Mange in dogs is not just a disease of neglected street dogs. Mange can also affect well-kept dogs. In order to get rid of the annoying parasites that cause mange in dogs, it is important to act at the first sign and have the dog treated by a veterinarian. You can find out everything about mange in dogs in this article.
What is mange in dogs?
Dog mange is caused by parasites that belong to mites. The sarcoptic mite, or burrow mite, infests the dog’s skin and burrows into the deeper layers of the skin. The mites cause severe itching when digging the tunnels.
Mites in dogs
Other mites, which also cause skin changes, should be distinguished from the real mange mites:
Ear mites
Demodex mites (hair follicle mites)
Fur mites (Cheyletiella)
autumn grass mites
Scabies
Real mange is only caused by grave mites (sarcoptic mites). The ectoparasites are highly host-specific, but can also affect cats and various wild animals.
What does mange look like in dogs?
The skin is covered with crusts. There is severe itching.
Mange in dogs – this is how it develops
Dogs become infected through direct contact with conspecifics infested with mange mites. The risk of infection is particularly high for puppies that suckle from a mother infected with mites. Since the mites can survive for up to six days at temperatures above ten degrees Celsius and up to three weeks in skin residue, infection is also possible via dirty objects such as blankets or brushes.
The Development Cycle
Most often, the infection begins on the head or other parts of the body where the skin is thin. The males of the Sarcoptes mite live on the skin or in the shallow tunnels in the superficial layers of the skin. After mating with the females, the males die. The female mites use their head tools to dig deeper and deeper into the skin and feed on horny scales and tissue fluid. The mites lay their eggs in the burrows.
The entire development cycle of mange mites takes place on and in the dogs’ skin.
The stages of development of the Sarcotes mites
After up to five days, the larvae begin to hatch from the eggs. They live in the boreholes and molt into nymphs in niches in the skin. The nymphs already have a similar appearance to the adult mites, but do not yet have a gender. After another molt, the development cycle is complete. Adult (adult) mites have emerged.
How does a dog get mange?
Infection occurs through direct contact with dogs or through dirty objects.
Evolution of Cheyletials
The mites do not burrow deep into the skin but lay their egg packets on the dog’s hair. The hatched larvae go through two nymphal stages and then molt into an adult mite.
The development cycle takes about three weeks.
Development of the Demodex mites
Small numbers of Demodex mites live permanently on the dog’s skin. Unlike the ticks, which are dependent on the ambient temperature, the mites find enough warmth on the dog’s skin. They can multiply throughout the year and be transmitted to other dogs.
Due to stress or illness, the mites begin to proliferate inside the hair follicles. Demodicosis occurs.
How do you recognize mange in dogs?
Severe itching, constant scratching, and skin changes are typical of mange in dogs. In addition, the mites are detected with a microscope.
Symptoms and signs of mange in dogs
Mange in dogs has several stages.
The initial stage of mange in dogs
In the early stages of mange in dogs, the skin affected by the mites is slightly reddened. Papules, small hilly swellings, form. The infection becomes purulent due to the infiltration of bacteria. pustules can be seen.
Scales accumulate on the skin. If these scales move, they are pseudoscales (cheyletial cells that run over the skin).
Advanced stage
The mites irritate the dog and cause severe itching. The dog is constantly scratching and rubbing on objects. The mange spreads more and moreover the entire body.
Due to the constant irritation, the top layers of skin thicken. The scratching causes more and more damage to the skin, and after a few days, the inflammation has spread over the entire body. Infection with pseudomonas causes the skin to emit a sweet odor.
Chronic mange in dogs
The skin is thick and covered with crusts and scabs on the surface. The dog is becoming increasingly emaciated. The general behavior is severely disturbed by the itching. The skin reacts painfully to touch. Cracks and fissures can be seen. The chronic itching and the associated pain trigger depression in the dog.
If left untreated, mange is fatal.
Diagnosis of mange
The diagnosis is made by detecting the mites under the microscope.
To detect the Sarcoptic mites, a deep skin scraping must be done by a veterinarian. The skin is scraped with a scalpel until slight bleeding occurs. As a result, the mites that are in the burrows get onto the slide. Cheyletials can be detected with superficial scraping. Fur mites can also be detected with a strip of tape pressed onto the skin and hair. The mites that cling to the hair remain attached to the adhesive surface. To detect the Demodex mites, a deep scraping must also be made in order to reach the mites in the hair follicles.
Is mange in dogs curable?
With long-term treatment, mange in dogs can be cured. Demodicosis usually recurs after some time.
Treatment options for mange in dogs
For effective therapy of mange in dogs, various treatment options must be combined.
External treatment
To kill the mites and the developmental stages, the dog is washed with a special shampoo. With the daily bath, the bark slowly detaches from the skin and the mites die off. The dog must be bathed with the shampoo for several weeks so that the developmental stages in the eggs are also killed. Some spot-on preparations, which are also applied dropwise against fleas and ticks, also kill the adult mites.
Internal treatment
Since mange in dogs is usually associated with a bacterial infection of the skin, the dog is given antibiotics in the form of infusions and tablets. The four-legged friend also needs essential fatty acids and vitamins in the infusion so that the skin’s defenses and the entire immune system are strengthened. If the skin is infected with fungi, it must also be treated with an antifungal agent.
If the itching is particularly severe, the dog is given cortisone to stop the itching. Cortisone has the disadvantage that the immune system is weakened if administered for too long. The mites can multiply more vigorously again. Therefore, the dosage and duration of treatment specified by the veterinarian must always be strictly adhered to.
Supportive treatment
There are some home remedies that can be given to dogs while the mange is being treated.
- The black seed oil contains large amounts of unsaturated, essential fatty acids that support the dog’s immune system and promote the formation of new skin cells.
- Coconut oil contains linoleic acid. The acid helps kill the mites and relieves the dog’s itching.
- Apple cider vinegar should only be used on chronic skin changes. In the case of acute injuries to the skin, the vinegar causes an unpleasant burning sensation. Towards the end of the therapy, apple cider vinegar supports the development of a new skin barrier.
- Aloe Vera moisturizes and stimulates the formation of new skin cells and collagen fibers.
- The gel reduces itching and has a cooling effect on the dogs’ skin.
Fluorescence biomodulation
If the skin is severely damaged, healing can be accelerated by fluorescence biomodulation. The vet applies a layer of gel to the dogs’ skin and irradiates the skin with a blue light lamp. The gel absorbs the light and sends long-wave rays into the lower layers of the skin. The formation of new blood vessels and cells is stimulated.
Is mange transmissible to humans?
Mange can be transmitted to humans. However, mange mites cannot settle and multiply in humans.
Mange in dogs: prevention and prophylaxis
To avoid contagion, there must be no contact with infected animals such as other dogs or cats. Good hygiene prevents transmission through objects. As soon as the first signs appear, a veterinarian should be consulted and treatment started.
Is mange contagious to humans?
Man is a false host. The mites cannot reproduce in human skin. The inflammation disappears after a short time.
