Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Two dogs with scabies not cured by ivermectin but helped by fipronil
By Terada, Yuri et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2010·Japan Ikemura Pet Clinic, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis refractory to ivermectin treatment in two dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old male Shih Tzu and a Yorkshire terrier both had severe itching due to a skin condition caused by mites (Sarcoptes scabiei, also known as scabies). They were treated with ivermectin, a common medication for this issue, but it didn't work, and their condition got worse. After switching to a topical treatment called fipronil, both dogs saw their itching disappear quickly and completely. This case highlights that some cases of scabies may not respond to ivermectin as expected.
People also search for: dog itching treatment · Shih Tzu scabies · Yorkshire terrier skin problems · fipronil for dogs · ivermectin resistant mites in dogs
Abstract
A 10-year-old castrated male Shih Tzu presented with severe generalized pruritus. Skin scrapings revealed the presence of Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis. A Yorkshire terrier in the same household simultaneously developed pruritus due to scabies. Both dogs were treated with 300 μg/kg ivermectin, at first orally and then subcutaneously at 14 day intervals. However, live mites were still found on day 35, and the skin condition deteriorated in both dogs. These findings suggested that the S. scabiei in these dogs was clinically refractory to ivermectin. The pruritus in both dogs rapidly and completely disappeared following topical fipronil administration. This appears to be the first report of canine scabies refractory to ivermectin treatment.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20880016/