They arrive at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) with patches of fur missing – and sometimes even completely bald, with red, scaly skin — but through fostering and treatment, transform into handsome, furry canine companions.
These are dogs with demodectic mange or “demodex”, a typically easily treatable condition that is not contagious to humans or other dogs. Demodex is caused by a mite, a normal inhabitant of every dog’s skin. In low numbers, these mites cause no symptoms and may serve an important role as part of a dog’s normal skin (similar to the way healthy bacteria is important in digestive health). However, when dogs have a compromised immune system, the mites can multiply unchecked, which leads to demodectic mange and itchy skin.
Demodex is fairly common in strays and neglected pets because through malnutrition or injury, their immune systems have often been weakened. In fact, the shelter currently has six dogs with this condition.
Now, if these dogs stayed in the stressful conditions of a shelter, their treatment could take a long time. Living in a strange kennel as dozens of unfamiliar and often scared dogs bark and different strangers walk you and feed you is not conducive to a healing environment. But when demodex dogs are able to go to a quiet environment of a foster home, where they feel safe and loved, they usually experience a speedy recovery.
“Stress inhibits their healing process,” said Jeri Wesner, who has fostered nine demodex dogs with her husband, Joe, since becoming a FOTAS foster. “But when we bring them into our home, they immediately feel more relaxed and get to experience what it’s like to have a family. Seeing these dogs gain back their confidence along with their fur is so heart fulfilling!”
Most recently, Jeri and Joe fostered a puppy named Lizzie who had a severe case of demodex and was completely hairless with cracked skin all over her body. But they, along with their adopted dogs, Ruby and Jack, welcomed Lizzie into their home and watched an amazing metamorphosis occur in just over a month. Jack, their Hound mix, took 10-month-old Lizzie under his wing and Pitbull mix Ruby treated her like her own. In only a month, Lizzie tested negative for demodex and her beautiful, dark tan coat had grown back in.
“Fostering a demodex dog is one of the most wonderful experiences you can have,” Jeri said. “It is so great to see them bloom into beautiful animals and to know that just by giving them a temporary home, you made them better and prepared them for their next step – to be adopted and go to their forever home.”
The ACAS has recently had a high influx of malnourished, neglected dogs with demodex – and we need your help. If you are interested in fostering for us, please call the Aiken County Animal Shelter, (803) 642-1537 or contact FOTAS at info@fotasaiken.org.
Their lives are in our hands.
— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director
