Efficacy of topical application of carvacrol, amitraz, and combination of carvacrol-amitraz for the treatment of dogs with generalized demodicosis

Canine demodicosis is an inflammatory parasitic skin disease caused by an increasing population of Demodex spp. mite. Thus, there will be an urgent need for effective, safe, and available treatment for demodicosis. This study aimed to evaluate the activity of Carvacrol %5, Amitraz %0.05, and Carvacrol-Amitraz combination on killing Demodex canis mites after topical pour-on use and analyzing the improvement in associated dermatologic signs. Fifteen dogs with naturally acquired generalized demodicosis were randomly allocated to 3 equal study groups. The dogs were selected from the animal shelter in Mazandaran province. Treatment groups included a pour-on solution of 50 ml of Carvacrol %5, 50 ml of Amitraz %0.05, and the combined Carvacrol and Amitraz 1:1 mixture at the same concentrations. Evaluation of clinical factors consisted of mite count by skin scraping, hair re-growth, comedones, erythema, crusts, and scales during seven-day intervals over four weeks. Mite counts significantly decreased in all groups during the study, especially in Carvacrol %5 (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between Amitraz and Carvacrol-Amitraz on days 14, 21, and 28 (p>0.05). The highest decrease in mite population was associated with Carvacrol %5 from day 14 up to %90 in demodicosis treatment. This clinical field study demonstrated that pour-on administration of Carvacrol %5 is highly effective in the reduction of mite numbers and improvement in associated dermatologic signs of demodicosis