Treatment and control of external parasites

Generally, your veterinarian will conduct a routine ear examination when the pet is first seen usually before vaccinations or check- ups to ensure that your pet is free of ear mites.{{more}}

When ear mites are found, treatment of the ears usually involves ear cleaning and medication over a period of about 1 week.

Sarcoptic Mange:

Or Scabies is an intensely pruritic (itchy) dermatosis of dogs caused by a mite called Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis.

Although the mite generally affects dogs, it can also affect cats, foxes, and humans for variable periods of time.

Adult mites live approximately 4 weeks, but they are susceptible to drying and can live only a few days off the host.

Scabies is highly contagious and is primarily transmitted by direct contact or contact with areas that infested dogs live or congregate.

The fact that only small mite populations are typically found in most dogs with scabies suggests that hypersensitivity plays an important role in the course of the disease.

Clinical Signs:

Sarcoptic mange mites burrow through the top layer of the dog’s skin and cause intense itching. Clinical signs include generalized hair loss, a skin rash, and crusting. Skin infections may develop secondary to the intense irritation. Lesions (Sores) are most severe on the belly and face. Areas classically affected include: elbows, knee, below the chest, and the ear flap.

Sarcoptic mange is usually confirmed by taking a skin scraping and examining it under a microscope.

Treatment and control:

Dogs with sarcoptic mange require medication to kill the mites and additional treatment to soothe the skin and resolve related infections. Cleaning and treatment of the environment is also necessary.

Demodectic mange:

Demodectic mange caused by demodectic mange mites is mainly a problem in dogs. Demodectic mange mites are microscopic and not highly contagious. In general domodex mites are not spread to other animals or across species. A mother dog, however, can pass mites to her puppies.

Localized demodectic mange tends to appear in young dogs (usually less than 6 months old) as patches of scaly skin and redness around the eyes and mouth and , perhaps, the legs and trunk. Itching is not common with this type of mite infestation unless a secondary infection has occurred. Unlike other types of mange, demodectic mange may signal an underlying medical condition, and your pet’s overall health should be carefully evaluated. Less commonly, young and old dogs experience a more severe form of demodectic mange (generalized demodecosis) and can exhibit widespread patches of redness, hair-loss, and scaly, thickened skin. Dogs with demodecosis can develop secondary bacterial infections which require additional treatment.

Cats are rarely infected with demodex mites, and the cat demodex is not the same as the dog’s. Affected cats develop hair loss, crusts and scaly skin around the face, neck and eyelids, and may excessively groom the areas. They may be more itchy than dogs affected by demodex.

Demodectic mange is usually confirmed by taking skin scraping and examining under a microscope.

Treatment and control:

Your veterinarian will discuss treatment options with you. Treatment of dogs with localized demodectic mange generally results in favourable outcomes. Generalized demodecosis, however, may be difficult to treat, and treatment may only control the condition, rather than cure it.

For further information, contact: Dr. Collin Boyle
Unique Animal Care Co. Ltd.
Tele: 456 4981
Website: www.uniqueanimalcare.com