What Is Sarcoptic Mange in Dogs?
Mange is a common infection that is found in the dog. One type of the mange is the sarcoptic mange.
Introduction:
The Sarcoptic Mange is a disease commonly called as scabies, which affects the pet dogs. This disease is caused by the mites called as, “Sarcoptic scabies mites”. The mites who are similar to the spider family are microscopic. As these mites are more commonly found in dogs, they are also called as Dog Manges. Manges refer to the disease. Generally, these mites attack in large numbers only. After getting into the skin of a dog, the adult mites survive for 3-4 weeks. At that time, it starts mating, thus resulting in the laying of eggs in the host’s skin itself. The eggs hatch and grow into an adult and then move to other place. Thus, this cycle repeats and large number of Dog Manges is produced. The presence of female mites generates an allergic response in the host.
Appearance of Disease:
The dogs get the itching sense, once when the mites start moving. In addition, when the female mites lay eggs and burrow it the host’s skin it generates the allergic response, which causes more itching. This itching pattern found is similar to that of Airborne and Food allergies. The Scaly red itchy skin, which becomes hairless, characterizes this Sarcoptic Mange disease. As the dogs scratch continuously, small red pustules along with yellow crusts traumatizing the skin resulting in variety of sores and infections are seen.
How the infection is diagnosed?
The standard method of diagnosing this disease is to scrap the skin and find the mites with the help of a microscope. However, out of 10 infected dogs only two dogs, i.e. only twenty percent of the infected dogs show these mites when scraped, which makes it frustrating to diagnose this disease. In addition, the dogs, with this disease are similar to the dogs having Dermatitis problems. Therefore, it is very difficult to diagnose and confirms this disease. This disease normally spreads through direct contact of the hosts.
Treatment:
For any disease, “Prevention is better than cure”. However, once this disease has been diagnosed, it should be treated immediately. There are many ways available to treat this disease. Some of the medicines like Selamectin, Moxidectin, Milbemycin Oxime and Ivermectin are available and most commonly preferred to treat this disease. If the dog’s hair is long, it should be clipped and the dog should be washed with a Benzoyl peroxide shampoo, thus cleaning its skin, and medicines like Amitraz dip, Mitaban, Lymdyp should be used. These medicines resolve the disease very effectively within a month. It is important to follow the medication and take the dog to the veterinary doctor during the regular sessions.
The general instructions to prevent this infection are listed below.
Bath the dog with an anti – biotic shampoo.
Keep the dog clean.
Visit the veterinary doctor at regular intervals.
Keep a good watch and take the dog to doctor when there is itchiness or loss of the hair in the skin of the dog.
Thanks for reading about sarcoptic mange.
