I have been struggling with two itchy dogs. One a bit worse than the other. I have been to my holistic vet, who believes that Kaia(81 lb GSD, 17 months old) has atopic dermatitis. Kodi (74lb 7 month old GSD) has a little less itching, but has these little black spects just under his skin near his scrotum.
I have checked for fleas and flea dirt, did the speck test to check for blood, but specks don't turn red, when I have found them.
Has anyone ever seen a sarcoptic mite up close? All I have read has said that they can be very illusive. However, these are definately visable. But are just beneath the skin and are black.
The vet has not yet done a skin scraping, I have to wait until Monday. Vet said over the phone that it could be blackheads and not to panic.
That said, I guess I have never heard of seeing blackheads and in these random areas? It doesn't make sense to me, logically.
Anyhow, Kodi is a long coat and his fur is very thick. I found these while noticing a slight redness on the skin, I assume from biting at it.
He itches and scratches his paws,front and back, his back side and his face and neck, and ears as well. Itching is intermittent.
I have checked ears and body and have found no further evidence of anything elsewhere.
It has been several months of itching for Kaia, and is still on going. I ask myself, what are the chances that they both could have atopy? Again, more inclined to believe it is some kind of parasite, being that they are both itching their paws, backs, and face and neck areas. Kaia also has very small changes in the fur around her ears, just recently very subtle though.
She has had some red itchy bumps on her skin, those have recently
been controlled by her baths as well as using some spot use of a chlorhexidine cream.
In the past Kaia had some demodex but very localized and we were able to get rid of it. I am doing everything to build her immune system that I can.
Here is as much info as I can think to give you all. Their Diet:
Both are 100% raw fed, with RMB's, muscle meat and organ meats, plus Honest Kitchen, each get 4 pumps of Grizzley salomon oil per day, 2 in morning 2 in evening feedings. Vit E 400 IU's per day. Also, they get a 1/4 cup StoneyField plain yogurt, first thing in the morning.
Plus Evening Primrose oil, 1,000 mg per day, Ester C, 1,000 mg per day, plus powdered 6 strain acidophilous, 1/4 tsp per day
plus, I also give them frozen blueberries for a treat.
They get some random bully sticks for entertainment chewing.
Kaia has had a small trial of prednisone very small dose and it seemed to help, but currently, is not on it. I am giving her homeopathy, chinese herbs and some other supplement called Proanthozone. I have recently tried using small doses of chlorpheniramine, 8 mg in morning and 8 mg at night with some success, still she itches.
Incidentally, the trees are pollenating, so that could play a factor as well.
This vet has recommended frequent baths to get the possible allergens off the dogs. Needless to say, I have been working hard to get the itching under control and have tried a bath every week.
Also, both are on heartworm medication only no flea treatments.
I have been using Burts Bees natural insect repellent.
Kaia was on Advantage Multi last year, but switched her to just Iverhart. Kodi is on Heartgard.


So, I hope that I have given you all a rough idea of what is happening and would greatly appreciate any thoughts or comments.
I guess the vet doesn't suspect sarcoptic mange, but what in the heck are these little black specks under his skin?
I'd say there are two small groupings of these. But relatively small area.
We live in Dallas and I know nothing about the flea population here as we just moved last August.
I was considering trying Revolution for treatment, knowing that these sarcoptic mites can also test negative when they could be present.
I need help, figuring this out.
Thanks in advance for you replies.

I'm pretty sure that you can only see mites under a microscope. You can see the evidence of mites with the naked eye but the actual critter is too small for us to see without magnification.

http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/mites.html

In the link you'll notice that Ivermectin, the active ingredient in HeartGard, is a very effective treatment for Sarcoptic mites, provided it's given in the right dose.

The skin scraping you have scheduled for Monday should be helpful in determining what is, or is not, going on with your dog's skin.

I have seen blackheads on a dog's skin. I have also seen black spots and red bumps, such as you've described, on my dog's belly. What I thought were bites turned out to be a bacterial skin infection (Staph) caused by the itching and biting symptoms of environmental allergies.

If I had to give you one piece of advice it would be to get your dog under the care of a dermatology vet if this is an on-going situation.

With no disrespect meant to your current vets, allergy and skin problems are a huge and complex area of veterinary medicine and most GP vets are not up-to-date on the treatment of these problems. Sorting out exactly what is going on is challenging, as you can see. Derm vets know skin...that is all they do...and having a specialist deal with this one area does not exclude you using your other vets...especially the holistic vet.

Just my .02

Thanks Sarah, for your reply.
I have tried to read everything that I can about sarcoptic mites and do feel some relief in the fact that they are likely too small to see with the naked eye. But that doesn't mean that they aren't there, necessarily. But the itching being intermittent, and not constant, I guess that could be an indication that it is not sarcoptic mites.
I take the dogs daily through our walking trails that surround a creek that has coyotes. They also get to play out in the open football field right next to the creek.
Just saying that they are in areas that could be potential risk factors for all kinds of critters in the grass and creek pathway.

I know that you have been through a lot with your dog True, from reading many of your posts, and I respect your opinion just knowing what you have been through.
I have been considering a Derm Vet, but the fact that we have two dogs itching, and the cost of the Derm vet, is a bit daunting. But I wholeheartedly agree that it is what is likely to be necessary, as I am growing more and more frustrated.
Kaia being the one with a longer history of the itching.
Perhaps though that Kodi's black things under his skin could be some kind of bacteria and is a secondary infection.
Hopefully we will get to the bottom of what is on Kodi at least, on Monday.
I have read about the Ivermectin, but it is my understanding, it would need to be given in high dose shots. Being that my two are GSD's, I still wonder about potential dangers in high doses of Ivermectin. ?? As you can see, I worry a lot!!
But since they are already on the lower monthly dose, and had no bad reactions, maybe they would be just fine. ?
Any advice about Revolution use for the summer months?
I am considering it. My current vet does not have it at his office, was trying to get his take on why he doesn't use it.??
He just has frontline and the heartworm meds.
I wish I knew what the fleas were like here. I have heard that they are plentiful, but have yet to see any.
Anyhow, thanks for your input, and I will talk to my vet about seeing a derm vet. In the meantime, we are going broke as it is, with all the trips into the regular vet. It may just be time for the derm vet.

I totally hear you about expenses and I get it....truly I do.

Under the link I posted above there is an ear scratch test that you can try on your dogs. Supposedly, it is a reliable test if a dog has the scabies mite or not.

I know ivermectin should be used with caution (or not at all) in herding breeds. I have no idea what the ideal dose is for treating mites and if the monthly dose of HGard is enough to keep them at bay. Maybe something to ask your vet about during your appointment.

I don't have personal experience with Revolution but I know some of our clients preferred it. Your vet can write you a prescription for Revolution, if that's what you want, which you can have filled online and sent to you at home.

One thought: Being new to the Dallas area (did you move from another state?) you all are being exposed not only to fleas and other critters but also new and different enviromental allergens...stuff your dogs maybe weren't ever exposed to before.

Good luck on Monday! I hope you get an answer.

Just for clarity: These are two unrelated dogs, right?

I did try the pinna test, and they did not do the leg movement thing.
My vet's assistant called me back Friday, because I had requested a prescript for the Revolution, and because he doesn't have it, she said that he would not do it for online purchases, because he doesn't know of their trustworthiness.
So, I understand that he has his integrity etc but it is making it more difficult on me.
I hope that I could take his prescription though and another vet would fill it. I haven't yet talked to my vet and will Monday.

We moved from Houston to Dallas, and neither my husband or I are from Texas. Houston is humid and fraught with all kinds of stuff in the air and in the ground(fire ants, fleas, fungus to name a few) Dallas is a titch less humid but still has the same issues.
However, both the dogs were born here in Dallas and only Kaia lived in Houston and now Dallas.

The only reason I was thinking Revolution was because it treats sarcoptic mange and also, I have heard that because it is such an illusive mite, and many derm vets won't do the interdermal skin testing until you rule out sarcoptic mange as a potential skin issue.
So, that is another reason to just try the Revolution for a couple months through the summer. Then I would go back to using just the Heartgard for the remaining months of winter.
I will post back about what we find out on Monday.
Thanks again Sarah!

Hi Connie,
Yes, same breeder, but two different sets of sires and dams.

Just to let you know, Revolution is dosed differently when used to treat mites. Don't quote me on this but it may be every 2 weeks for 3 doses. Will he do a script for Dr's Foster and Smith, they seem to be rather trust worthy as far as internet pharm's.

Ok,so the dosage for the Revolution would also be more than just once a month for three months.
So, if I am doing the math correctly, then it would be every two weeks for a total of 6 weeks.
So, for two dogs, that would be 3 of the vials a piece so the package of 6 would be the one to get. ?
I hope that I read that right, but I am sure that the vet will tell me again the dosing if we should need to go that route.
Thanks Kimberly, I will ask the vet about Dr's Foster and Smith and see what he will do.