Probably one of the most
feared diseases amongst dog lovers is without doubt dog
mange. Dog mange is an ugly skin condition caused by a
parasite infestation. The symptoms are characterized by hair
loss and scaly eruptions on the dog’s skin. This infestation
of parasitical mites manifests itself in three different
forms, each with its own distinctive symptom and each with a
different type of treatment.
The most common variation of the disease is without doubt
the sarcoptic version. This type of dog mange is caused by
the female mite damaging the dog’s skin as she burrows her
way underneath to lay her eggs. Of course, this activity
causes a persistent itch and increases even more as the eggs
hatch and a new batch of female parasites burrow yet again
to lay more eggs. Obviously, as the population of mites
increase beneath the dog’s skin so does the dog’s misery and
it is no surprise that the dog will scratch and bite until
his flesh is raw and bloody. In turn, these open wounds
become infected and will need antibiotic medication. Because
of the damage the dog has inflicted to his skin it becomes
difficult for a vet to identify the actual mite that causes
the sarcoptic version of dog mange. It is important to
understand that this type of mange is very contagious to
both dogs and humans. In humans, dog mange will not run its
full course, but all the same it is a very bothersome
condition.
If you ever become aware that a dog is suffering from this
form of dog mange get the animal to a vet as soon as
possible. The dog will be feeling desperately miserable and
needs professional help without delay. The vet will most
probably treat any skin infections with a course of
antibiotics and administer by injection the medication
Ivermectin to kill off the infestation of mites. In order to
relieve the itch and give the dog some comfort, the vet may
prescribe a steroid. Finally, the vet will probably advise
you to use a medicated shampoo for the dog’s regular bath to
aid the skin in healing.
Still another form of dog mange, not nearly as severe as
sarcoptic mange, is known as the demodectic variety. This
kind of mange is usually seen in pups and will not appear
once a dog is twelve months old. It is believed that the
mites that cause this form of the disease are always present
on the dog’s skin, but a temporary lowering of the immune
system may cause the disease to take hold. Symptoms include
hair loss around the eyes, nose and mouth as well as on the
front legs. The patches of hair loss may help the
recognition of advanced cases. A mild attack of the disease
may run its course and the symptoms disappear without any
intervention, but a more severe attack will require the
attention of a vet. Usually, the use of an insecticide and
regular baths in medicated shampoo will rid your puppy of
this form dog mange in no time flat.
The third type of dog mange is known as the cheyletiella
mange which again only seems to have an effect on puppies
and not full grown adult dogs. The mite responsible for this
condition is large enough to be seen under a magnifying
glass and it causes a kind of dandruff on you puppy and is
very contagious. Luckily, this is the mildest form of dog
mange and corrects itself in a short space of time.
Diagnosing dog mange is made more difficult because of the
distinct varieties of the disease and the different types of
mites that cause the problem. Since mites are hard to find
on a dog, especially in the case of sarcoptic mange where
the skin is badly damaged, it can happen that a dog’s
condition is misdiagnosed. If for no other reason, it is
advisable to see a vet at the earliest signs of a problem,
when most of the skin is still whole and undamaged and your
vet has an opportunity to look at mite damage and not damage
caused by the dog’s teeth and claws in their vain attempt to
ease the terrible itching. Some breeds are more vulnerable
to demodectic mange, such as Chihuahuas, German Shepherds,
Great Danes, among others. If you should own one of these
breeds that are susceptible to demodectic type of dog mange,
you will need to be especially on your guard looking for
signs of hair loss and at the slightest suspicion of mite
infestation take your pet to a vet.
