Mange in Dogs: What You Need to Know About It
If you follow pet news, you’ve probably seen extreme examples of mange in dogs. It’s a skin illness mostly affecting stray, neglected or mistreated dogs and pups.
These dogs look hopeless, with hairless skin, ulcers or thickened, hard, crusty areas. Such dogs are often defined as having skin that seems to have turned to stone.
Mange in dogs refers to a group of skin disorders caused by mites. It’s a horrific, painful affliction, but as seen by the many “miracle dog” tales in the news, even severe cases may be efficiently cured.
Check out all the information you need about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of mange in dogs.
Table of Contents
- What Is Mange?
- Breeds Prone to Developing Mange
- Sarcoptic Mange
- Demodectic Mange
- Recovery and Prevention of Mange in Dogs
- The Takeaway
- Nutrition Strength Omega 3 Wild Fish Oil for Dogs
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What Is Mange?
Mange is a highly infectious cutaneous condition caused by various microscopic mite species seen in other animals. These mites burrow into the skin, producing severe itching and inflammation.
The more a dog scratches, the more hair comes off in different places. Some mange mites live naturally on your dog’s skin and hair, while others do not.
As the number of mites and parasites rises, all mites may cause moderate to severe skin illnesses. Mange is a medical disorder that can be treated. But you have to know that it is very contagious to other animals and people.
There are two types of mange in dogs, each caused by a particular mite:
- Sarcoptic Mange (also known as scabies);
- Demodectic Mange (popular as red mange or Demodex).
Breeds Prone to Developing Mange
Dogs under 18 months are prone to localized demodectic mange, which usually clears independently. Generalized demodectic mange is more severe.
It can be a hereditary disorder, mainly affecting Old English Sheepdog, Collie, Dachshund, Pointer, Pug, Shar-Pei, German Shepherd, Doberman Pinscher, Chow Chow, Chihuahua, Afghan Hound, Beagle, and Great Dane.
Senior dogs, regardless of breed, that have an underlying medical issue are more likely to get mange. Anxiety, pregnancy, heartworms, intestinal worms, cancer, diabetes, hypothyroidism and drugs are all factors that influence the development of mange.
Sarcoptic Mange
This illness, often known as canine scabies, is caused by a circular-shaped, eight-legged mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. This kind of mange is very infectious.
The parasite may be passed from dog to dog and dog to human, but it does not survive in non-canine hosts. Female mites crawl into the skin to deposit their eggs. In approximately three weeks, the eggs hatch, and the young feed on the host’s skin.
Symptoms of Sarcoptic Mange
Symptoms usually occur 10 days to 8 weeks following interaction with a dog having scabies. The illness usually displays itself initially on the edges of the ears, chest, elbows, hocks and belly.
They may quickly spread if left untreated. The most typical signs of sarcoptic mange in dogs include acute itching, redness, rash, thick yellow crusts, hair loss, bacteria and yeast infections, skin thickening, lymph node inflammation in advanced instances and emaciation in severe cases.
How Is Sarcoptic Mange Diagnosed?
Sarcoptic mange is challenging to be identified. Although we know that mites should be visible under a microscope on skin scraping, this may be difficult in reality.
Blood tests, for example, are even less trustworthy. Many cases are treated based on symptoms.
What Is the Treatment for Dog Sarcoptic Mange?
Dogs with sarcoptic mange will need to be dipped repeatedly in scabicidal shampoo every week for four to six weeks. This must be done under the recommendation of your veterinarian.
It is not a therapy that can be purchased over the counter and administered at home. Because certain mites acquire resistance to specific drugs, considerable testing may be necessary to identify a successful formula.
Your veterinarian may also prescribe oral or topical treatments and advise you on how to improve your dog’s immune system.
While your dog may be treated at home, due to the infectious nature of this kind of mange, he will need to be confined away from other pets and family members.
When touching him, you must use gloves and carefully wash your hands with soap and water afterward. You must also wash his bedding and any other textiles or surfaces he has come into touch with. That includes your own bedding and clothes, furniture, curtains and carpets.
If you have touched your sick dog, you may acquire a purple rash on your arms or body. This should go away after your dog has completed therapy.
It is critical to keep your dog as relaxed as possible. By doing this, the stress and anxiety wouldn’t damage his immune system and diminish the efficiency of his therapy.
Can Humans Catch Mange from Dogs?
We are all worried about the question is mange contagious for us. Sarcoptic mange mites, however, can only complete their life cycles on dogs and a few other species.
This implies that, although human illnesses may still cause significant discomfort, they will be transient. Suppose your dog is suspected of having sarcoptic mange. In that case, you should keep them away from shared furniture, wash their bedding, and avoid close contact, especially with youngsters.
Demodectic Mange
Demodectic mange, often known as Demodex, is caused by Demodex canis, a cigar-shaped mite. The distinction between them and sarcoptic mange is that they are a natural component of the skin flora, are constantly present and are typically harmless.
They are given to puppies from their moms in the first few days after birth, but humans are not infected. The mites settle deep into the hair follicles and remain undetected. Their numbers are kept in control by a healthy immune system. They may, however, go out of control in a dog with a weaker immune system.
Dogs particularly susceptible to demodectic mange include:
- Puppies with weakened immune systems are predisposed to a particularly severe type of Demodex called juvenile-onset.
- Young, healthy dogs may acquire Demodex patches, which may resolve independently or with targeted topical therapy.
- Demodex is often seen in elderly, ill, neglected or stray dogs with compromised immune systems. Cancer and diabetes, for example, may compromise immune function and result in this kind of mange.
Symptoms of Demodectic Mange
Demodectic mange in dogs may manifest itself in three ways.
Localized
On the dog’s face, bald patches might appear. It’s relatively frequent among pups. Consult your veterinarian, who will determine whether or not mange treatment is required.
Generalized
This is when the patchy, diseased skin spreads to other sections of the dog’s body. Secondary infections may aggravate the illness. In most instances, dogs under 18 months with an immunological deficiency are affected by widespread demodectic mange.
The immune system recovers and can suppress the parasites in half of these instances. When widespread demodectic mange arises in elderly dogs, it indicates a possible underlying immune-related disease.
Demodectic Pododermatitis
It might be challenging to treat mange in dogs and identify when the illness just affects the paws. Bacterial infections are common with this condition, and the disease may frequently spread deep into the tissue. This is more typical in Old English sheepdogs and Shar Peis.
Diagnosis of Demodectic Mange
Demodectic mange often clears up on its own. More severe cases may need long-term treatment with drugs and monthly skin scrapings to evaluate improvement.
Treating your dog with a lime-sulfur dip (as directed by your veterinarian) may give relief from severe itching. Because demodectic mange indicates a compromised immune system, your vet may attempt to detect and treat any underlying immune system diseases.
Recovery and Prevention of Mange in Dogs
Scabies requires treating each dog who has come into touch with an infected dog and disinfecting the area they dwell. This includes kennels, crates, collars, bedding, toys and other accessories. To avoid infection, dogs in the area must continue to take monthly or tri-monthly preventatives.
Demodectic mange does not need environmental cleaning since it is seldom transmitted between dogs. However, a monthly or tri-monthly miticidal preventive is still advised.
With proper care, most dogs with mange may anticipate a complete recovery. Chronic instances are usually the result of an underlying systemic disease or subsequent infections. Mange is lethal when dogs are given the incorrect treatment or their underlying medical issues are not adequately addressed.
If you believe your pet has mange, you should see your veterinarian soon. Request a skin scraping from your veterinarian to determine if mites are present and what kind they are.
You’ll know whether you need to act quickly to protect yourself and your loved ones from the transmission. You should also request that your veterinarian rule out other possible causes of your dog’s skin issues. Ask him for any underlying disorders that may have compromised your dog’s immune system.
Aside from offering medication to kill mites and cure symptoms, your veterinarian may be able to recommend a specific dog diet to boost your dog’s immune system.
If your dog has demodectic mange, ask your vet what other issues your dog’s lowered immunity may cause and what you may do to help prevent or treat them.
The Takeaway
Dog mange often seems scarier than it is, but that doesn’t mean it’s a disease to be handled lightly. Aside from the risk of infection, it’s vital to realize that mange seldom affects a robust, healthy adult dog.
Treating your dog’s mange may be the first step toward finding and relieving a more severe underlying problem. It may even save your beloved pet’s life.
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Nutrition Strength’s delicious fish oil pills for dogs are made with the highest quality ingredients available, which may help confer:
- Joint benefits. Omega 3 fatty acids derived from fish oil can lead to significant increases in dogs’ activity scores. Improved joint function in turn helps dogs fight the natural arthritis issues that come with aging.
- Skin health, itchy skin defense and coat’s overall health. Research of Omega-3 fatty acids in dogs has persistently linked them to significant improvements in coat health, pruritus and alopecia. Omega-3 fish oil for dogs has also been shown to be much more effective than flax oil in cases of inflammatory skin disorders.
- Heart and cardiovascular benefits. Researchers have also discovered that Omega-3 fatty acids can help dogs improve cardiac remodeling, regulate blood pressure and maintain a healthy heart rate.
- Cognitive function and neurological health. Research shows that DHA can lead to improvements in dogs’ memory, agility and learning ability. Many of the studies have also shown improvements in pacing issues and excessive licking.
- Vitamin E included. Vitamin E helps to balance your dog’s internal chemistry, with Omega-3 for dogs being introduced into their diet. Vitamin E helps prevent lipid peroxidation of body fat to limit adverse side effects. Note that some Omega-3 products may not necessarily have Vitamin E included.
In order to get the most out of our Omega fish oil, make sure to use the recommended dosage of our omega 3 for dogs, however feel free to adjust the dosage as needed. Don’t worry, Nutrition Strength’s fish oil is perfectly safe for dogs and has been specially formulated to be safe for long-term use, even at a higher dosage.
Image source: Wikimedia / Lars Curfs.
