Let’s begin talking about puppy health with a little story. You decided to bring a new puppy into your home, and because you are a responsible pet owner, you take your puppy to the veterinarian for a wellness exam. During the physical examination, the veterinarian notices some hair loss is around the eyes and the front feet and points this out to you. You haven’t noticed the puppy scratching in these areas and tell the doctor about the lack of scratching. You think that this must be a “puppy thing,” but the doctor takes some skin scrapings to check for any skin diseases. When the doctor tells you the results, you are shocked—your puppy has the mange. So what exactly is the mange?
The most common type of mange in dogs (and the type found in the puppy from our story) is demodectic mange. This particular form of mange is caused by Demodex canis, a species of mites that lives in the hair follicles of dogs. Demodex is most often found in puppies, but it can also be seen in adult dogs. The most common sign of the presence of Demodex is a noticeable thinning of the hair coat around the eyes, nose, and feet and a moth- eaten appearance on the main body of the puppy or adult dog. It is also possible for an area affected by Demodex to become itchy, signaling a secondary infection of the skin caused by bacteria infection (this is why the veterinarian conducted a skin scraping on the puppy in the story). Pets that are diagnosed with Demodex are not recommended to breed because the mites can be passed to their puppies. Demodex only affects dogs and can’t infect humans.
So, you know what is wrong with your pet, but how do you treat demodectic mange? There are many treatments out there to kill the mites, and the most commonly used treatment is a daily dose of oral Ivermectin. This particular medication can cause severe neurological side effects in certain breeds, so your veterinarian will closely and carefully monitor your pet during the treatment period. If your pet can’t be treated by Ivermectin or you wish to explore other treatment options, another option is bringing your dog into the veterinarian’s office for weekly dips of Amitraz, also known as Mitaban. This medication is applied topically and allowed to dry on the skin of the dog. Possible side effects of this medication are a drop in blood sugar in humans (if the medication is handled incorrectly), and it can be toxic to pets if the wrong concentration of dip is prepared. The final treatment option is a newer one that appears promising but has not been widely studied by drug companies for use in the treatment of Demodex. This newer treatment may be one you will use to prevent fleas and ticks. The next generation of oral flea and tick prevention for dogs has been shown to effectively treat generalized demodicosis in 3 months. So starting your pet on Nexgard or Bravecto for the prevention of fleas and ticks can also give you the secondary benefit of treating and controlling demodex mites.
If you have any questions concerning the care of your new puppy (or older pet), please contact your veterinarian.
If you have any questions concerning the care of your new puppy (or older pet), please contact your veterinarian.
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