Pet Care
Your dog and.....Mites and Mange
By Fiona Warstat Dip.CABT(COAPE)NOCN PGDip.Couns.,Dip.Couns(NEFC)
Mites can be divided into two categories: Sub-Surface Mites – that live under the dog’s skin Surface Mites – that live on top of the dog’s skin Sub-Surface Mites: ‘Sarcoptes scabiei – canis’ is a round bodied, short stubby legged mite that burrow through the skin of the dog. It is a common mite and causes mange. People often refer to this type of mange as ‘fox mange’ as it is believed that dogs can pick up the mange mite from foxes or where foxes have been. This mite can live a few days off the host, so it could be possible for the mite to be passed on to the dog by the fox or by both fox and dog visiting a certain area. Although these are classified as ‘sub-surface’ mites, and the eggs are hatched under the skin, some of the developing mites find their way onto the skin surface, making it possible for the host to pass the mite on to another host, or for the mite to find its way into the same environment as the dog often goes, such as the garden. The itching caused by this mite is very bad, and the dog will scratch most of the time, sometimes becoming quite distressed. If a dog has the sarcoptic mange, then they may lose their hair in certain places on their body, usually the ears and elbows first, perhaps the tummy and inside the back legs, but then anywhere on the body, as the dog scratches and the mite moves. Humans can pick up these mites, so when treating an infected dog, it is very important to use protective gloves and clothing. Your vet will diagnose and advise on treatment for this type of mange, which can be a long process and sometimes involve skin scrapings to find the mite. Demodex canis: The demodectic mange mite. Most dogs have some of these mites living in their hair follicles (the base of the hair shaft) but they do not cause a problem because the dogs develop an immunity to it. In some dogs though, the dog will develop an infection because of the mite, causing demodectic mange. This can be on all of the dog’s body or just part of it. Generalised (all of the body) the mite can be diagnosed because it causes little spots or pustules. If the mite is localised (only on some of the body) it sometimes heals itself, though if it becomes generalised it needs treatment. This type of mange can cause the dog to lose its hair, and cause skin infections and extreme itchiness and itchy spots, causing the skin to feel and look like scales (rather like the folds of skin on a tortoises neck!). This mange is not as bad as sarcoptic mange, is more easily treated, is not as itchy and usually affects younger, short-haired breeds of dogs. Treatment can involve a medicated shampoo (a special shampoo with medicine in it), anti-biotics for the infection (tablets that fight the bacteria causing the infection) and an anti-itch injection or tablets – usually called steroids, if the infection is really bad.