Mange Life Cycle
Often known as canine scabies, sarcoptic mange is caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei parasite. Mange consists of microscopic mites that can aggravate the skin of otherwise healthy dogs. The infection can lead to serious skin disorders such as serious itching or loss of hair. Mange can attack many animals, including cattle, but are much more likely to target dogs. The life cycle of the mange is two to three weeks.
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Function
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Mites are tiny organisms that live inside a dog's skin. The sarcoptic mites usually spend the entirety of their lives on the body of a dog. A female mite typically buries itself into a dog's skin, depositing eggs as she progress. The female mite then dies and the eggs she has left hatch into six-legged larvae. The larvae typically emerge three to eight days after the female dies and will in turn evolve into eight-legged adult nymphs. The adults then mate and the cycle starts over again. The whole life cycle of the mange takes two to three weeks to reach fruition.
Features
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Moist, low-temperature surroundings will help mange survive for longer. Although the mites would rather spend their life cycle on the skin of the dog, they can also survive apart from the host in an appropriate environment for up to 22 days. Moist, low-temperature surroundings are most conducive to keeping the mites alive. They are only likely to last for two to six days when inhabiting a place at typical room temperature. Due to the mite's capacity to stay alive free of the host organism, it is possible for a dog to be attacked and infected despite having no physical contact with another infected dog.
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Symptoms
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Itching is the most common symptom of infection. An array of symptoms are associated with the life cycle of the mange. Most commonly, your dog is liable to experience severe itching in the region of the elbows, ears, abdomen and chest. Mites commonly target areas of the body that have the least amount of hair. In the advanced stages, red pustules can merge in conjunction with a dry, yellow crusting of the skin. Due to the damage caused to the skin, infections can occur, further aggravating the dog's temperament.
Diagnosis
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Sarcoptic mange is often misdiagnosed. Sarcoptic mange is often misdiagnosed as atopy, an inhalant allergy that affects dogs. If a dog displays signs of extreme itching, which is out of sync with its usual afflictions, mange is likely to be the culprit. The severe itching that afflicts infected dogs is believed to be an allergic reaction to the presence of the mite rather than any irritating motions of the life cycle of the mite itself. Typical allergy treatments for dogs will not allay the symptoms and have no capacity to fight the infection. Itching does not typically emerge for several weeks after the initial infection, but will be almost instantaneous if a dog becomes infected again.
Treatment
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Utilizing dips and cutting your dog's hair short can help it back to health. Traditionally, cutting a dog's hair to very short levels and washing it in a benzoyl peroxide based shampoo has been used as an effective treatment for mange. Certain dips, such as those consisting of amitraz, have also yielded favorable results. Typically, a dog would be exposed to a dip every two weeks. Care should be taken as the dips can be toxic and are also likely to aggravate the dog around the face and ears. A dog's bedding area can also be laced with an insecticide to fight the attack of the mites. Even if a dog does not display symptoms, it should be treated if it has been exposed to contact with an infected animal. Treatment should be given for at least four weeks, due to the mange's life cycle and its capacity to survive free of any host organism.
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References
- Photo Credit dog image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com virus image by Danielle Bonardelle from Fotolia.com dog image by Zbigniew Nowak from Fotolia.com x-ray diagnosis image by Keith Frith from Fotolia.com medical tools image by JASON WINTER from Fotolia.com dog image by Joanna Redesiuk from Fotolia.com
