Sarcoptic Mange in Dogs

Sarcoptic Mange - Causes, Identification, and Treatment Among the conditions that can trouble dogs, mange is one of the more unsavory and distressing conditions. The most prevalent form of mange - sarcoptic mange - is due to miniature mites that eat under the skin of the dog and feed on the base of the hair follicles.

It is this infection by an excess of sarcoptic mites that is the root of the illness, and treatment needs to be applied to the cause in order to attack the problem. Discovering Sarcoptic Mites It is essential that one is fully conversant with 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 in most cases on dogs, although they can be present on other animals - particularly cats - that come into contact with the troubled dog. The mites do not live a great deal of time - a few days is the expected 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 period and the process begins again, leading to more mites on the dog and a further increase of the infection.

It is utterly imperative that the mites are destroyed, and to do this the right treatment must be applied. There are, however, notable signs of the onset of sarcoptic mange that the dog owner should be aware of. of Sarcoptic Mange The most obvious signs associated with sarcoptic mange involve frequent scratching by the troubled animal along with hair loss in the given areas. Sarcoptic mites on dogs tend to live in areas of less hair, although the population advancement that accompanies the onset of mange can see them attack the whole body of the animal. Unusual itching in areas where the hair is at its sparsest can be a sure sign that mange is the problem, and the skin can become red and sore as a result.

The presence of any of these indications is a pointer to mange on dogs and treatment should be sought very quickly. Although mange is infrequently fatal it is all too easy to miss the signs in the first instance and allow the problem to develop beyond an acceptable level. There is a school of thought that the pain suffered by the dog is thanks to allergic reaction to the mites rather than the biting effect itself, but it has also been found that allergy remedies are not effective in combating mange on dogs, or in the removal of sarcoptic mites. Distressed dogs may also show signs of lethargy and a definite loss of appetite, as well as sleeping in irregular bursts and general signs of illness. In the face of any of these actions a second opinion should be sought.

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