Mange in dogs is a common skin condition in dogs and puppies abandoned, mistreated, or left stray. With no hair, blisters on their skin, or thick, crusty areas of skin, these dogs seem hopeless. Also, these dogs are frequently referred to as having skin that looks stone-like.
Mange is an awful, painful condition, but as seen from the numerous “miracle dog” news stories, even severe instances can be healed. However, if you keep up with canine news, you are probably aware of what a severe case of Mange looks like.
There are two kinds of Mange, and your dog’s type will be determined by the type of mite causing the condition. They are Sarcoptic Mange and Demodectic Mange.
1. Sarcoptic Mange
Sarcoptes scabiei, or a closely related mite species like Notoedres, is the most common cause of Mange, and Scabies is the medical term for this type of Mange. These parasites can be passed on to you by your dog from another animal or contaminated bedding.
Sarcoptic mange symptoms do not always appear on infected dogs, making it difficult to determine the source of your dog’s infection.
What are the Symptoms?
Symptoms usually occur within 1 to 8 weeks after contact with a dog having Scabies.
Initially, a dog with sarcoptic Mange, scratches frequently, inflaming and reddening the skin beneath the fur. But sarcoptic Mange causes skin thickening or crusting, open sores or scabs, and hair loss over time.
The open sores could get infected and become smelly. If unattended, it can result in swollen lymph nodes, the loss of healthy muscle, and occasionally even death.
Although sarcoptic mites are invisible to the naked eye, you may tell when they are present in your dog by the discomfort and suffering they cause.
These tiny mites burrow under your dog’s skin to deposit their eggs, and they live and feed on your dog’s skin. They can quickly spread if left untreated. The following are the most prevalent sarcoptic mange symptoms:
- Extreme itchiness
- Redness and rash
- Thick yellow crusts
- Hair loss
- Bacteria and yeast infections
- Thickening of the skin (advanced cases)
- Lymph node inflammation (advanced topics)
- Emaciation (extreme cases)
What are the Causes of Sarcoptic Mange?
Sarcoptes scabiei mites bring on sarcoptic Mange in dogs. They settle down on the dog’s skin, mate, and the female mites burrow into the skin to lay eggs, triggering an allergic reaction in the dog and making them highly itchy.
This typically occurs when dogs contact an infected animal, frequently appearing in shelters, dog parks, veterinary offices, and grooming parlours. Symptoms typically don’t show up until about two to six weeks.
How Is This Disease Diagnosed?
A veterinarian will examine a skin scraping or several for the presence of eggs or mites under a microscope. However, no mites are found in the skin samples, even when the symptoms suggest an infestation.
2. Demodectic Mange
On the other hand, demodectic mites are naturally found in your dog’s fur roots (hair follicles). They are transmitted from mother to pup during the first few days of life. Usually, a dog’s immune system controls demodectic mites. The mites settle down deep inside hair follicles and remain there, doing no harm.
A healthy immune system controls the population. However, a dog with a weak immune system can become uncontrollable. However, Mange epidemics can occur if the mite population becomes uncontrollable. Mange from demodectic mites isn’t contagious.
What are the Symptoms of Demodectic Mange?
In some situations, it appears as patches of hair loss and red, scaly skin. However, in generalised cases, the entire body may be covered in redness, infections, scaling, swelling, and crusts. Frequently, the dog loses most of its hair.
Causes of Demodectic Mange
Demodectic Mange in dogs is caused by Demodex canis mites found in hair follicles. They almost always exist in adult dogs and people without ever bothering either of them.
This mite is transmitted to puppies by their mothers in the first few days following birth.
The majority of puppies are unaffected, but some do have Mange. A weakened immune system or hereditary factors may be to blame for this. These mites can also cause Mange in older, unhealthy dogs.
Treatment
Even though you might be tempted, using an over-the-counter or home treatment to stop your dog’s scratching won’t work in the long run. However, to treat Mange, the mites must be eradicated.
Make an appointment with your neighbourhood veterinarian for a diagnostic to determine the type of Mange your dog has and the most effective course of treatment.
The signs of canine Mange are similar to those of other skin disorders. Your veterinarian will examine a skin scraping or hair sample under a microscope.
Although the skin may appear briefly more sensitive after the scrape, it’s always vital to do so! Under a microscope, demodectic mites are simple to identify. On the other hand, Sarcoptic mites burrow under the skin, making them more challenging to see. To rule out other conditions, your veterinarian could suggest additional tests.
How do You Prevent Mange in Dogs?
Mange cannot just be prevented, but there are a few things you can do:
- To prevent affected dogs from passing on a genetic predisposition to the condition, neuter or spay them.
- Maintain a healthy immune system in your dog to help prevent demodectic Mange or hasten to heal.
- Give your dog nutritious food and maintain regular flea, heartworm, and worm prevention.
If your dog is scratching erratically and you can’t see any fleas, a trip to the doctor is necessary to check for mites. This Disease is more straightforward to treat in its early stages than any other ailment.
You’ll need to see a veterinarian because symptoms can be mistaken for other disorders, like allergies and skin infections.
You’ll need to see a veterinarian to determine if Mange is the issue because symptoms can mirror other ailments, like allergies and skin infections.
Pay close attention to the medical advice given by your veterinarian. Never treat your dog without seeking professional advice. It is simple to make your dog’s condition worse by misdiagnosing or treating it inappropriately.
Have you ever given your dog medication for this disease? Do you ever look closely at your dog’s skin for anything odd? Tell us in the comments section below!
