I took the fearsome beast puppy to the vet yesterday. It was time for his second set of puppy shots (10 weeks) and I have been concerned that he is not gaining weight like he should. He is long legged and his ribs and hipbones can easily be felt under his fluffy puppy coat. Doc said he is just growing so fast that his eating can't keep up. He estimated the dog will weigh over 100lbs when grown, and to keep shoveling the food to him! Yeah! He really will be a beast then!
The vet also said that he has Demodex mange.That is the kind that is not contagious to dogs or people, but results when a dog doesn't have the natural ability to fight them off. The lack of the antibodies is hereditary and likely came from his mom. There are several types. Sometimes puppies are slow to build enough of the necessary enzyme to control it but it will clear as the pup matures. Another type is patchy and can be cured with spot treatment and Ivermectin as a preventative. Generalized is the whole body type that must be dipped in Mitaban every week or two and is expensive. I hope and pray that it is the puppy kind, or at least the localized type that can be treated and cured once, and not the generalized kind that covers the body and has to be treated for life. I likely will have to put him down if the treatment is expensive and ongoing. Anyone have experience with managing Demodectic mange?
Look out raccoons and coyotes.
Until he's fully grown, he'll be a bit pricey to feed. Are you doing any raw meat in his diet?
