France in Focus

Our chocolate lab is licking his feet all the time, the vet says it's an allergy to these critters.
We've tried to bathe his feet in Pulvex, which is apparently the only treatment available, but it doesn't work, he's still licking.

It can't be nice for him, but it's like Chinese torture for me and driving me potty.

Has anyone used a treatment that actually works?

We're not sure whether the cats get feline scabies (which is what the vet says) or aoutats (which are closely related), but it's been hell for them from July this year. He prescribes a monthly spot-on treatment but it only gives them relief for about 3 days. Ascabiol would work, but you have to be able to prevent the animal licking it!

well we give our cats regular spot on treatment but one is particularly infected. Forever nibbling and scratching. The other cat doesn't seem to be affected. The affected one lies in the grass a lot whereas the other tends to visit old barns etc. Can't keep him out of the grass which has of course been very dry.

Chiggers - which I guess are the same thing, are flippin' awful this year! I must have over a dozen bites on me at all times at the moment!

It's not a treatment, but could relieve the itching - we've used this before for the cats, for allergy problems, as it's basically an antihistamine: Alternatively, you could try this site:
https://www.animotao.com/fr/
All traditional, natural, Chinese remedies for animals. I'm the biggest sceptic on natural remedies, but they've saved my little shetland from death when the vets could offer nothing. I haven't tried their stuff for dogs, cats or humans - but might be worth a look! Just a bit pricier (but it was still cheaper than getting the vet out!)

Chiggers/aoutats/harvest mites = Trombiculidae while scabies/sarcoptic mange mite = Sarcoptes scabiei. They're not quite the same. It was rife in my husband's submarine at one time and many of the "attatchments" caught it as well. Most unpleasant and only one treatment available at that time. Scabies doesn't leave red spots like chiggers, but it itches like hell under the skin.

I remember the TV ad years ago for Ivermectin, a drench for scabies/sarcoptic mange mite in cattle. We all remembered the sarcoptic mange mite but not the name of the drench ! It's also used as a wormer for horses. However, it's lethal for sheep herding dog breeds like border collies if they get a taste (through droppings for example).

We don't seem to get aoutats here, fortunately, it's probably not hot and damp enough.

Bayleaf wrote: ↑Thu Sep 29, 2022 8:25 am Chiggers - which I guess are the same thing, are flippin' awful this year! I must have over a dozen bites on me at all times at the moment!

It's not a treatment, but could relieve the itching - we've used this before for the cats, for allergy problems, as it's basically an antihistamine:
allergy tabs.JPG
Chlorphenamine

Alternatively, you could try this site:
https://www.animotao.com/fr/
All traditional, natural, Chinese remedies for animals. I'm the biggest sceptic on natural remedies, but they've saved my little shetland from death when the vets could offer nothing. I haven't tried their stuff for dogs, cats or humans - but might be worth a look! Just a bit pricier (but it was still cheaper than getting the vet out!)

Chlorphenamine is Piriton so an antihistamine,However dexamethasone is a pretty potent steroid so perhaps worth bearing in mind

Pathca wrote: ↑Thu Sep 29, 2022 9:31 am
Chlorphenamine is Piriton so an antihistamine,However dexamethasone is a pretty potent steroid so perhaps worth bearing in mind

It was recommended to us by the Pharmacy to treat a cat that was having an allergic reaction to mites of some sort, so yes, obviously needed something a little stronger than just chlorphenamine, but it was only for a short course. I'm not a fan of steroids either.

apologies for my ignorance but what are aoutats?

Xcuse me for butting in but years ago in England we called them harvest mites, not many here in Dordogneshire but back in the Lot it was alive with them.

@Doug If you read my post a few postings back you'll see my reference to harvest mites
We never had them in Maine et Loire (but we did have mouches plattes) nor have I come across them here.