EFFICACY OF DAILY ORAL IVERMECTIN IN THE TREATMENT OF 10 CASES OF GENERALIZED DEMODICOSIS IN ADULT DOGS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of oral ivermec tin at the dosage of 0.35 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for the treatment of gener alized demodicosis in 10 adult dogs. Five of these 10 dogs had failed to respond to previous topical amitraz therapy. The mean time to obtai n negative skin scrapings was 2.7 months and the mean duration of trea tment was 4 months (range 2.5-8.5 months). Three patients (30%) were c ured and they remained free of mites within 1 year follow-up. Two dogs (20%) were in remission for less than 6 months and five dogs (50%) re lapsed. These five cases that relapsed were retreated with the above d osage of ivermectin and topical amitraz solution (1 mt Taktic/30 mt mi neral oil) applied to site(s) of recurrence. One of these five cases t hat relapsed was in remission for more than 6 months, two dogs were in remission for less than 6 months and two dogs are still receiving tre atment.