Some (more) bad news this week. Three of the dogs we are trying to find homes for are struggling to get well.
These three dogs, Gizmo, Coko (once called Paco) and Beauty (once called Blacky), are siblings and all were rescued as young puppies from a garbage bin last year. They all had demodex (mange), and they are amongst the few survivors of a bad outbreak of canine parvovirus. (To read more 
about this outbreak, go here, and here and the final instalment is here.)
Because of their depressed immune systems and the long-term demodex treatment, they have manifested a worsening of their skin condition. We believe this is an allergic response to and immune lowering effect of the medications for demodex, which have been stopped. There may also be a genetic component as our other dogs who have the same history (demodex, canine parvovirus) are doing well.
We knew they were still unwell, but were shocked to see just how bad they are now. We’ve been told their condition worsened very rapidly.
We are doing all we can to bring the dogs back to health and are looking for donations towards specialist vet care and immune boosting supplements that are not available in Bosnia, for example Avipro Plus, made by Vetark, only available in the UK, or Dr. Mercola Pet Probiotics, available in the USA. If you can help, please see below.
Gizmo, Beauty and Coko when they were younger and the skin condition was not so bad… and now:
UPDATE March 7 2013 – a scratch test was done and the dogs still have demodex. I have contacted World Veterinary Service in the UK and they will donate prescription medications. However we have been advised by vets that the dogs will probably not get better unless they have a home environment. Good food, supplements and medication can help, but ultimately these dogs need to be found caring forever homes! Demodex is NOT contagious. Please, if you think you can foster or home Coko, Beauty or Gizmo in the UK ( or Germany ) please let us know.
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DONATIONS
Funds are needed not only to help individual rescues and to help us keep safe the 20 rescued dogs we are sponsoring but also to continue our advocacy work in Bosnia, uncovering the truth about what is happening there.
On our sister site, Animal Welfare Advocates for Bosnia, you can set up a monthly donation via PayPal, or if you want to make a one-off donation, please go to your PayPal account (or set one up, it’s very easy) and send the money to: donations@awabosnia.org as a ‘gift’. Click on the image below to be taken to PayPal’s home page.
Or if you want to use the customised PayPal form, click the link below. However, a transaction fee and a percentage (2- 5.4%) will be deducted by PayPal for any contribution made.
If you want your contribution to go to a specific dog or cause, please make a note in the PayPal comment box. If you wish to contribute via bank transfer or have other difficulties or questions, please go here.
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This site is dedicated to Vučko. Read his story and don’t let him have suffered and died in vain. Please help the stray dogs and cats in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The situation there is utterly dire, Vučko is but one amongst many horrifically abused animals. Go here to find out how to help them. Money is needed for food, medicine and foster housing. Even just one dollar or one euro will help.
IN MEMORY OF VUČKO 
Here we go again, more deprived dogs, and it seems never ending!! This abuse goes on day after day and there seems to be no stop to it. The animals have a voice: US!! We have to act out for them and help them the best way we can. That is donating. Without that we can’t possibly expect to “move mountains” with the help they need. This breaks my heart. I have lost two pure breed dogs to cancer; so I know the pain of loss. This loss of many dogs went on for 2 decades (1980’s and the early 1990’s) because of tainted dog food. Those Brands have been pulled from the selves of every store and analized. You will never see these brands again. Also the death rate has dropped!! But abuse does go on. And that is very hard to stop. Because of the ease of a Law Suit, these brands can not be named.
The dogs pictured in our notification are STARVING. Their skin diseases are many. Most of them will die. It is too late for them and that breaks my heart. I pray for them and I swear at the abusers. They didn’t ask to be born. They are here because of reproduction and no body bothered to get the adults fixed. That is a part of nature for animals. Multiply. God says so in the Bible.
Anyway, I hope this small blog helps some people understand the need for help and give with your heart.
Thank you: Lynn Shedler
Do you think this is because of the food they are getting?
Bebe — I don’t know – I think it’s more likely the long term medication that was used for demodex. I’m not sure why they were on corticosteriods as this is contraindicated in demodex –but all medication has been stopped and I’m trying to ensure they get high quality food. They are being fed cooked fresh chicken in addition to their normal dog food, and cooked quail eggs. I’m trying to ensure they also get some fresh meat but this is expensive. We have some probiotics ordered from the UK and I’m looking into other supplements for immune system.
Bebe, I’ve just posted an update:
UPDATE March 7 2013 – a scratch test was done and the dogs still have demodex. I have contacted World Veterinary Service in the UK and they will donate prescription medications. However we have been advised by vets that the dogs will probably not get better unless they have a home environment. Good food, supplements and medication can help, but ultimately these dogs need to be found caring forever homes! Demodex is NOT contagious. Please, if you think you can foster or home Coko, Beauty or Gizmo in the UK ( or Germany ) please let us know.
How is possible that the dogs are in this condition?
The dogs had demodex when they were found, on the streets. They have been treated for this with ivermectin and supplements for months. They caught canine parvovirus during the outbreak last year, and it’s likely they were not given adequate treatment for this at the pension they were in. They have been moved to a much better pension in February, at which time their treatment for demodex was stopped as they had been on it for so long and seemed to be doing better. As you can see it’s recurred with a vengeance. Their immune systems from canine parvovirus and inadequate shelter over the winter has been depressed. We are ensuring they get full treatment and good food and supplements but they need forever homes to help them recover and we are doing all we can to find these for them.
There is an immune system booster here that I managed to save lives with called Increvigor. It is miracle stuff a may help. Do you have it there? It’s veterinary med only and little known elsewhere.
I just tried to find it on the ‘net – seems to be only available in Brazil /Argentina 😦
The aminals look in terrible shape. What kind of shelter are they in. Doesn’t look like you are taking care of them in any way.
Linda, the dogs are in what is known as a ‘pension’ in Sarajevo. It is a kind of kennel – not at all luxurious but they get fed and exercised and any medical treatment needed.
It costs 90 euros a month and we have over 20 rescues in pension so the total cost per month that we have to raise donations each month for is very high. I agree that where they are is not ideal, but what option is there? Until we find permanent homes the only options are one other better pension which costs 120 euros per month, and has no room right now, or a western-type pet ‘hotel’ at 270 euros per month. Or back on the streets, where animal abuse is rife. No one fosters dogs in Bosnia, other than animal activists, and they are full up with dogs. Demodex is a very difficult skin disease to treat. It is possible there is a genetic factor in these sick dogs as they are all siblings. Another young dog, Marley, who I’ve written about here before, was also found with terrible demodex. He is in the same pension and is doing just fine.
If you would like to sponsor the sick dogs to go to the pet hotel until we find homes for them, that would be wonderful, or perhaps you could share with any friends in the UK who might be able to offer them a home?
I use a wonderful and safe product called Cedarcide BEST YET for fleas, mites, and more. It clears up hot spots, kills fleas and mites and is also good for mosquito repellent and more. It is a bit expensive, but it really works. It is not the same as cedar oil because it is linked with Silane. Very safe and effective. Perhaps you could contact them and inquire about it. Maybe they would be willing to offer you a reduced price or if you get enough donations, you could get some. Best of luck:
Here is some info. from the Cedarcide website about its use for demodex mites:
I have been treating Annie, my 14 year old Golden Retriever for mange since October 2007. I’ve used several remedies to no avail. The vet says she’ll probably live with this problem until she dies because her immune system is sluggish. It is pretty much contained to both sides of her face and jowls, however, they are weepy from the burrows which look like painfully deep cracks. She has some irritations on her neck and the inside of rear legs. I noticed a new spot on her forepaw from trying to clean her face. I know she itches and is uncomfortable. The vet wants to treat her with Mitaban again, but I am reluctant. I’ve shaved her coat so we can keep track of the lesions and she looks pretty silly. Can your product help my old friend? Please respond.
Thank you– Niki.
Hi Niki,
I sympathize with any pets mange dilemma because I have been there myself with my animals over the years. I am on your side and want to help. Below is my recommendation.
Shame on your Vet for not giving you a prudent treatment agenda for Annie. Veterinarians forever insist on prescribing chemical products that have no proven results on mange. Subsequently, both the animals and owners suffer because of the Vets monetary greed.
If you follow my directions the mange issue will soon be over. The following is what I suggest you do. This will give your Dog a new lease on life. The product to use is the CedarCide BEST YET solution. It will work on all species of Mange including but not limited to Demodectic Mange, Sarcoptic Mange, Mange Mites and numerous fungal organisms that harbor in the dogs ears or on their body from time to time, creating skin lesions and hot spots.
FOR TREATMENT OF THE ANIMALS.
BEST YET is a contact killer. For control of the mange mite, liberally soak the infected area on a daily basis, several times the first day if possible. The BEST YET solution will penetrate deep into the hot spot or troubled area killing the mange mite. Follow up treatments are important to avoid a re-occurrence the first few days. You will see an immediate improvement in the condition and will notice the hair growth start to return in a few days. Continue the treatment until you observe and feel the cure is complete. For control of fleas, ticks or lice, the objective is to apply a mist or spray directly on the flea, tick or surface mite, or in the alternative, close enough to him that he can breathe the mist from the sprayer. All insects breathe through their body and when their many breathing pores are exposed to the solution they will immediately commit suicide by triggering the closure of their breathing apparatus. Parasites must have the available heat found in air or they immediately freeze to death. And they will, when exposed to BEST YET. Use the product liberally the first time making the dog wet with solution. You will observe fleas falling from the animal at once. Take a moment and make sure the leg pits, groin, belly, neck, tail and rectum are treated well. Cedar Oil is a anti-bacterial and will promote the healing of any sore or dry spots on the Pet. It will also moisten the animals hide with cedar oil eliminating the dry skin often caused naturally or by bathing the animal with dish soap or shampoo’s. Never bathe a animal with harsh dish soaps. Use CedarCide Pet-Horse-Livestock Concentrate, product # 6005 as a cedar oil based shampoo. Feel free to use as much BEST YET on the animal as you wish. You cannot overdo the treatment. You will find that this process will stimulate the animals hair rendering it healthy and attractive. As with any repellent, human or animal, repeat applications depend on exposure to insects. Keep your Pets feet, legs and underbelly treated with a spray prior to entry into flea infested areas. This will help eliminate the fleas that insist on hitching a ride on the animal and returning to your home.
The product I have recommended is a Cedar Oil and Silane based product called BEST YET. Silanes are used in shaving gels, deodorants, fabric softeners, hair conditioners and many cosmetic products. It is a excellent personal insect repellent. This is a very safe solution. CedarCide sells considerable amounts of this product to the Animal Health Industry and the hospitality industry including but not limited to Restaurants, Hotels, Motels, Casino’s and Condo’s.
Call us at 1-800-842-1464 for more information or to order by phone.
Or contact Ask Doc Ben:
http://www.cedarcidestore.com/page/page/5238939.htm