Originally Posted by
CA Jack
Exactly. I have used amitraz multiple times myself, and (while it too worked), I only used it as a last resort, because of how noxious it is as a chemical.
Prolate is much like amitraz, and has the same warning level (actually, you are instructed NOT to use Prolate on swine less than 3 months old, because it can kill them). This drug has the same requirement as amitraz to use a bib, goggles, gloves, etc., as well as the same biohazrd warning NOT to dump the product anywhere at all in the environment, but to dispose of any excess at a proper biohazard facility, because of how truly noxious it is. They don't make these biohazard requirements for these drugs because of how "safe" they are; in fact quite the opposite. There are other drugs, such as cyhalothrin or cypermethrin, that can be used but the point of HEALTH is likewise being compromised.
These drugs are something to be used as a LAST resort, not the first thing you do "before" you even bother to change the diet or living conditions that contributed to the problem. For that matter, since all of these dips are to be left on "wet," you don't put the animal back into a dirt pen after a dip ... but into an above-ground pen anyway. So that should be the first change made, regardless: proper living quarters for an infected animal.
There are many powerful drugs that can handle mange mites, and (since over the counter amitraz is becoming more scarce) new patents for new drugs are happening.
But to rely on these drugs first, when (and while) the person still has their animals in a primitive dirt pen (rather than professional setup), and while feeding the animals a substandard feed (the majority of the ingredients of which are a who's-who roster for ingredients KNOWN to cause skin problems) is simply folly. And to have some guy (who doesn't follow the other rules of how to use Prolex properly) just poo-poo the idea of getting the conditions changed FIRST, and diet changed FIRST, would only fall right in line with his other total disregard for following the recommended protocol in which to use the very drug he's espousing also.
I don't know how any sane, experienced fancier can't possibly see THE SENSE in first getting those pups into a legitimate, clean, above-ground puppy pen (as opposed to a dirt kennel) ... then feeding them something that is actually GOOD nutrition for them ... before anything else is even considered. Because that is the sensible approach.
As someone who has received back at least 10 dogs because "they had mange" ... ALL OF WHOM were being fed cheap kibble by their cheap owners ... and MOST OF WHOM got better simply by being cared for better (better diet / better quarters, when I got them back) ... that I KNOW (not "think," but KNOW) my advise is spot on.
Some dogs are simply able to handle cheap, inappropriate kibble diets better than others ... and in those dogs who can't handle these cheap kibble concoctions, the very first sign of breakdown is skin disorders (mange, allergies, etc.) ... and so the very first way OUT of those disorders is by changing their diets to something that is actually nutritious for them ... it's NOT to keep feeding them shit, keep housing them in their dirt pen, but "just dip them in drugs."
And anyone who can't see the basic sense of this needs to have their head examined.
Jack
