This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Elf (talk | contribs) at 03:56, 26 May 2004 (continuing work on new article). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 03:56, 26 May 2004 by Elf (talk | contribs) (continuing work on new article)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) | This article is actively undergoing a major edit for a little while. To help avoid edit conflicts, please do not edit this page while this message is displayed. This page was last edited at 03:56, 26 May 2004 (UTC) (20 years ago) – this estimate is cached, update. Please remove this template if this page hasn't been edited for a significant time. If you are the editor who added this template, please be sure to remove it or replace it with {{Under construction}} between editing sessions. |
Mange is an irritation of the skin, usually including itching, inflammation, and hair loss, caused by microscopic mites. Mange is most commonly associated with dogs and other canines, but it can occur in other domestic and wild animals and, occasionally, in humans.
The mites embed themselves in the hair follicles or skin, depending on the type, making both detection and treatment difficult. It can be treated with parasiticidal shampoo, topical or oral medication, or injections, but it takes time and patience for repeated applications and almost always requires veterinary care.
Two types of mites produce canine mange, and each has its own symptoms.
Demodectic mange
Also called demodicosis, demodectic mange is caused by an overpopulation of Demodex canis, a mite that occurs naturally in the hair follicles of most dogs. In most dogs, these mites never cause problems. However, in certain situations, such as an impaired immune system, intense stress, or malnourishment, the mites can reproduce too rapidly, causing anything from mild irritation and hair loss on a tiny patch of skin to severe inflammation, infection, and--in rare cases--a life-threatening medical condition. Small patches of demodicosis often correct themselves over time, although treatment is usually recommended.
This variety of mange is not contagious; these mites thrive only on very specific hosts (dogs).
Sarcoptic mange
Also known as canine scabies, sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious infestation of Sarcoptes scabei canis, a burrowing mite. The sarcoptic mite can also infest humans.
This mites dig into and through the skin, causing intense itching and crusting that can quickly become infected. Hair loss and crusting frequently appears first on elbows and ears.
For more information, see Scabies
Diagnosis
Veterinarians usually attempt diagnosis with a skin scraping, which is then examined under a microscope for mites. Because they are burrowing creatures, they are not always present on or near the surface of the skin when the scraping takes place. As a result, diagnosis is often based on symptoms rather than actual confirmation of the presence of mites. This also means that mange is occasionally misdiagnosed as other medical conditions, and vice versa.
References
- UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Book of Dogs, Ed.: Mordecai Siegal
- The Complete Dog Owner's Manual, Amy Marder, V.M.D