Sheltie with a black eye.

First, I am so sorry yoou and Smudge are facing this mange problem. Hang in there -- right now you're hearing al the bad news. Time will help. I wouldn't fret about the neutering. There are two schools of thought, and your vet probably decided that Smudge was better to have everything done at once and was in good enough health, rather than do it later are risk it triggering a recurrence.

May I recommend trying the Vibrant pets? The Show Dog formula is especially good for addressing coat and skin issues. www.vibrantpets.net.
 
Chris said:
First, I am so sorry yoou and Smudge are facing this mange problem. Hang in there -- right now you're hearing al the bad news. Time will help. I wouldn't fret about the neutering. There are two schools of thought, and your vet probably decided that Smudge was better to have everything done at once and was in good enough health, rather than do it later are risk it triggering a recurrence.

May I recommend trying the Vibrant pets? The Show Dog formula is especially good for addressing coat and skin issues. www.vibrantpets.net.
Click to expand...

I noticed that Ann said the same thing about the Vibrant Pets. I think I will try that one out. I'll order it Thursday. I went to PetSmart and didn't find anything vitamin wise. :rolleyes2: I'm afraid to get a vitamin that doesn't say puppy on the front of the package. They were arranging everything in the store. I think maybe they were getting rid of their more summer themed items and were putting out fall/winter items. They lots on sale, but most of the stuff that was left was for toy breed sized dogs and large sized dogs. About a month ago though I was able to snag Smudge a dog scarf/hat combo for only $2 on sale. :lol:
 
Jessica, give a call to the phone number on the Vibrant Pets website. The supplement is a powder, and comes in jars. You only need a very small amount...it's 1 teaspoon to 1 cup of food. So, for instance, mine only get 1/4 cup of food twice a day, so I add 1/4 tsp of Vibrant Pets to each meal. It lasts forever!

But do call and talk with the woman there. You can leave her a message if you don't get her and she'll call you back. Chris probably knows who she is--I can't remember her name-- but I found her VERY helpful and willing to offer suggestions based on your pup's situation. I agree with Chris, the Show Dog formula would probably be best for Smudge, but they may have another idea based on his current issues. They will also give you a first-time buyer discount if you call, and shipment is very fast.

As I said earlier, I've been through mange with my Sheltie Angel Scruffy, and it was awful. Took months to get rid of it and she was miserable. I really feel for you and Smudge. We are thinking about you. Let us know if there is any more information you need.
 
Hereditary mange or Sheltie Skin Syndrome?

http://www.illinoissheltierescue.com/dm.html

Those tris (tries? :lol:) at the bottom have the same hair loss pattern as Smudge - around the eye, over the nose, and onto the other eye. It hasn't spread to his other eye yet, but it's getting there slowly. I'm going to give the dips a few more weeks, and then if I'm still not seeing improvement I'm going to print that page off and show it to my vet. That page says that it's often overlooked because most vets have never heard of it. It mostly affects shelties and collies. A lot of the symptoms are the same as hereditary mange.

I was told to drop Smudge off between 8 and 9 this morning for his dip. I have no idea how long it takes, because last time he got fixed as well. I think I'll ask if they can trim his nails and the fur in between his paw pads. The fur in between his paw pads has gotten long, and I haven't been noticing it. I've been too obsessed with his eye.
 
Oh Jessica, I was so hopeing to hear good news when I looked on the forum (I as away for a few days). My heart goes out to you and Smudge. You are such a great mom to him, and good for you for doing all this research to try and get to the bottom of things. Many people would just take their vets word. I am praying for you and Smudge.
 
Smudge said:
Hereditary mange or Sheltie Skin Syndrome?

http://www.illinoissheltierescue.com/dm.html

Those tris (tries? :lol:) at the bottom have the same hair loss pattern as Smudge - around the eye, over the nose, and onto the other eye. It hasn't spread to his other eye yet, but it's getting there slowly. I'm going to give the dips a few more weeks, and then if I'm still not seeing improvement I'm going to print that page off and show it to my vet. That page says that it's often overlooked because most vets have never heard of it. It mostly affects shelties and collies. A lot of the symptoms are the same as hereditary mange.

I was told to drop Smudge off between 8 and 9 this morning for his dip. I have no idea how long it takes, because last time he got fixed as well. I think I'll ask if they can trim his nails and the fur in between his paw pads. The fur in between his paw pads has gotten long, and I haven't been noticing it. I've been too obsessed with his eye.
Click to expand...

I would not wait for improvement in a few weeks. Go ahead and show your vet now. As I recall, there was some doubt already as to whether or not this really was mange to begin with. But the vet was treating it as such, just to see if that worked.

Good luck!
 
Got back from the vet's office around two, but I am so TIRED. :dead: Nothing else has changed. The man vet who owns the vet's office was there. He didn't talk to me at all. He was attending horses. Still, he could have at least let me know how the scrape test went. I go back on the 16th for another dip.

I felt so bad for Smudge this morning though. I have to carry him and put him in the truck, because once he realizes I'm going to put him in the truck he fights it BAD. He knows he’s going to the vet when that happens. I've got scratch marks he made on my arms from this morning. We get to the vet's office, and every time I try to get him out of the car he runs and cowers in at the other end of the truck. :( When I went in to drop him off there was a cute (but seriously overweight) wiener dog there. He saw Smudge about the same time Smudge noticed him. I was holding Smudge, because I don't like putting him down in the vet's office. You never know what those other dogs have. :rolleyes2: So anyway, the poor little wiener dog RAN away from Smudge with his tail between his legs, and Smudge got so scared he started climbing my face! I felt bad for both of them.

When the vet tech came to collect Smudge he was trembling bad. If you were on the other side of the room I'm sure you could see him shaking. She asked me if he always shook like that. Sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't. How is he ever going to get better if the vet stresses him out so bad?

Barb, the vet is pretty sure it's mange. She did the test on him. She wasn't 100% sure the dips were going to work from the start, but she wanted to give it a try anyway since it was cheaper. She said he would probably have to be put on a higher dose of Interceptor before it was all said and done. The fact that they told me he needed four dips (and not the six like the internet says) makes me think that maybe it's not as bad as I think it is. That's what I keep telling myself anyway.

I'll take some pictures tonight and post them. It's going to look a little bit better, but you have to realize that they scraped the skin off and so that's the only reason it looks nicer.
 
Jessica, sounds like you need some rest!
My last sheltie hated going to the vet too, and would shake like a leaf. He would climb on top of my head each and every time I picked him up at the vets office. He never got over that reaction, so I just got used to it, and so did the vet.

I sure hope that this dip will work. Poor Smudge. Sheltie hugs going his way!
 
Poor little smudge. Deska is petrified of the vet too - doesnt matter how many times I drop in just for a visit or weigh in. And he panics at the site of anyone in a white coat! Maybe you could take him a few places in the truck that are fun so he doesn't also associate the truck with the vet.

Isn't he lucky he got you for a mum! Go get some sleep now.
 
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