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Dog Skin Parasites - Sarcoptic Mites, Canine Sarcoptic Mange, and Sarcoptic Mange Treatment

31 Dec

Posted by stevewar as Dog Skin Problems

What is Mange?

The term mangy is used to describe a ragged, uneven, unhealthy coat, combined with terrible skin irritation and damage caused by mites digging into a dogs skin and effecting the skin and hair follicles.

There are two types of mange typically found in dogs. Demodectic Mange, and Sarcoptic Mange.

Demodectic Mange is caused by the Demodex mite, and usually only occurrs in puppies and older dogs because of their undeveloped or weak immune systems. In puppies, demodectic mange usually clears up on its own once the dog reaches 12 months of age. Demodex mites are not easilly communicable to other dogs, and rarely effect humans. For more information on Demodectic Mange, click on the link.

Sarcoptic Mange, also known as scabies, is an skin infection caused by a parasite known as a Sarcoptic mite. This mite, also known as scabies, is highly communicable, and cause much mroe severe irritation and damage to dogs as well as humans. They dig tiny tunnels into the skin where they cause intense itching, leading to irritation, hair loss, and self mutilation.

Diagnosis

Many cases of Sarcoptic Mange are incorrectly diagnosed by veterinarians as allergic dermatitis, when in fact the issue is Sarcoptic Mites. This occurs because a Sarcoptic Mite infestation looks very similar to allergic dermatitis since the skin is reacting to an irritant, exactly like an allergy.

The intense itching typically results in signficant hair loss, self mutilation, and crusty skin lesions. In some dogs, the case can be so severe that they are literally covered with bald spots, crusts, and scabs. As Sarcoptic Mites are easilly communicable by humans, quick diagnosis is vital for the health of your dog as well as all people in your household.

Here is an effective in home test that accurately indentifies (95% accuracy) a Sarcoptic Mite infestation in your dog. It is called the Pedal-Pinna Reflex Test.

Most dogs with Sarcoptic Mites will have them along the ear flap (called the Pinna) margins. The dog will reflexively use a back leg in a scratching motion if the Pinna is scratched gently by a person testing this reflex. Simply take the Pinna between your thumb and forefinger and scratch the surface of the underside of the Pinna with the forefinger. Dogs with no mites seldom work the back leg in a scratching motion. Dogs with sarcoptic mites almost always will demonstrate an involuntary scratching motion with the back leg while you are scratching the Pinna. Here is a video demonstrating the Pedal-Pinna Reflex Test:

Here are some pictures of what Sarcoptic Mange looks like

An unfortunate side effect of Sarcoptic Mange being diagnosed improperly as allergic dermatitis is the perscription of cortisone based treatments such as Prednisone. Cortisone is not a cure, but rather a strong anti-inflamatory which reduces the symptoms of a Sacroptic Mite infestation; it makes the dog more comfortable at the expense of covering up the actual problem.

This can pose a serious problem for your dog if it indeed does have Sarcoptic mites in its skin. Sacroptic mites reproduce more quckly in the presence of cortisone, and, coritsone reduces your dogs natural ability to fight against the mites.

Further complicating the issue is the ellusiveness of Sarcoptic mites. Unlike other mites such as Demodex, and ear mites which are easilly detectible using simple skin scraping, scabies mites are almost never detected in skin scrapings. Even with repeated deep scraping, scabies mites manage to ellude detection. This is the primary reason for misdiagnosis as allergic dermatitis; since no mites are found in the scrappings, and the skin is red and itchy, it really does look like allergic dermatitis. If your dog is diagnosed with allergic dermatitis after you perform the Pedal-Pinna Reflex Test, ask your vet to perform the Pedal-Pinna Reflex Test. If he / she is unfamiliar with the test, ask them to research it, or reschedule with a vet who does.

Proper Treatment

Once you have determined your dog has a Sacroptic Mite infestation, you will want to change their diet to a high protein / high fat diet, consisting mostly of fish and meat. Also, a fatty acid supplement such as salmon oil, will help your dog's immune system fight off the mites. I recommend Nutricoat Food Supplement by Eight In One.

Ivermectin

Ivermectin is an amazing substance that has been used for years as a dewormer. There is solid evidence that when used correctly Ivermectin kills scabies mites. There are known risks of using Ivermectin in specific breeds of dogs. Ask your veterinarian if Ivermectic is appropriate for your dog.

Chemical Dips and Sprays

If your dog can not use Ivermectin, the classic treatment approach consists of several chemical dip and spray treatments combined with the use of medicated shampoo. Revolution, by Pfizer, has been found to be a very effective topical solution for treating Sarcoptic Mites.

All sarcoptic mite treatments require a perscription, and your veterinarian will select the treatment most appropriate for your dog.

Multiple Pets

If you have multiple pets including dogs and cats, it is important to have them checked and treated when a Sarcoptic Mite infestation occurs since there can be asypmtomatic carriers (your pet shows no sign of infestation).

FURTHER READING

For a complete survival guide on stress-free dog care, including detailed information on when your dog needs to see the vet, how to respond to pet emergencies, dog First Aid, and all common health problems, check out The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health. It’s a complete handbook on dog health care, and teaches you how to take a proactive and prepared approach to knowledgeable dog ownership.