Evo and Eli's Treatment

As  a 501(c)3 non profit organization, one of our outreaches is our mange  program. We educate the public about mange, as well as collect and  distribute funds to shelters and rescues so they can treat cats and dogs  affected by this disease. 

What Are The 4 Types Of Mange That Effect Dogs?

Demodectic Mange: Demodectic  Mange is also known as “Red Mange”. This condition is caused by an  overgrowth of Demodex canis mites within the hair follicles of the dog’s  coat. A very important point: These mites live on ALL dogs! They are  passed from mother to pups within the first week of life. The trouble  only occurs when the population of mites grows out of control. It is  commonly believed that this condition is hereditary. Most dogs have a  natural resistance that keeps the number of mites down – dogs lacking  this trait can pass it on to their offspring.Demodex can present itself  in a localized (in 1 or 2 spots) or a generalized (all over the body)  form. The localized form is usually seen in young dogs, while the  generalized form is a more severe condition and usually hints of a more  serious immune disorder. Older dogs that develop generalized Demodex  should receive diagnostic workups for other underlying ailment such as  cancer, thyroid issues or Cushing’s disease. Demodex is not contagious  to dogs or to humans, however because it is believed to be a hereditary  disorder, dogs with this disease should not be bred.

Sarcoptic Mange: Sarcoptic  Mange is the type of mange that makes pet owners cringe! It’s also  known as Canine Scabies and is caused by an infection of the Scaroptes  scabiei canis mite. The mites burrow into the skin of the animal and lay  their eggs. The scabies have a lifecycle of 17-21 days. This form of  mange is highly contagious and can be passed between dogs and humans.

Cheyletiellosis:  Cheyletiellosis is also known as “Walking Dandruff”. The Cheyletiella  yasguri mite can actually be seen with the human eye, moving around the  coat of the dog – creepy. These mites have a lifecycle of 21 days and  are very contagious. They can be passed between animals as well as  humans. This type of mange is usually found in shelters, boarding  kennels and anywhere with a dense animal population. Puppies who come  from “mill” situations are often found to have this type of infestation.

Ear Mites: Ear  Mites are considered a type of mange as they affect the external part  of the ear. This condition is caused by an infection of the Otodectes  cynotis mite. These mites are contagious and can be passed on to other  animals, but not to humans.

What Are Symptoms Of Mange?

Demodectic Mange: Localized  Demodex appears as red, hairless patches (often found on the head). The  spots can have a raised look to them and almost have the appearance of  pimples. The patches may be accompanied by itching or they may not  bother your dog at all.Generalized cases of Demodex are often  accompanied with large amounts of hair loss, deeply irritated skin,  bacterial infections, fever, and swollen footpads. Itching can be  intense.

Sarcoptic Mange: Sudden  severe itching is usually the first sign of Sarcoptic mange, followed  by the appearance of small, firm bumps that soon become crusted due to  irritation from scratching. The sores can spread throughout the body and  cause secondary infections. If left untreated a severe case of  Sarcoptic mange can even prove to be fatal.

Cheyletiellosis: Besides  the obvious signs of “walking dandruff” (seeing the mites moving on the  fur), flakey scaling of the coat accompanied by itching are the most  common signs of Cheleyiellosis.

Ear Mites: Symptoms  of Ear Mites include a dog showing sensitivity when one or both ears  are touched, tilting the head to one side, frequent shaking of the head  and increased scratching of the ear or ears. You may also notice an  unpleasant odor coming from the ears. A dark discharge may be seen  inside the ear.

How is Mange Diagnosed?

​Diagnosis  of all of the types of mange will start with a thorough physical  examination by your Veterinarian. Skin scrapings will be collected to be  examined under a microscope. During this diagnostic test the surface of  the skin is scraped with a scalpel blade. The goal is to check for  mites that live in the hair follicles, thus there will be a small,  irritated spot where the scrapings were taken. Your vet will probably  want to scrape in multiple locations. The scrapings will then be  examined under a microscope for live mites.Other diagnostic methods  include blood work and stool samples.

How Is Mange Treated?

Demodectic Mange: Demodex  is treated in a variety of ways, most of them topical. Goodwinol  ointment or benzoyl peroxide are often prescribed to be applied daily to  the affected areas. For generalized cases, Amitraz dips are often an  option. The safety of this prescription dip has come into question, so  be sure to discuss it with your vet if this is recommended. Other drugs  that have been shown to be effective against Demodex are ivermectin (the  active ingredient in Heartgard) and Milbemycin oxime (the ingredient in  Interceptor). If your dog has a secondary infection, antibiotics may be  prescribed as well.Mild localized cases of Demodectic mange may resolve  on their own without treatment. Your vet will discuss what the best  options are for your individual pet.

Sarcoptic Mange: When  treating Scarcoptic mange, the measures taken must include all pets  that have come into contact with the infected animal. Often the fur is  clipped down so that the scabs and irritations can be removed through  bathing with a medicated shampoo (antiseborrheic). Next a dip is applied  to kill the mites (Amitraz or Lime-Sulfur). This process is usually  repeated 3-4 times, biweekly to stop the lifecycle of the mites.  Antibiotics will be prescribed to treat any secondary infections. The  bedding of the pets should also be washed and treated with an  insecticide. These mites do not survive long off of their host. Keep  your home clean while treating your dog. While these mites can infect  humans, they can’t reproduce on human skin.

Cheyletiellosis: Treatment  for Cheyletiellosis usually consists of topical treatments such as  Lime-Sulfur or Amitraz dips, repeated over a course of 6-8 weeks.  Another effective treatment is Ivermectin, given orally or as an  injection. Commonflea preventatives such as Selamectin (Revolution) and  Imidacloprid (Advantage) have been shown to be safe methods for dealing  with Cheyletiellosis. All pets within the household must be treated, as  the mites are highly contagious.Pet bedding should be washed and treated  with insecticide to prevent re-infestation. Flea bombs and premise  sprays can be used to rid homes of thesepests.

Ear Mites: Cleaning  out the discharge is the first step when treating Ear mites. The  discharge creates a barrier and prevents medication from actually being  effective. Your vet will show you how to do this safely at home. They  will prescribe medication (the most common being Tresaderm) to place in  your dog’s ears.

Source: www.dogguide.net

What is mange

Demodectic Mange (also known as red mange or demodicosis)

General Information

Parasite: Demodex spp.

Hosts: dogs, cats, pigs, horses, cattle, humans, among many other species

Worldwide Distribution

Location on Host: Sebaceous glands and hair follicles

Lifecycle:  Typically mites are transferred from mother to offspring in the  neonatal period.  Afterwards, all of the stages of the lifecycle are  found on the host.

FACT: Demodex mites  are normal residents of dog skin! It is only in some individual dogs  that the mites are problematic. Demodectic mange is caused by a  microscopic mite in the Demodex genus. There are three species of mites  typically associated with demodectic mange: Demodex gotoi, Demodex  canis, and Demodex injai, though the most common mite of demodectic  mange is Demodex canis. Demodectic mange, unlike sarcoptic mange, is not  actually considered a contagious disease.  Separation of affected dogs  is not considered necessary; however, there are some circumstances in  which the mites could spread from one dog to another. Mites may be  transferred from one dog to another, but as long as the dog is healthy,  the mites add into the current natural population that the dog already  possesses with no skin disease resulting.  Demodex mites cannot be  transmitted to cats or humans.

Typical forms of Demodectic mange:

1.  Localized: presents as isolated scaly bald patches typically on the  facial region.  It involves no more than four total spots on the dog and  does not involve more than two body regions.  About 90% of cases  resolve on their own without treatment and is most common in puppyhood.   About 10% of localized demodectic mange cases progress to generalized  demodectic mange. 

2.  Generalized: presents as the entire dog affected with patchy fur, skin  infections, bald, scaly skin, and/or lesions. Secondary bacterial  infections can make dogs itchy and have smelly skin. Adult Onset- An  older dog typically should not get demodectic mange unless they have an  underlying problem with the immune system. In the circumstance in which  an adult would develop a generalized demodectic infection, more serious  hidden conditions such as cancer, liver, or kidney disease, or an  immune-suppressive hormone imbalance should be considered and an  extensive medical work-up would be required. Juvenile Onset- Young dogs  have naturally immature immune systems and are therefore more  susceptible to develop demodectic mange without an underlying disease.   As they grow older and their immune systems mature, they usually gain  control on the mite infection naturally.  Typically about 30-50% of dogs  under one year of age recover spontaneously from generalized demodectic  mange without treatment. However, treatment IS recommended to  facilitate recovery.** It is important that dogs with a history of  generalized demodectic mange not to be bred as there is a hereditary  component to the development of the disease! **

3.  Demodectic Pododermatitis: presents entirely on the paws. Bacterial  infection usually goes along with this condition. Often as generalized  demodectic mange is treated, the foot is the last stronghold of the  mite.  Old English Sheepdogs and Shar Peis tend to get severe forms of  this condition.  The infection can be so deep that a biopsy is needed to  find the mites and make the diagnosis.  This is the most resistant  forms of demodectic mange.

Treatment:  Stress and Generalized Demodectic Mange: the treatment of demodectic  mange cannot solely rely on medication. Physiological stressors are an  important factor in determining the degree of severity of demodectic  mange. Females should be spayed as soon as the disease is controlled;  coming into heat, hormone fluxes, and pregnancy are very stressful.   Additionally, predisposition to demodectic mange is hereditary and  should not be passed on. Infected dogs should be fed a reputable brand  of dog food in order to avoid any nutritionally related problems. Keep  the pets free from parasites. Internal worms are irritants that the pet  should not deal with and fleas may enhance the itchiness and skin  infection. Keep up on the pet’s vaccinations; mites cause suppression of  the immune system so the pets needs every advantage to stay  healthy. Secondary skin infections are usually associated with  demodectic mange infections and antibiotics will likely be needed.  It  is very important that cortisone type medications such as prednisone not  be used in these infections as they will change the immune balance in  the favor of the mite. Medications: Ivermectin is the current treatment  of choice, though drug therapy is ultimately at the digression of your  veterinarian.

Resources:Brooks,  DVM, Wendy C. "Demodectic Mange." VeterinaryPartner - a VIN  Company! Veterinary Information Network, Inc., 1 Jan. 2011.  .Zajac, A.,  Gary A. Conboy, and Margaret W. Sloss. Veterinary Clinical  Parasitology. Ames, IA: Blackwell Pub., 2006.This information is  intended for general education purposes only and should not be relied  upon as a substitute for professional and/or medical advice.