Oh, duh! Sorry; you had that recipe in your very first post. (I'm old. )

I'm thrilled for you and the dog.

You had a negative on demodex from vet #1, right? Joyce, did you have a scraping that was positive for demodex before you used the earthclinic solution?

I want to cross-post this to two other forums, and it'd be great if we had a positive demodex diagnosis that then responded to the earthclinic treatments. (Not that I have faith in your vet #1's negative, Anna. He sounds almost like "Well, if he says this, then the opposite is a good bet.")

Vet #1 did the first scrape. He mainly took just the brown scaly build-up and looked at it. He didn't know what it was so he had us purchase the antibiotics on his assumption it was a bacterial infection. No oil drops were used. In retrospect, I'm not sure I can even classify this one as a scrape for demodex.

Vet #2 did the second scrape with oil drops. This time deep and in two areas. He went all the way through the hair to bare skin until he got a slight bleed. Both areas tested negative.

I've read about negative scrapes when demodex was actually present and I'd go back for another if I wasn't tapped out right now.

I hear ya on the need for a positive scrape. Backing up this treatment for suspected mange is different than having it confirmed.

Yeah, but still, you are having success, and that's just great.

Just saw this today(Sunday, August 3rd) sorry I didn't reply sooner
I started to see results in around 3 weeks. Although I have just been doing the once a week bath. I noticed that there was an immediate response and she was not itching as much.
I am considering doing one more week to total 4 weeks.
Her fur is comming back, although, it will take some time to get the fur completely back.
I thought the same thing about wanting to take her into the vet and say "see look at her!" No Mitaban dips for my girl, no way!
Not only are they toxic, they cost a fortune, not to mention their immune system gets out of wack!
What you said is SO TRUE about the vet and money.
I love your idea about treating the yard as well, smart girl!!!
From what I read, it should knock out the fleas and the mites in the yard as well.
Let me know how that works in the yard for you.

Connie, Yes, I did get a positive scraping from the vet and I searched here, and got the earth clinic remedy.
Her spot is around the size of a plum. But her hair is growing back in. I think that it is working really well.
I was curious about these chiggers previously mentioned here.
I have not heard of them being in the grass, but in the water.
I had lived in Minnesota my whole life and now live in Texas, so this area is completely new to me.
Connie, do you know anything about chiggers?
She seems to be healing from the demodex, however, she is still gets itchy and I suspect it could be from either allergies to what is in the grass around here, or whatever bugs are affecting her. I am still trying to figure this out.
But my answer to the Earth Clinic remedy for demodex: it clearly has improved her bald patch. I think the combination of the Borax baths and switching to an all natural raw diet are what has worked.

Well, after I wrote the post about no scratching, he went into a day and a half of frenzied scratching where I literally thought I'd lose my mind. I ended up in tears and crying at the frustration of it all.

Deep breath. Regroup. Think, think, think. Help him.

Thankfully I work from home so now I'm keeping him on lead by my side almost 24/7. When his hind leg comes up to scratch, I gently put it back down and softly say "easy." Same with the leg chewing. He's not red, raw, oozy or bleeding and isn't tearing his skin at all. He's never taken it that far. He requests his crate (or paws the door open and goes inside) for sleep and I can usually have some untethered time to myself for several hour blocks which has been a godsend.

Now I just don't know. If it's demodex, why is he only losing hair where he can scratch at himself? His coat everywhere else is beautiful. Joyce, you only had the one area affected? Damn, I wish our scrape was positive. At least I'd know for certain.

The small block of time where his itching decreased, there is nothing notable in his diary - his diet remained the same and there was no change in environment.

Is this a food allergy? He doesn't lick his feet at all. He doesn't scratch more after one food than another. Is it stress related? He has an extremely quiet environment, no odd behavior or signs of neurosis. He gets plenty of mental stimulation and exercise during the day and sleeps well and frequently.

The holistic vet returned my call and I got to relay his history (free phone consult...very nice!). She recommended 2-3cc nettle (glycerin base, not tincture) and Transfer Factor to help restore immunity with colostrum. I'm researching these now. Any thoughts on Transfer Factor? Can colostrum be beneficial at 22 weeks?

I'm considering diet elimination and wrote to the SoCal BARF Co-op contact to see if there's a delivery/pick-up for central CA so maybe I can start switching proteins and having more variety on hand.

His hair is still coming back in but this scratching/chewing thing is damn frustrating.

Hi Anna,

I've heard of Transfer Factor, but haven't used it. If you do go this route I would be most interested in hearing how it goes.

I give my dog powdered bovine colostrum daily. Initially, I started this a long time ago and then stopped when the itchy symptoms went away. At the time I didn't realize his allergies were as serious as they are.

I've put True back on it and it's hard to tell if it's helping or not. I know one person who swears it helps her Wolfhound and I know another person who didn't find that it helped at all.

I use this product:
http://www.prosymbiotics.com/products/b_spec_pow.htm

The one thing I've learned with this product and with other holistic-type supplements is HOW and WHEN you give it is important....usually not mixed in with meals. I give the colostrum with a little yogurt or kefir in the evening, well after dinner, and he seems to like it.

I hope this helps a little.

Thanks for the link, Sarah. I went to click purchase and it's for Healthcare Professionals only. So I put in a search for 100% Bovine Colostrum and I got this link http://www.roex.com/MothersGiftColostrum.html

I about screamed out loud. I jumped up and looked in my cabinet. I actually have this. In my cupboard. Right here! Right now! The date on it is 08/09. I don't think I would have remembered it were it not for the nudge of your link.

It's powder inside a capsule so I can open it up and stir in a little goat's milk. They contain 500mg Colostrum / 250mg L-Tuarine. I'm looking up the dosage recommendations right now for dogs.

Anna,
I truely feel for you. I know what you are talking about because
my dog still itches as well, although her hair is coming back.
I feel your frustration as it is mine as well.
However, part of it could be that the borax is drying and it could be that they are just itching from being bathed so often...???? Just a thought.
On a positive note, at least their hair is coming back.
I see a relief for about one to two days before she is scratching again.
My question is about all the potential critters in the grass( especially here in Texas.) It is so hot but it seems like the bugs here survive it and so I am trying to find out more about these chiggers mentioned in the previous post.

Anna, did your vet do a fungal culture to check for ringworm?
Just trying to think about what else it could be.
I am very interested myself to learn more about colostrum and transfer factor myself. Her immune system needs to be stronger.
I just discovered that I think my girl has some kind of vaginitis/yeast infection( what next!)

I am seriously thinking that her puppy vaccines and her spay surgery have done a number on her, not to mention the kibble I had her on before going raw.

Hang in there Anna, I am hoping that it gets better soon!

Hey Joyce, thank you! It is getting better (please read below). We didn't do the lamp test for ringworm. I thought of the earthclinic treatment being drying, too, but it didn't have any adverse affect on my own skin. I did keep an eye on his soft underbelly to gauge any changes there. I started putting a light coating of Desitin or sometimes Aveeno Baby on that area hoping for relief from the oatmeal and zinc. In any event, we're still doing all the good supplements and the colostrum but have stopped the baths.

Here's an update. For everyone who's helped here and in PM, I appreciate the input so much and the sympathetic shoulders have been equally helpful.

The scratching progressed again on the 1st. By the 4th he chewed most of his hair off again. Early morning on the 5th I was awakened by whining in his crate. He'd reached a level of scratching and self-mutilation to his limbs where he got down to the skin and I called Vet #2. We started Ivermectin and Temaril-P on Tuesday.

By bedtime, Dante had very little scratching. Each day has been better than the day before. He's five days into treatment now and his hair is coming back in very quickly. He rarely scratches and I cannot find the words to relay how upbeat the feeling here is now. As always, I am cautiously optimistic.

The Ivermectin will be a 4-week treatment 1x per week with daily Temaril-P.

The upside of this was being in the park and having someone want to come up and let our dogs meet. I told them they needed to stay away as mine was being treated for mange. You'd think I lit their hair on fire the way they retreated. That was kinda nice. Think I'll use that all the time now.

Smile with me now. Here's the pics...

Before & After Front

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/amm94117/dantefrontleg.jpg

Before & After Back

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/amm94117/dantebackleg.jpg