Your poor dog is scratching like crazy and even has a couple bald patches. You might think that your beloved pet could never have mange, but you would be wrong! If the dog has mites, which many dogs do, then they may have some form of it. With care, your dog can go back to being healthy and happy once more.
The first form is known as demodectic mange. It is caused by a microscopic mite named Demodex canis. This mite lives even on healthy dogs, however, when this particular mite has a population explosion, it can cause a lot of pain and suffering. This kind of outbreak is normally limited to a small area, and rarely becomes something that spreads all over the body.
If your dog has a small mangy spot, it will likely disappear on its own. However, if your dog is covered in spots, it might need treatments in order to clear it up. Some people believe that some breeds of dogs are prone to this condition. Indeed, veterinary experts have noticed that certain breeds, such as Chihuahuas, Dobermans, Old English Sheepdogs, Afghan Hounds, Boston Terriers and Collies to name a few, are more likely to develop the demodectic variety.
Cheyletiella mange is another form of this illness. Caused by a larger mite, which is red in appearance and visible under a magnifying glass, this type only causes minor itching. Sometimes called “walking dandruff”, this form is contagious.
So if the dog has been to the kennel recently and has now been diagnosed with this problem, you are advised to contact the kennel and let them know. Otherwise, this mite could spread to other dogs and infect them too. The kennel will likely spray their facilities to prevent the mite from finding a new furry friend to live with.
The third form is sarcoptic mange. This is essentially scabies, caused by a microscopic female mite who tunnel under the skin to lay their eggs. This causes incredibly uncomfortable itching, which makes a dog bite and dig at themselves ferociously. This variety of mange is contagious and can even spread to humans. So it is important to clean your pet, its bedding and to also treat any other pets in the household for scabies at the same time.
All forms are treatable and many are preventable with proper animal care. The best way to prevent any of these infestations is simple: provide your pet with good nutrition, control other parasites such as fleas and worms and keep up with vaccinations. For demodectic and cheyletiella mange, treatment involves an insecticide dip, sometimes several times depending on the severity of the infestation. However, with scabies, your veterinarian will likely use an internal treatment to kill off the mites while treating the itch with steroids and perhaps even a medicated bath.
When your dog has mange, it can be a heartbreaking sight. Did you know that there is a mange cure? We have mange treatment that will put a stop to the problems.