We received a question about Mange recently. The client wrote:
I want to thank you for your post last month, it was very informative.
My friend’s dog is being treated for mange. I understand it is very contagious. Should I worry about contact with my friend and his dog, in that I can pass it to my dog?
Thanks for the help, - Faith G.
Dear Faith G.
Thank you for your email. I am always gratified to hear from regular readers of our newletters.
First of all, casual contact with your friend is unlikely to cause your dog to contract the condition since the affected pet is already taking a course of meds to alleviate the infestation. That said; mange can be very contagious and as such it is always a good idea to minimize direct contact and wash up afterwards.
Mange is caused by parasitic mites; most often they are either of the genus Demodex or Sarcoptes. The former, specifically Demodex canis is rather specific to dogs. In fact, most dogs have some demodex mites somewhere on their skin, and are generally able to tolerate them to a degree. A small number of dogs, however, develop sensitivity to this type of mange, and it causes red irritated skin, and bald patches from hair loss – usually around the face and ears. Sarcoptic mange on the other hand, is a mite that can infect dogs, cats and humans. (In humans, the condition is called Scabies.) Between animals, Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious.
In both forms of mange, the mites burrow into the skin causing intense itching. The animal then furiously scratches the affected area to try to alleviate the itch thereby breaking his/her own skin, which leads to secondary infections and further complications.
Luckily there are steps you can take to safeguard your pets from mange:
Reduce exposure by keeping your pets away from direct contact with infected animals, bedding and toys. Bathe and groom your dog regularly. Know your pet dog or cat, and keep an eye out for tell-tale signs such as excessive scratching, bald spots, papules and rashes. If any of these symptoms appear, especially after exposure to a possible carrier of this condition, contact your vet immediately. There are skin tests he can perform to confirm whether your pet has mange.
The good news is many of the meds your pet is taking against fleas and ticks also are also effective protection against mange, in particular products that uses selamectin and ivermectin: AdvocateTM by Bayer and RevolutionTM by Pfizer are examples. Consult your local veterinarian on which product is right for you.
Again, mange is both curable and manageable, however once your pet contracts the disease it may demand a high level of effort to control it.
-Jim C, for Canacreek.com
submit your questions to info@canacreek.com
Hi,
I really like reading your blog. You have some good information on here.
I think my dog may have scabies. My friend told me that I could use Revolution on it and it will kill the scabies. Is that true? thanks for your help.
Dear KimiErin,
Thanks for your comment. The condition in dogs and cats is called mange; and your friend is correct, it can be controlled through certain OTC products such as Revolution(tm). As always, consult your local veterinarian.
Scabies, on the other hand, is the human form of mange, as such one should never use medication that was developed for pets on humans.
Just a note, even though cats and dogs are biologically similar to people, doses and active ingredients that are harmless to pets may pose a health risk to people.
-PM
for Blogginpaws and Canacreek
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Hi Sacha,
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-PawsM
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