Oh, and I'm with you -- no vaccinations on an ailing pup.

OMG, sorry this has been so difficult...nothing to add but
too much C will loosen the stool, cut in half and see.

And I'd wait on any more shots until he's healthy.

This is way out in left field but I got a dog from a shelter.
As a foster and had this problem.

And it sounds like the same thing.
No one thought of it tell we started having stytoms which took almost a year for any one to notice.

Chiggers
they live in grass and thrive in the summer just like fleas we called the shelter we got him from and they discovered they had a real bad case in the grass.

You cant tell like flea but they itch like they have flea or dermadex.
And it make red rash cause they burow in the skin almost like a tick but all it does is itch real bad.

We discovered it when I got bumps all over my upper thigh mom took me to the doctor and they said chiggers right off the bat.
put chigger ex on me and the dog and sprayed the house with adems bombers and something else also and problem solved.

I wanted to add that I am talking about the itching.
on the belly and unexplained rash on his belly and hind legs
The oily bellty sounds right for that also our foster had that to

I don't want to jinx myself by saying anything too soon but...

We have peach fuzz!

We're now on Day 8 of the earthclinic treatment of Peroxide/Water/Borax with soaks once every 2-3 days. His black coat has turned auburn in the sun. It's quite lovely, actually. I also started 50mg chelated zinc with the other supplements previously mentioned.

So many things are being done that I don't know if it's one certain thing or a combination of all but we've had a turnaround in this.

Got the Everlasting Toy (fireplug) yesterday and he was so enthralled, he played with it from 5pm to 9pm. Not one scratching episode. Mental stimulation is playing a role here, I believe.

If he stays on this road, I hope to show some recovery pics.

Thanks for all your input!

I am so happy to hear your puppy is turning the corner!!!!
I also used the "miracle" Borax treatment on my pup with great success. Thank goodness that there is a natural cure instead of the toxic Mitaban dips. I refused to give my dog those and did this one with great success.
I also switched to an all natural raw diet (LB diet)
I am now searching for a holistic vet in Dallas, so if anyone out there knows of one in Dallas please let me know.
If it were not for this website, I would not have the healthy dog I do today if it were not for LB!
Good luck to you!!!!

Please do keep us posted!

How long do you do the soaks? Is this a product, or something you mix up?

Joyce, me too! Thank you so much. How long before you saw results? When do you feel you were finished with the treatment? I'm still cautiously optimistic but these past 36 hours or so has been wonderful with the reduction in scratching.

Ain't that the truth about shunning those toxic avenues. I bet I could show back up to Vet #1 with my pup and say "Look! Just look at him! Healed through natural diet, the right supplements and the Borax remedy." He probably wouldn't recommend this to his next client with the same problems. The "cure" doesn't exactly line his pockets, does it. <Rant over>

Connie, it's a remedy you make yourself that I found at earthclinic.com in the "Pets" section. I originally found it on these boards when searching for demodex. I make mine as follows:

32 oz bottle 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
64oz Water
1 Cup 20-Mule Team Borax Laundry Booster


The mix can feel gritty. I make it before getting him in the tub with warm but not too hot water. By the time I'm ready to use it after his shampoo, it's room temp to this side of warm. After his shampoo, he's rinsed thoroughly. While he's wet, I scoop into the solution with a small plastic cup and saturate him everywhere except his face. I use my fingertips to work it down into his skin. For his face, I soak a cotton ball and dab, avoiding his eyes. I leave some leftover and soak his nylon collar and leash in it.

I let him shake in the tub but don't towel off. The first two treatments I let him go outside and he rolled and scooted along on his belly. Now I take him straight from the tub to the crate. He stays there with a chewy until he's almost dry. Between these tub treatments, I'll make a small bowl and cotton ball the thin areas on his legs and belly once a day.

I also use a Dial-A-Mix hose end sprayer for the yard with 16oz 3% Peroxide and 1/2C of the Borax. The water comes through the Dial-A-Mix and I spray the entire yard every other day. If there's anything in the yard, I'm hoping to knock that out, too.