Treatement of canine scabies with bi-weekkly admnistrations of milbemycin-oxime

• Published in: Annales de médecine vétérinaire Vol. 144; no. 6
• Main Author: Bensignor, E. (Clinique veterinaire, Paris (France))
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: 01.11.2000
• Subjects: CHIEN; DOGS; DRUG THERAPY; GALE; MANGE; PERRO; SARCOPTES; SARNA; TERAPEUTICA MEDICAMENTOSA; THERAPEUTIQUE MEDICAMENTEUSE
• ISSN: 0003-4118

Various therapies have been proposed for canine scabies, either topical (organophosphates, amitraz) or systemic (ivermectin, moxidectin, milbemycin oxime). The efficacy of weekly treatments with milbemycin oxime (Interceptorr, Novartis) has been reported to be as high as 100/ in a north-american study, but only 40/56 (71 /) dogs were cured with this protocol in a Swedish survey. A recent comparison of various dosages has shown that alternate day administration of milbemycin oxim may be more effective than weekly treatments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a bi-weekly oral milbemycin oxime treatment for canine scabies. Two kennels were included. All animals presented a pruritus either mild or moderate (24 dogs, 57/) or severe (18 dogs, 43/) and skin lesions compatible with scabies (papules, crusts). Skin scrapings were positive for Sarcoptes scabiei (either adults, larvae or eggs) in 15 dogs (36/), negative in 6 dogs (1 /) or not done in 21 dogs (50/). All animals were treated with milbemycin oxime (Interceptorr, Novartis), at a dose of 2 mg/kg, twice a week for 3 consecutive weeks. Clinical signs and level of pruritus were assessed using a scoring index modified from the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extensive Scoring Index (CADESI). The animals were evaluated each week and two weeks after the last administration. All animals were less pruritic after one week of treatment (average CADESI score reduced by 60/). No or only mild pruritus and lesions were reported after the last administration in all cases. No side effect was observed.