PROGNOSIS FOR TREATMENT OF ADULT-ONSET DEMODICOSIS IN DOGS - 34 CASES(1979 -1990)

Medical records of 41 dogs with adult-onset generalized demodicosis di agnosed between 1979 and 1990 were reviewed. Of the 41 dogs, 8 had hyp er-adrenocorticism, 5 were suspected or confirmed to have hypothyroidi sm, 10 had allergic disease and had been treated with corticosteroids, and 6 were receiving chemotherapy because of a neoplastic or immune-m ediated condition. In the remaining 12, a concurrent underlying condit ion was not identified. Thirty-four of the dogs were treated with amit raz dips: 7 were cured, 22 were clinically improved but still had Demo dex canis mites in shin scrapings and needed amitraz dips on a mainten ance basis, and 5 did not improve with treatment and were euthanatized . Of the 13 dogs with a definitively treatable underlying disease (hyp er-adrenocorticism or hypothyroidism), 9 were treated for the underlyi ng disease and for demodicosis: 4 were cured, 3 were improved but stil l had D canis mites in shin scrapings and required maintenance amitraz dips, and 2 did not improve and were euthanatized. Of the 16 dogs tha t were receiving chemotherapy or had allergic disease, 15 were treated for the demodicosis while still receiving treatment for their underly ing disease: 1 was cured, 13 were improved but needed maintenance amit raz dips, and 1 did not improve and was euthanatized. Of the 12 dogs w ithout an identifiable underlying problem, 10 were treated. 2 were cur ed, 6 improved, but needed maintenance amitraz nips, and 2 did not imp rove and were euthanatized.