Mange is usually caused by microscopic mites that end up boring into skin of a dog and live just one or two millimeters deep. They then lay eggs that turn to larvae and then into adults who find their own mates and starting multiplying and the cycle just continues. The dog may end up a miserable mess and uncomfortable with itching but the big worry is infection.
Mange can cause the dog’s immune system to get very strained as it tries to ward off the mites. Further strain on the immune system can be caused by the dog’s scratching and causing infection. If an area of skin gets infected and the dog has weak defenses, things can get real bad.
Knowing what the symptoms are is vital since even a vet may miss identifying the mange. A good common test is to take a skin scrapping and place it under a microscope. The problem is that only 20% live on the surface meaning there is 80% chance scrapping will not give you good results.
At first the best sign for mange is hair loss and usually in the belly, ears, haunches and face. Pimple like bumps on bald patches of skin are also common and occasionally a yellow crust forms around a bald spot usually in the area of the ears.
Prevention is the best treatment. Using products such as Advantix and Frontline acts as mite repellents, however if the mange is present then a series of chemical dips will probably be necessary and is not pleasant for either the poor dog or the one doing the dipping. The immune system is aided and itchy skin soothed with a teaspoon of olive oil added each day to his food and also vitamin E supplements can be crushed and added.
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