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last revision 04/18/2007

 

Go directly to Ashlee’s Medical History.

Go directly to Ashlee’s Pedigree.

 

 

Ashlee is the dog who most harshly opened my eyes to the reality of how limited allopathic (ie conventional) medicine truly is, how little it has to offer in so many cases. Being a “responsible” pet owner, I fed her what the vet recommended; I vaccinated her as I was told; I treated illness as I was told. And her life was lost at 2 years and 9 days of age to complete immune collapse. What started out as her body’s way of crying for help turned into a death sentence at a young age. The dogs who have come after her continue to teach me and lead me down the road to holistic medicine, and I am eternally grateful for their love, guidance and sacrifice.

 

 

ABOUT ASHLEE’S LIFE

 

Ashlee’s litter was born on September 12, 1996. I saw the 5 boys and 3 girls when they were 3 days old. I knew I wanted a female, so just had to decide which of the 3 girls fit what I was looking for at the time. One girl was very fined boned. One was stocky like their brothers. The third was in the middle, being neither too fine nor husky looking. I was leaning toward her but wanted to see how they did as they grew.

 

I visited the litter again at about 3-4 weeks of age, by which time they were toddling around the yard, rolling over each other, and their personalities were coming out. The fine-boned little girl was timid and withdrawn, more like her mother, and would only approach with a lot of gentle encouragement. The husky girl was fearless and very bold, even with her larger brothers. The third was more moderate. Except for growling when her brothers came too close while she sat in my lap, she didn’t reveal any aggressive tendencies. We figured it was her way of claiming me for herself. So the decision was ultimately made for me.

 

A few days later, I returned with her first collar and her name, Ashlee Renee. The breakaway yellow collar (ok, it was actually a cat collar, but it was cute) would insure that no one took her home but me. At 6 weeks, she came home. That was October 25, 1996. We were in the process of moving out of a rental and into our own home. It made for an interesting balancing act, since the rental didn’t allow dogs or cats. We managed to survive those 5 days with a lot less hustle and bustle than you might imagine, at least where Ashlee was concerned. The fish were more work.

 

At 4 months of age, I took Ashlee to Scales Arizona Boarding and Training for temperament evaluation and puppy training. She had started lunging at people when she was on-leash and would growl and bark at people passing by. No matter what other people said (“You want her to do that; means she’ll be a great watchdog.”), I knew this was not good behavior for a puppy. You can well imagine my horror when, during the process of temperament testing, she actually bit the trainer. Kathy took it in stride but confirmed my fears that Ashlee’s temperament and social behavior were not desirable for a GSD puppy her age.

 

So socialization, socialization, socialization became the key to our existence. I took Ashlee everywhere I could imagine where she might be exposed to people, including spending hours sitting in front of the local Safeway with an assortment of people coming and going. As time passed, she became more tolerant of people milling about her. She didn’t have to like them, though, she concluded. She seemed to sense a lot of people’s distrust. (It’s still amazing to me how many people automatically distrusted her just because she was a German shepherd. She only weighed about 20 pounds at that time.)

 

At about 5 months, we took Ashlee to the vet. I was concerned about some balding that started around her eyes and nose. She was diagnosed with localized demodicosis, better known as demodectic mange, a sign her immune system was suppressed. I was assured that she would probably outgrow it very soon and be fine. Not one to always believe what I’m told without question, I started researching the condition to find out all I could. As it turned out, I needed it. Despite statistics, the localized condition turned generalized, spreading first down her front legs, then making its way across her hips and flanks and around the root of her tail. After that, things got very busy very quickly. Stressful. Emotionally draining. Difficult. Trying. Pick one. Besides the demodicosis, she developed secondary bacterial and yeast infections, usually across her hips and on the bottoms of her feet. Poor baby.

 

We found soy and wheat allergies, which required careful screening of dog foods. The vet’s office became a second home for us. Ashlee and I spent evenings there once every week or two, with the occasional lull where three to four weeks lapsed between visits. Breeders, veterinarians, skin specialists all assured me that she would outgrow the condition when she was between 12 and 18 months of age. My research warned me that wasn’t a sure thing, but I wanted to believe they were right. As such, I worked toward that end.

 

I shared my research with Ashlee’s breeder. The breeder not only had her dam, Love, spayed to prevent another breeding with the same results, she also gave me my money back along with extra to help pay for treatments. We had no contract of any kind, so I appreciated her integrity and genuine care.

 

We had Ashlee spayed at 6 months during one of her brief “remissions” since I learned that every heat cycle could trigger another outbreak. I had no intention of breeding her. The mere thought of producing more pups with her problems broke my heart. She developed a mild infection at the site of her incision, but twice-daily applications of Neosporin and a t-shirt to keep her from licking the incision resolved that in no time.

 

When Ashlee was 15 months old, we started public obedience class to get her out and exposed to more people. She refused to do the stand for exam if someone she didn’t know was going to do the examination. Over time and with lots of work, she finally learned to tolerate the stand-stay.

 

Aside from the indignity of the stand-for-exam, the only thing Ashlee had a problem with was heeling. She tended to lag. She did wonderfully with sit and down-stays, leave-its, and the finish/around commands. Even running her over with a remote control car couldn’t convince her to break those stays. Only one thing could do that. And that was her one true obsession – tennis balls. She would do ANYTHING for a tennis ball. Proofing with tennis balls was sheer torture for her, but she finally managed to maintain those stays with a tennis ball flying or rolling right past her. I could see how hard it was for her, but she did it!

 

The dips and medication left Ashlee sensitive to sunlight, so she took to sleeping underneath a trundle bed (lower section gone, btw) during the day.  Ben and I still laugh about being greeted by the thump-thump-thump of her tail on the underside of the bed before we could even see her. He joked about her being a vampire dog.

 

For all the problems Ashlee had with strangers, she was very tolerant and loving with family, and particularly befuddled by my niece (who was not quite a year older than her). She loved for family to come visit – all the more people to play ball and tug-of-war with!  She always seemed puzzled by my niece, particularly Shauna’s fascination with her crate.

 

I put a lot of miles on my car and myself during Ashlee’s life, but I’ve never regretted the effort. She was worth it. As blessings would have it, we had a family photo made in August of 1998. That was to be the only photo of us with Ashlee. On September 21, 1998, only 9 days after her second birthday, we made the decision to end her life. She quit eating and drinking and generally lost her luster. I watched the fire die in her eyes days before the vet administered that injection. Making that decision was one of the hardest of my life, and I know it’s a decision I will probably face again, but I knew I had to do what was best for her. When the end came, it came quickly, with no struggle, no last attempt to rise, no final breath. Just peace.

 

 

MEDICAL HISTORY

 

NOTE:  Ashlee’s story is long and yet incredibly short. It is not a happy tale, nor does it have a happy ending. However, Ashlee continues to teach me a great deal, so I feel her story must be told for people to understand how I have come to the point where I am now. I did not keep as accurate records during her life as I have since, but I will do my best to layout the vaccinations, medications and treatments we inflicted upon her during her too short life. I will warn you up front that this history/testimonial is not pleasant, either to write or to read. I was completely ignorant of any way other than following my vet’s recommendations and advice. I look back now and am absolutely horrified at all we did to my poor girl.

 

Ashlee was born the offspring of a friend’s two German shepherds. I knew her parents, had known them since they were pups. She was weaned onto Purina Puppy Chow, and that’s what I fed her when I brought her home on October 25, 1996. (She ate PPC until she was about 6 months old, at which time I switched her to Purina One Lamb and Rice. At about 1 year of age, she was switched at the vet’s suggestion to Purina Pro Plan Chicken & Rice, latter supplemented by EN Formula canned Beef & Rice.) For all intents and purposes, she acted and looked like a normal, healthy puppy. Her puppy shots are listed below, along with dates and approximate age.

 

11/08/1996 (8 weeks) – Duramune DA2PP-Cvk (Fort Dodge, a subsidiary of Wyeth)

12/06/1996 (12 weeks) – Duramune DA2PP-Cvk PLUS Defensor 1 (SmithKline) 1 yr rabies vacc

01/03/1997 (16 weeks) – Duramune DA2PP-Cvk

02/05/1997 (20 weeks) – Duramune DA2PP-Cvk

 

(The Duramune DA2PP-Cvk is for distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, parvovirus, and coronavirus.)

 

Ashlee reacted to all of her puppy shots with minor lethargy and inappetance for about 24 hours or so following injection. During the same visit as her last puppy shot (02/05), Ashlee was diagnosed with Demodicosis (AKA red mange, demodex, demodectic mange). The vet felt it was due to stress, given Ashlee’s emerging sensitive nature. (Ashlee had, just the week before, seen a local GSD breeder for temperament testing and failed miserably when she bit the woman.) We were given a triple antibiotic ointment to apply to the affected areas (around her eyes and nose). What follows is a list of the dates and treatments given during successive visits to the vet.  If you would prefer to skip this rather lengthy list, click here.

 

• February 12, 1997 – Back at the vet’s office. The mange had spread rapidly. Ashlee was dipped (Mitaban) and started on a round of Clavamox (250 mg).
• February 18, 1997 – I contacted the breeder about what was going on. She contacted the other puppy owners. One, who owned one of Ashlee’s brothers, had him euthanized for an advanced case of generalized demodicosis. No treatment was attempted.
• February 28, 1997 – Follow-up with vet and second Mitaban dip.
• March 14, 1997 – Another Mitaban dip. (There was another treatment between this and the one in February, but I don’t have the exact date.) She appeared to need no further treatment, but I was warned that the problem could recur if/when she were to come into her first heat.
• April 11, 1997 – Spayed using halothane gas for anesthesia.
• May 21, 1997 – The problem recurred in full force. Given EqStim Immunostimulant injection in combination with a flea collar believed to be effective in battling the mite population.
• May 30, 1997 – Clavamox tablets, 375 mg, prescribed for secondary bacterial infection across her rump.
• June 2, 1997 – Another Mitaban dip.
• July 2, 1997 – Again put on Clavamox, 375 mg, for secondary bacterial infection.
• July 9, 1997 – More Clavamox, 375 mg.
• July 30, 1997 – Mitaban dip. EqStim Immunostimulant injection. Clavamox, 375 mg.
• August 6, 1997 – Mitaban dip. EqStim Immunostimulant injection.
• August 13, 1997 – Mitaban dip. Ivermectin injection.
• August 20, 1997 – Mitaban dip. EqStim Immunostimulant injection. Ivermectin injection.
• August 27, 1997 – Mitaban dip. EqStim Immunostimulant injection. Ivermectin injection.
• September 3, 1997 – Ivermectin injection. Clavamox, 375 mg.
• September 10, 1997 – re-check but no meds administered.
• October 22, 1997 – Mange re-flared. This time the ears were also infected. Ivermectin injection. EqStim Immunostimulant injection. Synotic solution for treating the ears.
• October 29, 1997 – Ivermectin injection. EqStim Immunostimulant injection. Flea collar.
• November 5, 1997 – Ivermectin injection. EqStim Immunostimulant injection.
• January 6, 1998 – Was taken to another vet (mine on vacation). Limping and licking at right front foot. Lick granuloma on her toe. Also, found a lump between her toes. The vet sliced it open and expressed it but found nothing inside it. Ashlee was given 5 cc Penicillin subcutaneously (if I’m reading the vet’s records right) as well as prescribed Cephalexin, 500 mg, 2/day for 14 days. He diagnosed “pustular dermatitis” on her abdomen but did not prescribe anything for it. I explained her medical history to him.

          He had me bring her back 3 days later (01/09) for a recheck of the foot and said it looked “some better” but noted in the records “may need to do surgery.” On a return visit (01/13), he noted “looks much better”. That was the last time he saw Ashlee.

• January 14, 1998 – Back to her regular vet. He was happy with how her foot healed. Found no evidence of whatever had caused the lump. The lump did not recur. However, the mange had come back with a vengeance. Mitaban dip. Clavamox, 375 mg.
• January 22, 1998 – Mita-Clear. Synotic solution for the ears.
• February 11, 1998 – Still battling secondary skin infections, now compounded by yeast infection on bottoms of feet. Clavamox, 375 mg. Vet recommended Epsom salt soaks for her feet.
• February 19, 1998 – Domitor injection. Antisedan. LymDyp. During this visit, she was also given her adult rabies vacc – SmithKline Defensor, 3 yr, 3 mL administered.
• February 25, 1998 – Gentocin otic solution for ears. The vet gave me a small bottle of Mitaban to be mixed .3 mL per 1 cup water and blotted onto affected areas once per week. (The vet was trying to save me the trips to his office. His office was 35 miles from my home.) Also prescribed Rimadyl, 100 mg – ½ tablet twice daily for pain and inflammation. He also recommended a special collar to keep Ashlee from scratching her ears.
• March 6, 1998 – EqStim Immunostimulant injection. Ivermectin injection. Clavamox, 375 mg.
• After consulting with my vet about Ashlee’s temperament issues, she started obedience classes on March 28, 1998. The trainer was well versed in dealing with sharp-shy issues.
• March 31, 1998 – More Clavamox.
• May 28, 1998 – Vet felt a food allergy might be behind continue immune difficulties, so he recommended a switch in food. We switched her from Purina One Lamb & Rice to Purina Pro Plan Chicken & Rice.
• June 8, 1998 – EqStim Immunostimulant injection. Interceptor. Clavamox, 375 mg.
• June 15, 1998 – Clavamox, 375 mg.
• June 22, 1998 – Diagnosed with drug-induced gastroenteritis – vomiting, lethargy, inappetance. Discontinued all meds until vomiting resolved. Switched her temporarily to EN Formula canned food – beef and rice – 3¼ cans per day to maintain weight. I kept the vet apprised of her progress or lack thereof on a day-to-day basis via phone/fax.
• July 3, 1998 – EqStim Immunostimulant injection. Interceptor.
• On July 28, 1998, Ashlee graduated from the off-leash obedience class (2^nd level of obedience). She did really well, receiving Good and Excellent ratings on all exercises. We saw neither negative or positive changes in the demodex with the stress and added activity of obedience classes.
• August 7, 1998 – Clavamox, 375 mg.
• September 4, 1998 – EqStim Immunostimulant injection. More EN Formula beef & rice canned food. Probalance nutrient supplement.
• September 21, 1998 – Very last trip to the vet. The vet said that her immune system basically collapsed entirely, unable to take any more. (She became an angel at the Bridge.)

 

At some point during the Mitaban treatments, though I can’t recall when and there’s no note in my records, Ashlee developed severe edema in her hind legs. A call immediately went out to the vet. He said we should stop all treatments for the time being and for me to treat the affected limbs with hot compresses to help bring down the swelling. She never developed that reaction again, so I mistakenly thought it was merely an isolated incident and nothing to really worry about. I didn’t recognize it as the warning sign it truly was.

 

The following medications, injections, vaccinations, drugs, and dips were used on/in Ashlee during her all too short life:

 

·         Antisedan – to reverse the effects of Domitor – not certain which brand used, either Novartis or Pfizer

·         Clavamox – antibiotic Amoxicillin

·         Defensor rabies vaccinations (SmithKline) – 1-year as puppy, followed by 3-year

·         Domitor – a sedative analgesic – again, not certain which brand used, either Novartis or Pfizer

·         Duramune DA2PP+Cvk vaccination (Fort Dodge) – modified live canine distemper, adenovirus-2, parainfluenza, and parvovirus with killed coronavirus

·         EqStim Immunostimulant – an immune stimulant to boost cell mediated immunity

·         Gentocin otic solution – an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, synthetic corticosteroid for treating ear infections

·         Interceptor – internal parasite preventative; used “experimentally” to treat mange

·         Ivermectin – injectible internal parasite preventative; used “experimentally” to treat mange (off-label)

·         LymDyp – lime-sulphur concentrate dip usually used for treating sarcoptic mange – for external use ONLY

o        Side effects: irritating to mucus membranes (animals should NOT be permitted to lick themselves while wet)

o        According to a site I found, lime-sulphur dip kills sarcoptic mites but not demodex mites.

·         Mitaban (Amitraz) – chemical pesticide for external use ONLY

o        Side effects: edema, lethargy, inappetance, incoordination, seizures, death

·         Mita-Clear – drops for treating mites in the ears

 

I searched throughout Ashlee’s life for information on some way to help her. At every turn, I ran into one of two things:

 

1 – Dead ends everywhere. Information, other than that put out by the medical establishment, was impossible for me to find. At that time I was still researching specifically for her disorder, not looking at alternatives to help overall immune function.

 

2 – Breeders, vets, and dog owners who had dealt with demodex kept telling me not to worry about it, she would outgrow it, we were doing all the right things…. There have been so many times I wished I had ignored them.

 

My search for answers did not end with Ashlee’s death. It still has not ended. THANKFULLY, THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES TO CONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS, AND THERE ARE WEBSITES THAT LAY THOSE ALTERNATIVES OUT IN SIMPLE TERMS.  The best site I have found so far is:  Demodectic Mange – A Natural Treatment.

 

I have also since learned that spaying her was NOT in her best interest. Spaying (and castration for that matter) has an adverse effect on immune and endocrine function.  (Not to mention the havoc it is now known to cause with bone and muscle development.) Looking backwards, I wish I had known about raw feeding, avoiding vaccinations, holistic treatment of disease, and the hazards of spaying. Might have saved us both so much pain and difficulty.

 

According to piles of research on demodicosis, only 10% of all dogs/puppies who are diagnosed with localized demodex will at some point develop the generalized form. Of those, only 5% will become chronic or require euthanization. That means 0.5% of dogs who have demodex will end up chronic or euthanized. Contrary to paranoid comments I have heard from the uninformed (or misinformed as the case may be), demodicosis is NOT contagious. All dogs carry the demodex mite. It is a normal part of the skin fauna. The only time these mites become a problem, or fall into a “disease” category, is when the dog’s immune system falters and can no longer keep the mite population under control.

 

 

PERSONAL NOTES

 

As I look back over the past few years, I realize that Ashlee’s life, illness, and death left an indelible mark on my life. Because of our battle to help her and my constant search for understanding, even long after her death, I have learned so much that I have been able to share with others. Also, it was because of her that I eventually found the courage to quit a job I dreaded. Furthermore, she started me down the road to better health for myself and future companions through my research in health, nutrition and herbal healing. As hard as life was with her at times, I look back and see what a true blessing she was. I thank God for the time we had together and treasure the memories and the multitude of things she is still teaching me today.

 

I was and still am truly humbled by the realization that everything Ashlee went through, she did so because I asked it of her. Until the end, she went through so much with tolerance and a cheery spirit, playing ball with me in the vet’s office, scarfing treats from the vet techs, grinning when she pulled something over on me. What greater love, short of our Heavenly Father, can a mere mortal know than the unconditional love and devotion that represents?

 

 

PEDIGREE INFORMATION

 

Registration Number: DL654643/07

Sex: F

Color: Black & Tan

Date of Birth: 09/12/1996

Date of Death: 09/21/1998

 

 

Ashlee’s father, Pav, died the day after Christmas 1998 from testicular cancer. He was only about 4 years old. As a further note regarding familial illness, we know one of Ashlee’s brothers was euthanized after he was also diagnosed with demodicosis. The status of her other 6 littermates (4 males, 2 females) is currently unknown. If anyone has information regarding these 6 dogs (healthy or otherwise), please let me know. I would love to know how they are doing.

 

Ashlee’s mother, Love, died shortly after Thanksgiving 2005. She was 10.5 years of age.

 

I have much more information on Ashlee’s bloodlines than is listed above. If you would like a copy of that information for research purposes, please feel free to contact me. I would be more than happy to help in any way I can.

 

 

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xandert@cableone.net