Welcome Hereshoping,
Im so sorry for you and you dogs, but know that you're in the right place to get crucial emotional support and learn how to manage this plague, with the hep of the good people here. It's a full time job in the beginning, but you can and will manage this! My cats and I have had this for two years.
Acacian Immolation's reply troubled me; very legitimate question but not helpful to suggest we're transferring delusions to our pets! I am a behavioral specialist with 37 years experience. I know my cats are infected by: onset of their symptoms shortly after mine; marked behavior changes, itching "startled" jumping & running as if being bitten, weight loss, lesions on skin identical under hand-held scope to mine, extruded filaments and shed material identical under a lab scope to mine ; eye and ear itching w/extrusions on swab also identical to mine, many filmanets and larva-like material in stool that can't be identified. Both cats had extensive anti-parasitic treatment, anti-fungal shampopos and boarded at vets' "Spa Palace" for 10 days! I'd hoped this was an environmental issue which I could kill w/ an obsessive cleaning. No help at all! I then took them to Angel Memorial Hosp. in Boston for testing for a zillion other things (Bartonella, Babesia, yada-yada) for a fortune, with no useful results. I spent about $ 4,000 having them tested, figuring that a vet would NOT dx. them as delusional, so let's us PLEASE not the hell do that! Whatevcer we call this, it is clearly a zoonic infection that is widely reported to co-occur in pets!
There are several treatment protocols for you and pets that are tried and true. You gotta read a lot and go with what makes sense. I believe abx., maybe anti-virals, certainly antiparasitics, anti-fungals,diet + immune & digestive support, herbals, environmental management, lifestyle and support are all crucial!
You MUST talk to your vets before trying any of my options, but Ive had great response:
FOOD & SUPPLEMENTS:
Food: wet, high quality and plenty of good, fresh water!
Nutra Silver Colloidal Silver drops mixed into wet food (my “health food guy says NS is the only product w/ published research)
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth mixed into food works for many, but my kitties wont eat it; You can dust it on a pet's coat but again...ask you vet!
Broad Spectrum Probiotics and Broad Spectrum Enzymes
This gets pricey & there’s a lot to know to make a good choice
ANTI-PARASITICS (CONTROVERSIAL!)
Revolution 1x/mo all year. My cats are much better on this than off: itch less, more active/ responsive. However, there may be a toxin overload component to Morgellons,. And many go “all organic” for themselves and their pets.
Ivermectin-Praziquantal: I add Equimax Paste to body crème and/or spread it on my own skin, per rx. of an MD who is researching/treating this. Ivermectin liq. can be added to pets’ water.
TOPICALS:
www.jefferspet.com Davis Miconazole Shampoo $ 9.00/ 8 oz
www.kvvet.comHomemade anti-fungal spray (leave on/dry on) for after-shampoo or to spritz onto coat prn:
Vinegar is anti-fungal. Try a mild solution (ask your vets) of Braggs Apple Cider vinegar (in your
grocery store, it rocks!) with a little Borax dissolved in it.) OR
Malacetic Conditioner (Leave-on, Dry-on rinse devel.by Vet Dermatologist) - $13/16 oz. oz.
(Vinegar-Boric Acid Acid 2%, AHAs, EFAs, oils); OR
Calm Control (Equine) Spray anti-fungal –all natural oils- $ 16/ 8 oz.
MISC:
EARS: Wal Mart Pro-Pet Ear Cleanser ( $ 4/ 4 oz.) ear cleanser (for you and them)
EYES: very mild solution of boric acid in an el-cheapo dropper-top bottle (I clean my eyes with Borax in water, dripped in. It doesn’t sting at all and it washes out filaments & much other crap!)
(later correction) CAUTION: HEREHOPING REPLIED THAT HER SAINTED HUSB. READ BORAX MAY BE TOXIC TO KITTIES;
I only tried this on me, not them. Thanks for that feedback! OR
Simulsan Pink-Eye Eye Drops (Wal Mart around $8) I have tried this on my kitties and what I thought would be a vet visit for a red inflammed kitty eye cleared right up!
BEDDING: DITCH IT! These are free-living organisms that appear to infect everything in the environment, but especially cotton and other textiles. Environmental management is key!
VET RESEARCH: I just read online (Lyme Disease Assoc.) of a Dr. Matt Eberts, DVM at Lakeland Vet Hops in Baxter MN who discussed tick borne diseases at a No. Amer. Vet Conf . in Jan. 07 in Orlando. Im going to e-mail him to see if he had any resources and perhaps one of your vets might inquire as well.. A DVM might get info that a consumer would not.
This is just a start. Stay strong and keep in touch! Together, we will kick the crap out of this!
Healing hugs to all,
waldenflo