Saturday, September 4, 2010

Top 3 Things You Want To Know About Mange And Your Pet

By Wendell Ruben

You may think that mange is not an illness that can affect your furry family friend. We have this preconceived image of a mangy looking creature, all skin and bone, half -starved with a patchy looking coat of fur. While dogs and cats that suffer with this condition do often exhibit the typical signs of the illness, it can be diagnosed, treated and prevented with proper animal care.

The first of these is demodectic, caused by a mite called Demodex canis. This mite, which is only visible with a microscope, appears even on healthy dogs. However, when it goes through a rapid growth in population, it can cause your pet to develop bald patches where the infestation explodes.

However, when an infestation becomes severe, a dog may have spots all over the body. Some people claim that mange is a condition that is linked to particular breeds. Some veterinarians agree; they see that certain breeds do have a tendency to develop this skin ailment more than others.

Cheyletiella mange is another form of this illness. Caused by a larger mite, which is red in appearance and visible under a magnifying glass, this type only causes minor itching. Sometimes called "walking dandruff", this form is contagious.

Often found in kennels, the mite that causes this will live on the surface of the skin. Because it is easy to spot, it is possible to remove this mite from its host. Without the food of its host to sustain it, it dies quickly. If your dog comes home from the kennel with this condition, be certain to let them know so that they can spray their facilities and prevent illness for their other guests.

Sarcoptic mange, otherwise known as scabies, is caused by a tiny mite. With this mite, the female burrows under the skin in order to lay her eggs. In the process, she irritates the skin, which causes your pet to scratch and bite themselves. The worst part of this form is not necessarily the bites, but how they become infected from constant scratching and biting.

All forms are treatable and many are preventable with proper animal care. The best way to prevent any of these infestations is simple: provide your pet with good nutrition, control other parasites such as fleas and worms and keep up with vaccinations. For demodectic and cheyletiella mange, treatment involves an insecticide dip, sometimes several times depending on the severity of the infestation. However, with scabies, your veterinarian will likely use an internal treatment to kill off the mites while treating the itch with steroids and perhaps even a medicated bath.

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