|
Sarcoptic mange is a skin disease in dogs that is caused by the Scarcoptes
scabei mite. It is also referred to as Canine Scabies. Mites are tiny
organisms that resemble spiders, they are so small they cannot be seen
by the naked eye. The mites invade the skin of healthy dogs and puppies,
creating skin problems, most commonly, hair loss and severe itching.
These mange mites infect not only dogs, but can also be spread to humans
through contact.
Sarcoptic mange affects all dogs, regardless of their age or breed. While
the mites prefer to live on our canine companions, they can also live
on humans, cats and foxes. The adult mites can live for 3-4 weeks on
the host’s skin. After mating, the female mite burrows into the
skin and deposits 3-4 eggs. These eggs hatch after 3-10 days, producing
larvae. The larvae then move about the skin and mature into adults, which
return to the skin surface and mate, and thus the cycle continues.
Because the mites are deep within the skin, their movement causes the
skin to be very itchy. This also creates an allergic response, which
makes the itchiness even worse. The mites prefer areas on your dog where
there is no hair, so typically the areas affected first include the ears,
elbows and abdomen. If left untreated, they spread to other areas, causing
hair loss. Your dog will scratch incessantly to try and relieve the itching,
however, this can lead to more complications. The areas where the mites
have burrowed under the skin can become red and develop pustules (pustules
look like pimples), which develop a yellow-colored crust. These areas
can very easily become infected if your dog continues to scratch.
Scarcoptic mange can be very difficult to diagnose as
the typical test of using skin scrapings is unreliable. This is because
as the dog scratches, the tunnels the mites have dug under the skin are
broken open and the mites die. Which leads many test results that come
back falsely negative. Some veterinarians will perform a “maybe mange” test,
in which they treat the dog for mange and wait to see if its condition
improves.
Although difficult to diagnose, Scarcoptic mange is easily treatable.
There are a few different treatments for Scarcoptic
mange that are highly
effective, these include dips, wormers and spot-on treatments. Many veterinarians
recommend dips such as Mitaban and
Lym
Dyp, which given weekly can resolve the mange problem in about a
month. These dips are often used in combination with Ivermectin. Ivermectin
is one of the most effective treatments against Scarcoptic
mange. Typically
an Ivermectin injection is given either weekly or every two weeks in
1-4 doses. However, this treatment is not to be used on Collies, Shetland
Sheepdogs and Australian Shepherds as they can be affected by a mutation
that makes the Ivermectin toxic. Finally, a spot-on treatment, or Revolution,
can be prescribed. Revolution is an Ivermectin derivative that is used
for the control of fleas, roundworms, hookworms, ticks, ear mites and
Sarcoptic mange mites. This spot on is used as a monthly treatment to
prevent infestations.
Sarcoptic mange is typically spread through contact with an infected
animal. While they live happily on their host, they are only able to
live about 36 hours without one, so environmental treatments generally
are not necessary. It is a good idea, however, to wash your pets bedding,
collars, harnesses or toys in hot water to avoid any further infestations
or the risk of your other pets being infected.
**This article is not meant to provide a diagnosis for your pet. If your pet is sick or showing unusual symptoms, please contact your local veterinarian for a diagnosis**
|
