulsion.
  • Ectomine (acaricide in the form of an emulsion) for washing bald patches.
  • Diet feeding.

Scheme 2 The following complex treatment option gives good results:

  • Subcutaneous administration of ivomek twice with an interval of 7 days - a dose of 0.2-0.3 ml per 10 kg of live weight.
  • Sulfur-tar ointment for external use on the affected areas for the first 7-10 days daily, then 1 time per week.
  • Alimentary (food) sulfur (5 mg / kg) - give at least 1 month.

Scheme 3:

  1. Drinking a newmek or analogue (ivomek, baymek, ivermag, ivermectin), the dose should be calculated based on the live weight of the dog.
  2. Antibiotics to suppress the development of secondary microflora.
  3. Imaverol is an antifungal agent for treating affected areas of the body.
  4. To reduce itchy skin and relieve inflammation, tea tree oil.
  5. Chlorhexidine (miramistin) for disinfection and peeling.
  6. Every 5-7 days, wash with any medical shampoo for dogs.

Scheme 4. Good results in the fight against demodicosis were obtained from intramuscular administration of immunoparasitan. It is used every 4-5 days with a gradual increase in dose according to the attached instructions.

Advice!
Treatment with this drug is carried out against the background of dietary feeding, the use of hepatoprotectors and vitamin therapy. After the course of antibiotics, the course "Prokolina" is shown.

Please note that in veterinary medicine the treatment of demodicosis with folk remedies is not practiced, highly effective medicines are always required against a tick.

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