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Old Dog Resources
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Dog Parasite - Demodectic Mange
Overview - Demodectic mange (Demodecosis) is caused by an external parasite(mite) that is also
present in low numbers on healthy animals, including people.
Whether or not a pet shows symptoms of this disease depends primarily on their immune status. Since there is no easy test to determine immune status, it is
impossible to predict which pets will get this disease, or how well a pet will heal if it shows symptoms of demodex.
Parasite target - skin
Symptoms - In most dogs, these mites never cause problems. However, in certain situations, such as an impaired
immune system, intense stress, or malnutrition, the mites can reproduce rapidly, causing symptoms that range from mild irritation and hair loss on a
small patch of skin to severe and widespread inflammation, secondary infection, and--in rare cases--a life-threatening
condition. Small patches of demodicosis often correct themselves over time, although treatment is usually recommended.
Minor cases of demodectic mange usually do not cause much itching but might cause pustules on the dog's skin, redness, scaling, hair
loss, or any combination of these. It most commonly appears first on the face, around the eyes, or at the corners of the mouth, and on the forelimbs.
It most commonly appears first on the face, around the eyes, or at the corners of the mouth, and on the forelimbs.
In the more severe form, hair loss can occur in patches all over the body and might be accompanied by crusting, pain, enlarged lymph nodes, and deep skin infections.
Treatment - Minor, localized cases are often treated with medicated shampoos and not treated with agents aimed at killing mites as these
infestations often resolve within several weeks in young dogs.
Demodectic mange with secondary infection is treated with antibiotics and medicated shampoos as well as parasiticidal agents.
Amitraz is a parasiticidal rinse that is licensed for use in many countries for treating canine demodicosis. It is applied
weekly or biweekly, for several weeks, until no mites can be detected by skin scrapings.
Prevention - Proper care, good hygiene, and the maintenance of good health will increase a pet's resistance to skin disease.
Canine mange mainly occurs on young animals which are undernourished and suffering from internal parasites and mothered by infested animals.
Pets should not be permitted to mingle with mangy animals or contact premises occupied by them since individual contact is the most important method of
transmission.
Keeping your pet vaccinated, dewormed, on heartworm prevention, on a well balanced pet food, spayed/neutered, and clean and happy will help reduce the
stressful factors which enable this hereditary, genetic disease from occurring as often.
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