Evaluation of a sponge-on therapy for canine scabies.

Forty dogs (20 treated, 20 controls) were utilized to evaluate a new treatment for naturally acquired canine scabies. A liquid concentrate formulation of amitraz was diluted and applied as a sponge-on therapy. Ninety-four percent of the dogs treated with the scabicide were cleared of mites and returned to clinical normality with a single topical treatment; one dog was retreated, cleared of mites and was also returned to normality. All dogs treated with the miticide responded clinically, therefore the treatment also may be useful when trial therapy is necessary to differentially diagnose the disease. The miticide was well tolerated by all dogs, and there was no evidence of dermal or ocular irritation. Topical treatment with the liquid concentrate was efficacious and safe as a therapy for naturally acquired canine scabies. Placebo controls did not improve clinically and these animals retained their mite populations.