EXOTIC PETS

Sarcoptic Mange – Causes, Identification, and Treatment Among the diseases that can be problematic to dogs, mange is one of the more distasteful and distressing conditions. The most often heard of form of mange – sarcoptic mange – is the result of almost invisible mites that eat under the skin of the dog and feed on the base of the hair follicles.

It is this destruction by an excess of sarcoptic mites that is the root of the discomfort, and treatment needs to be applied to the cause in order to attack the problem. Discovering Sarcoptic Mites It is imperative that one is aware of the cause of sarcoptic mange, and to do so it is vital that as much as possible is recognized about the mites that cause the condition.

Sarcoptic mites live mostly on dogs, although they can exist on other animals – particularly cats – that come into contact with the troubled dog. The mites do not live for very long – a few days is the known life span – but they lay almost as soon as they are born, and do so by digging into the skin of the dog. The eggs are born in a short while and the process begins again, leading to more mites on the dog and a further increase of the infection.

It is completely necessary that the mites are destroyed, and to do this the appropriate treatment must be applied. There are, however, notable signs of the onset of sarcoptic mange that the dog owner will be aware of. Signs The most obvious signs associated with sarcoptic mange involve frequent scratching by the upset animal along with hair loss in the given areas. Sarcoptic mites on dogs tend to breed in areas of less hair, although the population surge that accompanies the onset of mange can see them attack the overall body of the animal. Unusual rashes in areas where the hair is least prevalent can be a sure sign that mange is occurring, and the skin can become red and sore as a result.

The presence of any of these signs is a clue to mange on dogs and treatment should be sought very quickly. Although mange is very rarely a cause of fatality it is all too easy to ignore the signs in the first instance and allow the infection to develop beyond an acceptable level. There is a school of thought that the distress suffered by the dog is caused by allergic reaction to the mites rather than the digging effect itself, but it has also been found that allergy prescriptions are not effective in combating mange on dogs, or in the removal of sarcoptic mites. Distressed dogs may also indicate signs of lethargy and a noticeable loss of appetite, as well as sleeping at odd times and general signs of illness. In the face of any of these actions a closer look at the problem should be sought.

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