Question:
I own a male black pug, rescued from a puppy mill. The first 13 months of his life were spent in misery with demodectic mange. He would be off ivermectin for about a week and then back on for three weeks. I'm sure you can imagine how much he hated receiving the medicine orally.
About 14 months ago, my vet read an article about ProMeris (amitraz and metaflumizone). I know you do not believe in putting flea/tick medication on dogs, but here in the Midwest, they cannot enjoy a life outdoors without it. ProMeris saved my dog's life. Each episode of mange was getting worse and worse. The vet told me that some dogs with this condition become hairless and have to be euthanized. After using ProMeris, he is now healthy and has a beautiful coat.
D.W., St. Louis, Mo Mar 14, 2010
Answer:
Demodectic mange, as you know firsthand, is a distressing and disfiguring canine skin parasite that can be difficult to eradicate.
I am opposed to the "preventive" application of spot-on formulations to kill fleas and ticks out-of-season in states that have cold winters and flea-and-tick die-off, because of the harmful side effects of these drugs. More than 40,000 adverse reactions in pets were reported to the FDA in 2008 (visit www.biospotvictims.org for details). But when it comes to mange, especially demodectic and where the infestation is extensive and oral drops of ivermectin are ineffectual, a product like Fort Dodge's ProMeris seems to offer hope. I would like to hear of other readers' experiences with this product, a spot-on combination of insecticide and acaricide. The best preventions, of course, are good nutrition and hygiene.
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