Mites love dogs as much as they love humans. They do not discriminate on leg count. Mites (demodex) live on skin and hair follicles. In normal numbers, mites don’t really cause any problems, however an overload of mites can cause demodectic mange. What happens, for some unknown reason, a dog’s immune system fails to control the mites and with the increased population results in inflammation or mange. This generally occurs in puppies but older dogs are not immune, especially if their immune system is already compromised. Mites are generally transmitted from the mother nursing to the puppies. Clinical signs of mites out of control is usually patchy and localized hair loss. In more severe cases there will be wide spread hair loss, itching, and secondary bacterial infection. A veterinarian will do a microscopic exam of the dog’s skin scrapes or skin biopsy. There is no real prevention of basic mites.
Other types of mites can cause an intense itching condition called sarcoptic mange (scabies). These types of mites are highly contagious for both dogs and humans. This type of mite burrows into the skin and lays eggs causing the intense itching. Clinical signs of mites other than the basic mites are intense itching, scaly thickening skin, scabs, and hair loss primarily on the elbows, ankles abdomen and chest. Contact with other infected dogs is the most common way these types of mites are transmitted.
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Are these mites the only cause of mange? I didn't know that mites burrow under the skin either. That sounds truly horrible for an animal or a human.
ReplyDeleteCleanliness is next to Godliness. This applies to all living creatures. Most animals will keep themselves clean. Not so dogs! But, you keeping them and their areas clean will keep mites at bay. This applies to outside areas and dog houses as well as inside areas.
ReplyDelete