Skin Disorders in a Pitbull Puppy
Puppies are put in situations that are rife with bacteria and parasites. They have consistent access to dirt and live in an environment that is moist and warm at least some of the time. This makes them particularly prone to skin disorders, which are easily passed from one pitbull pup to the next by the mother's grooming. The most common of these are mange and pyoderma.
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Mange Causes
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Mange is caused by microscopic demodex and sarcoptic mites, which tunnel into a pitbull puppy's skin to suck blood and eat dead skin cells. These mites are hardy, reproduce quickly and are highly contagious through physical contact and bedding.
Mange Symptoms
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Mange and scabies have some very specific symptoms. Pitbull puppies begin to lose hair in patches, and their skin becomes dry and scabby or flaky. This is accompanied by violent itching. In very young pups this can be a serious situation and lead to heavy weight loss.
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Pyoderma Causes
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Pyoderma is a skin infection caused by canine-specific strains of the staph bacteria. Like most infections, pyoderma is prevalent in warm, moist areas. The infection is quickly transferred from puppy to puppy through the mother's grooming.
Pyoderma Symptoms
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Pyoderma presents as scabby yellow pockets on a puppy's skin. If it's allowed to continue, it will lead to hair loss and possibly permanent disfigurement. Pitbull puppies, as wrinkled pups, are particularly prone to skin-fold pyoderma, which strikes in the folds of a puppy's wrinkles.
Treatments
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Both mange and pyoderma in pitbull puppies are treatable conditions, and are best if treated early. Mange is treated with chemical miticide washes to kill the mites. Pyoderma is treated with antibacterial washes to kill the bacteria. Both treatments require a prescription from a vet.
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References
- Photo Credit puppy image by Karol Grzegorek from Fotolia.com
