Demodectic mange is caused by demodex canis mites. These tiny pests live deep within hair follicles and are passed from mother to puppy during early life. A healthy immune system should keep these mites under control.
When the immune system is suppressed, mites flourish unchecked causing severe itching and hair loss. A variety of medications are available to treat this condition.
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Diagnosis
Puppies with demodectic mange typically exhibit bald patches, crusty skin and an oily or moist appearance. Mites live in hair follicles and are transmitted from mother to pup while sucking milk from a mother-dog source; immune suppression allows mite populations to thrive which causes this condition that can either localized or generalized across their entire bodies; however it’s not contagious among dogs.
Adult-onset demodectic mange is rarely seen among shelter animals over one year old, though it has been documented occasionally. Its cause often includes poor nutrition, stress and an underlying disease that suppresses immune systems such as diabetes or Cushing’s disease. Treatment includes special shampoos which open and flush hair follicles to allow dip and topical medication into them more efficiently as well as antibiotics prescribed to avoid secondary bacterial infections in affected areas and help alleviate itching; Amitraz (Mitaban) dips have proven particularly effective against adult demodectic mange cases.
Treatment
Demodectic mange can be treated safely and holistically using natural tools that work holistically. Its source lies within immune health issues that allow an overpopulation of Demodex mites (which live naturally on all dogs’ skin). Their waste products contain toxins which lead to related health problems for your dog.
Generalized demodex is most often observed in puppies; however, adults may also develop it. It can either affect one area (localized) or all surfaces of the body and is highly itchy; often associated with secondary bacterial infections and foul-smelling skin.
Diagnoses may involve deep skin scrapings and cytology – taking samples of hair from affected areas and examining it under a microscope to detect mites – in addition to treatment with benzoyl peroxide shampoo, which has proven successful by opening and flushing out hair follicles for better medication penetration.
Prevention
Demodex infections result when a dog’s immune system fails to keep mite populations under control, often seen among puppies during their first few days of life as it passes from mother to offspring through breastfeeding or inheritance of an immune-weakness-prone genetic trait from both parent animals. Puppies born to mothers with weak immune systems may also contract this form of mange; other causes for its appearance could be diabetes, Cushing’s disease and medications used against immune suppression such as Cushing’s.
Demodex itchiness can be effectively controlled with regular washing of affected areas of skin with special shampoo, which flushes hair follicles while opening them up so dip and topical medications can penetrate more efficiently. A repeat skin scraping should also be conducted every four weeks to make sure mites have been controlled; generalized demodectic mange must be evaluated immediately for potential immune system suppression and treated promptly.
Monitoring
Dogs naturally contain small numbers of mites; however, their immune systems should prevent their overgrowth. If this fails, demodectic mange – often leading to hair loss (alopecia) and itchy skin conditions – develops and can quickly spread through a pack.
A veterinarian will perform a physical exam on pets to detect any signs of alopecia and the related disorders. They may take skin scrapings from areas affected by alopecia in order to look for mites under a microscope and confirm a proper diagnosis.
Demodectic mange is usually hereditary and more prevalent among puppies; while adult-onset forms usually manifest themselves in older dogs with weak immune systems. Certain breeds such as Dalmatians and Old English Sheepdogs seem particularly susceptible; fatty foods, stress and lack of immunity all play a part in contributing to this disorder.
