Mange in dogs & puppies

Canine Mange is caused by tiny little skin mites.. but although they`re small they can make poor Fido really miserable!

They`re responsible for the itching, rashes, irritated skin and hair loss that characterize mange.

These nasty little parasites are microscopic and can`t be seen with the naked eye.

There are two sorts of mange in dogs, caused by two different types of mites:

Demodectic Mange (also known as Demodex, Demodicosis) caused by the Demodex mite

Sarcoptic Mange (also known as Scabies or Red Mange) which is caused by the sarcoptes mite.

Bothtypes of mange cause skin problems, but there are important differences.....

Demodectic Mange

There are three types of demodex mites, but the one that is most commonly seen is the `Demodex Canis`.

These tiny mites live in yourdogs` hair follicles. This is the most common form of mangein dogs, and is most often seen in puppies.

In fact, most puppies willhave these mites as `residents` (passed to them by their momma), butthey generally don`t cause any problems in healthy puppies.

However, if a puppy`s immune system is challenged (eg. by illness or stress), the extra strain weakens immune function, the mite population grows and skinirritation and hair loss start to develop.

The resulting mite infestation then causesfurther strain on the pup`s` immune system, and a vicious circle begins.

Some breeds seem tohave a congenital predisposition to being affected in this way, and aremore likely to become `symptomatic`.

These include Shar-Peis,Bull-Terrier breeds, Old English Sheepdogs, Pugs and Dogue de Bordeaux.

Demodectic mange isn`t generally thought to be contagious, so it can`t bepassed from dog to dog, or from dog to human.

But some scientists believe that it may bepossible for certain types of demodex mites to be passed from dog to do, under certain conditions, but there`s no scientificproof of this at present.

This type of mange is a condition that isalmost exclusively seen in puppies or young dogs under 9 months old.

Ifan older or mature dogs starts to develop demodicosis, chances are good that he has an immune-system problem or underlying health condition.

There are 3 versions of demodectic mange (or demodicosis), Localized, Generalized and Pododermatitis.

• Localized
  The symptomsof Localized Demodectic Mange generally show up as isolated patches ofthinning hair, or baldness in puppies. Most often these first appear on the face ,particularly on the muzzle or around the eyes. Sometimes small patcheswill also be seen on the chest or front legs. This patchy hair loss MAY also reveal scaly or irritated skin, and your pup MAY itch (but notnecessarily).

  Anywhere up to about 4 `bald spots` is termed localized,and about 90% of the time this type of mange clears up by itself withoutany treatment. The exception to this is if there is a history of mangein your puppys` canine family.

  Video: Demodex Mange in a Pit Bull Puppy with Great Results!

  When there`s a genetic componentinvolved, the chances of mange in dogs improving without treatment dropsto about 50%. However, if your pup is diagnosed with localizeddemodicosis and you don`t see any improvement within a couple of months,it could have progressed to the generalized form.



• Generalized
  Generalized demodectic mange in dogs results in several, widespread patches of thinning hair or bald spots, and more widespread skinirritation. There`s usually significantly more irritation involved withgeneralized demodicosis, and your pup may seem very itchy anduncomfortable.

  Constant scratching and licking at the affected areas canalso make the discomfort worse, and even set up secondary infections. Although even with this generalized form of demodectic mange in dogs, up to 50%may recover without treatment. But because of the level of discomfort,risk of infection, and general `unsightliness` of this condition,treatment is usually recommended.



• Pododermatitis
  Thisis a condition when the mange affects a puppys` paws. It can causebacterial infections and be very uncomfortable, even painful. The symptomsof mange in this instance include hair loss on the paws, swelling ofthe feet (especially around the nail beds) and red/hot/inflamed areaswhich are often infected. Treatment is always recommended for this sort of demodectic mange, and it can take several rounds of treatment to clear it up.
  

Mange needs to be diagnosed by your veterinarian.

He/she will take a small skin scraping, and look at it under a high-powered microscope. If your pup has mange, the mites will usually be visible in the scraping, even though you can`t see them just by looking yourself.

If your vet decides treatment is necessary, there are options, including topical treatments, oral treatments.

There`s also a natural treatment option for both demodectic and sarcoptic mange. Click here to jump straight to the info. on this.

Treating Demodectic Mange

For mild cases of localized demodectic mange, using a 1%rotenone ointment (Goodwinol), or a 5% benzoyl peroxide gel might work.

This needs to be applied daily to the affected areas. Alsobathing your pup with a benzoyl peroxide shampoo can help.

For more severe cases, and generalized mange, the most common treatment is with Mitaban anti-parasitic Dip.

This product contain Amitraz which kills the mites. Giving your pup a bath using a Benzoyl Peroxide shampoo BEFORE the Mitaban application helps improve it`s effectiveness.

Youcan get a prescription from your vet for Mitaban dip, or yourveterinarian may `dip` your pup for you. It usually takes many dips tokill all the mites (sometimes up to a dozen or more). This medicationcan have adverse side effects on dogs, and on humans, who have certainhealth conditions or are taking certain drugs.

Also tiny and toy breedscan be extra-sensitive to this product and caution should be used whentreating them. Never use these products without discussing it fully withyour vet first!

For pups or dogs that can`t be treated with Amitraz, some vets may use the heartworm medication known as Interceptor,the ingredient Milbemycin in this product has also been found to beeffective against demodex mites.

However, this can be an expensive formof mange treatment, as it needs to be given daily rather than monthly(as is normal for heartworm prevention). However, it is an option fordogs who can`t be treated any other way.

Another alternative treatment for mange in dogs, is the broad spectrumanti-parasite medication, Ivermectin.

This isn`t approved by the FDAfor treating mange, but is often used by veterinary dermatologists andprofessionals. It is usually given orally on a daily basis, and is veryeffective.

However, Ivermectin should never be given to herding breeds(eg. Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Old English Sheepdogs,Shetland Sheepdogs etc.), herding breed mixes, white German Shepherds orold/elderly dogs. You can learn more about Ivermectin sensitivity inthese breeds here. Dogs or puppies should also test heartworm negative before being given this medication.

Treating Pododermatitiscan be difficult and may require a long-term regimen. The Mitaban dipsand Ivermectin mentioned earlier are the most common treatments, andMilbemycin is also used.

In many cases antibiotic treatment is alsoneeded because the irritated skin become infected easily.

Sarcoptic Mange

This type of mange (also called `Scabies`), is caused by the Sarcoptes Scabei mite.

Rather than living in the hair follicles onthe surface of the skin (as in Demodectic mange), the female of thesetiny mites burrows right down into your puppys` skin and lay their eggsthere.

Not surprisingly this causes severe itching, irritation,inflammation and often infection.

The symptoms are very similar to an allergic reaction, and you might at first think your pet has allergies. Excessive scratching, licking, and biting at the the skin, and redness, inflammation and/or irritation are common.

Video: Itchy Mange or Sarcoptic Mange in Puppies

Red, scaly, itchy skinand it tends to show up in areas where your dog naturally has less hair- such as the belly, ears flaps, inside the legs etc. Althoughsarcopctic mange usually starts off in these localized areas, it tendsto spread quite quickly and eventually the whole body can be affected.

Sarcopticmange is contagious, both between dogs and between dogs and humans.Other animals can also be affected. Because these mites can survive forseveral days in the environment, direct contact with an affected dogisn`t vital to the transmission.

Video: Mange and loneliness - a puppy's long way to an amazing recovery

However, the sarcoptes mites don`t tendto stay on humans for long and although they cause intense itching atthe time, it is usually fairly short lived.

If your dog hassarcoptic mange and you or your family members get `itchy` or develp a rash (looks like tiny insect bites),definitely go to your doctor for evaluation.

Taking a skin scraping and examining it under a microscope is how your vet will diagnose SarcopticMange. But due to the nature of the life-cycle of these mites it can bemore difficult to get an accurate diagnosis, than it it with Demodectic mange.

Sometimes several tests mayhave to be done over a period of several weeks.

Treatment for this typeof mange is always necessary, and many times a veterinarian willprescribe treatment as a precaution, even if afirm `positive` diagnosis hasn`t yet been made.

If your pup shows signsof type of mange in dogs, don`t take a `wait and see` attitude - haveyour vet examine him/her.

Treating Sarcoptic Mange

Although sarcoptic mange in dogs is generally more serious thandemodectic mange, there are several effective treatment optionsavailable, these are basically the same treatments as used forDemodectic mange.

The most common mange treatment for the sarcoptes mite are Mitabanbaths or dips which contain the antiparasitic agent Amitraz.Lime-Sulfur (Lymdip) is also often effective against sarcoptic mange.

Ivermectin (although not approved by the FDA for treating sarcopticmange and should never be used on herding breeds of any type), and Milbemycin (Interceptor or Sentinel for heartworm prevention) are also commonly used.

Other possible mange treatments that have been found to be effective, include Revolution and Advantage Multi, all these are more commonly used to treat heartworm, fleas, ticksand other parasites.