Information on Red Mange on Dogs
Red mange, also known as demodectic pododermatitis, demodectic mange, follicular mange and puppy mange is caused by the skin mite demodex canis. Red mange is an unsightly skin disease a significant portion of the dog population will contract at some point in their lifetimes. Unlike sarcoptic mange, which is highly contagious, red mange is rarely passed from one adult dog to another.
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Juvenile vs Adult Onset
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Small populations of the Demodex canis mite live naturally on all dogs, according to experts at Vetinfo. The mite usually passes from mother to pup in the first few days of life. Healthy adult canines can generally control the bug's numbers, but puppies have more problems doing so because of their developing immune systems. If an adult contracts red mange, it is usually a result of a trauma that has lowered the dog's immune system, a genetic predisposition to the infection or an indication of a much bigger health problem, like cancer, metabolic defects, heartworm, liver disease or kidney disease.
Localized vs Generalized Red Mange
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Localized red mange usually occurs in juvenile dogs without underlying health conditions. The infection often follows an illness and/or a weakening of the immune system by trauma. Localized mange, as the name would indicate, is confined to a particular area of the body. Generalized manage is classified as either juvenile or adult-onset and is widespread on the body, affecting several patches of skin.
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Symptoms
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Symptoms of localized red mange, according to Vetinfo, include thinning hair or lesions in one area, usually on the head or on the front part of the body. Red or crusted patches of skin also appear with irritation, sometimes with itching.
Generalized red mange produces red and/or crusted patches all over the body and may also include secondary bacterial infections, fever, loss of appetite, enlarged lymph nodes, itching, odor and oozing from lesions.
Diagnosis
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Diagnosis of both localized and generalized red mange is obtained through physical examination and testing skin samples. For these tests, a small amount of skin is scraped from a suspicious area and though it may be uncomfortable for the dog, the scrapings are not deep and should not be painful, according to Vetinfo.
Treatment
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Treatment of red mange depends on the age of the dog and whether the infection is localized or generalized, according to experts at Vetinfo. Localized infections can be treated with antibacterial shampoos and ointments with a 90 percent success rate. Only 10 percent of these canine patients' mange will progress to generalized mange.
Generalized mange in a puppy can usually be treated with a more comprehensive application of the antibiotic shampoos and ointments used for localized mange, as their immune systems are still developing. Generalized mange in an adult, however, is a different story. Adult-onset generalized mange requires prescription anti-mite baths and drugs and a thorough evaluation of possible underlying health conditions predisposing the dog to the infection. As certain medicines cannot be used with some breeds, consultation with a veterinarian is advised by the website Vetinfo.
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References
- Photo Credit two sweet puppies image by Lars Christensen from Fotolia.com
