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Mange:Currently, there are three known types of mange: Demodectic, Cheyletiella and Sarcoptic. All types of mange are cause by mites, tiny eight-legged creatures related to spiders. We at Pet Partners of Habersham have had good success treating all types of mange, and will not decline to take an animal with this condition. We also require adoptive families to treat any re-occurences of this disease. Always seek veterinary diagnosis and treatment for mange, or any other skin condition. Please remember that if your pet gets mange, your pet is miserable due to the itching. However, euthanasia for this disease is not the norm, even in severe cases, and is not an option for adoptive familes.
Dogs with sarcoptic mangedig and bite at themselves with great ferocity. Their skin reacts with oozing sores, and secondary infection may set in, requiring treatment with an antibiotic in addition to treatment for the mites. Telltale signs of sarcoptic mange are crusty ear tips, fierce itching, and hair loss, particularly on the ears, elbows, legs, and face in the early stages. Later on, the hair loss spreads throughout the body. Sarcoptic mange is contagious to canines and humans, though treatable in both cases. Fortunately, sarcoptic mange in humans is self-limiting, since the mite cannot complete its life cycle on humans and dies within a few weeks. It was once believed that coating your dog in used motor oil would cure this disease, but it is not so. All you will end up with is delayed treatment, and an oily dog with a damaged coat. Veterinarians now use Ivermectin in two doses, two weeks apart, to kill the mites. They may also prescribe steroids for short-term use to relieve the itching until the mites begin to die off and give the dog some relief. Medicated dips may also be used to kill the mites and soothe irritated skin. Also, all of the dog's bedding and surrounding environment will need to be treated with pesticides to rid the area of mites and avoid re-occurence. Canine skin damaged by sarcoptic mange and secondary skin infections can take weeks or months to recover, depending on the scope of the problems. Frequent medicated baths may be necessary to soothe irritated skin.
The demodex mite is commonly present in the pores of puppy skin and initially does not cause symptoms. The mites can produce a substance that lowers the dog's resistance to them and make use of an opportunity to multiply. Symptoms of this mange are brough on by stress, either physical or environmental. It also causes hair loss, but less itching than sarcoptic mange. Hair loss with this type of mange appears especially around the eyes, mouth, and front legs. If mild cases are left untreated, this hair loss can spread to the rest of the dog's body, and cause infections, leaving the dog's skin sore, crusty, and oozing; the hair follicles clogged with mites and debris. Your veterinarian will want to perform a skin scraping to find the mites, and treatment could include dips, oral medications, or skin creams. It is important to follow treatment guidelines correctly to avoid re-occurence. Demodectic mange stays present in the body for the life of the dog, and symptoms have potential to occur when physical or environmental stress impacts the dog's immune system. However, there are good results with proper treatment, and the rate of occurence seems to decrease with spaying/neutering and also with age. A dog with a history of demodectic mange should not be allowed to breed, as the mite will be passed to his or her offspring.
Cheyletiella mange is also known as walking dandruff. It affects puppies and is caused by a large reddish mite that can be seen under a magnifying glass. This mange is identified by the dandruff dusting that occurs over the dog's head, neck, and back. Walking dandruff is highly contagious but short-lived. It causes mild itching. The mite that causes the mange dies a short time after leaving the host. |
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Other information:Pet Partners of Habersham, Inc. |
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