Sarcoptic mange is caused by a parasitic mite (Sarcoptes
scabiei) that burrows just beneath the surface of the skin. It is important not
to confuse sarcoptic mange with demodectic mange, which is caused by a
different parasitic mite."Sarcoptic mange is a zoonotic disease or a disease transmissible from pets to people."
These mites bury into the skin of healthy adult dogs and
puppies, and feed on material in and on the skin. Sarcoptic mange is also known
as scabies and is zoonotic, which means it is a disease
transmissible from pets to people.
What does it do to the dog?
What does it do to the dog?
The presence of the sarcoptic mite causes intense itching.
The dog will chew and scratch its skin constantly. This leads to the loss of
large amounts of hair, especially on the legs and belly. Eventually, the skin
will become thickened and will darken.
Is it contagious?
Yes. Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious to other dogs and
humans.
Although sarcoptic mites are not able to complete their life
cycle on humans, they will cause severe itching until they die. Since the mite may be found in areas where infected dogs or
foxes frequent, keep your dog away from these areas to attempt to prevent
infection.
How is sarcoptic
mange diagnosed?
Diagnosis is made by a skin scraping examined under the
microscope. It is common not to see sarcoptic mange mites when performing a
skin scraping. This is because the mites burrow deep into the skin and it takes
only a few mites to cause significant itching.
Just because no mites are seen, does not mean your dog does
not have sarcoptic mange. A presumptive diagnosis may therefore be made, based
on clinical signs. Sarcoptic mange may occur in any dog at any age.
How is it treated?
There are several medications that are effective
against Sarcoptes. Your veterinarian will discuss the best treatment for
your pet's condition and lifestyle. Treatment varies from medicated baths and
dips to injections and oral medications. Many pets will require a combination
of treatments to resolve this infection.
Topical treatments may be divided into two categories:
1) Dips. Some of the dips that are
used to treat Sarcoptes include amitraz and lime-sulfur dip. Your
veterinarian will provide you with information on how to use these dips.
2) Topicals. Medication applied
topically to one or two spots while the animal is dry. These medications are
applied every 14-30 days or as your veterinarian recommends. Some examples of
these topical medications include selamectin, imidacloprid and moxidectin,
fipronil among many others.
Just like topical medications, there are a wide variety
of oral medications available for the treatment of sarcoptic mange.
These oral medications may be prescribed in the form of liquid, pill, or
flavored chew, depending on the medication prescribed. Some of these oral
medications include milbemycin (the active ingredient of Interceptor® and
Sentinel®), afoxolaner (NexGard®), fluralaner (Bravecto®), and sarolaner (Simparica®).
These medications are used 'off label' for the treatment of sarcoptic
mange. The term 'off label' describes the use of a drug for
conditions other than what it was approved for. Many of these medications are
given for multiple treatments. To prevent re-infection, discard any bedding
where your dog sleeps, or wash it frequently in diluted bleach solution (one
ounce bleach in one gallon of water). If you dog is still scratching four to
five days after treatment has started, please contact your veterinarian.
Can I get mange from
my dog?
Yes. If any member of the family develops itching or a skin
rash, contact your family doctor immediately. Tell your doctor that you may
have been exposed to sarcoptic mange or scabies. In people, the mite cannot
complete its life cycle so it will die in a few days. However, it may cause
intense itching during that time and medical treatment is often recommended.
By Ernest Ward, DVM; Updated by Amy Panning, DVM
Contributors: Ernest Ward, DVM; Updated by Amy Panning,
DVM
© Copyright 2018 LifeLearn Inc. Used and/or modified
with permission under license.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment