The dog's mange is a skin disease caused by certain types of mites, which is not only extremely contagious, but can even be fatal if left untreated.
We will explain to you how your dog can become infected with mange, what symptoms to watch out for and what is necessary for successful treatment.
Mange is a parasitic skin disease caused in dogs by infestation with certain mite species. It is very contagious and causes severe itching and papules (small nodules) on the skin in affected animals.
If a dog falls ill with mange, so-called mange mites are responsible. The mange in dogs is usually caused by the mite species Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis. However, it is also possible that Sarcoptes scabiei var. vulpes, which actually prefers foxes as hosts, is responsible for the complaints.
Mange mites are also called grave mites. This is because the female mites dig small passages into the dog's skin where they feed on tissue fluid and keratin and then lay their eggs.
A female grave mite brings it in its life on approximately 50 eggs, from which larvae hatch after few days, which live first likewise in the drillings. Male predatory mites live in shallow tunnels or directly on the skin and die after reproduction.
The roe deer mites go through three stages of development, which last about three weeks in total. The larvae first develop into nymphs, which eventually become full-grown grave mites.
While grass mites become a problem for dogs only during their larval stage, roe mites pass through all stages of development, respectively in the skin of the four-legged friend.
Mange is highly contagious. The transmission of the grave mites takes place mostly through the contact with an infected Artgenossen. However, it is also possible that the mites from the environment are transmitted to the dog.
Because the annoying parasites can survive up to three weeks in fallen skin scales, which are for example in a brush or on a blanket.
For humans, however, the dog's mange is only partially contagious. People can also be attacked by grave mites. However, the parasites do not proliferate there, which is why in this case the symptoms remain mild and the disease heals on its own after about 14 days.
A disease of mange is manifested in affected dogs by a number of typical symptoms, which can vary in severity depending on the duration and severity of the mite infestation.
These symptoms occur particularly often around the eyes, ears, hocks, elbows and abdomen. Without treatment, the skin problems continue to spread and the general condition of the affected quadruped deteriorates.
The itching associated with the mange leads to an increase in licking and scratching of the affected dogs. This additionally intensifies the skin problems and often results in minor injuries.
If you suspect that your dog may have become infected with mange, a timely visit to the vet is essential. The veterinarian will be able to check whether your fears are true and can help you with the treatment.
The diagnosis must exclude other possible causes of the skin problems. These include in particular allergies such as atopic dermatitis or a feed allergy.
To diagnose the mange, the veterinarian takes a small sample of the skin and examines it for mange mites and their eggs, larvae, nymphs and faeces.
If the examination of the skin capsule does not lead to a clear result, a blood test can be carried out. However, the antibodies can be detected at the earliest two weeks after infection. In addition, not all dogs produce antibodies when infected with mange mites, which is why this test is not always reliable.
In some cases, the dog's mange is treated simply on suspicion. If the medicine strikes, the veterinarian knows that he was correct with its presumption.
A variety of preparations are available for the treatment of mange in dogs. These include ivermectin as an injection, washing solutions with amitraz or spot-ons with active ingredients such as moxidectin and selamectin.
If a dog suffers from particularly strong itching due to mange, the veterinarian will additionally recommend the administration of glucocorticoids for the treatment.
It is essential for the success of the treatment that it is not stopped until the infestation with mange mites has been completely eliminated.
Due to the high risk of infection, it is not sufficient to treat only the four-legged friend affected by mange. If there are other dogs living in the household, they must also be treated against mange mites.
In addition, conscientious hygiene measures are necessary. In order to prevent the mange from breaking out again, the sleeping area in particular and all the dog's care utensils, such as hairbrushes, should be thoroughly cleaned.
As a rule, mange can be treated well in dogs. As with many other diseases, however, it is important to take action in good time. The sooner an infestation with grave mites is discovered, the shorter the suffering for the affected animal and the better the symptoms can be controlled.
An infection with mange cannot be completely prevented in dogs. Nevertheless, there are some things you can do as a keeper to reduce the risk.
In our assortment you will find some products whose application can be useful for dogs with mange. In addition to our natural wet and dry food, which provides the weakened body of the four-legged optimally with nutrients, these also include various dietary supplements and care products.
Bellfor Mites Stop is our natural alternative for dogs with mange. The well-tolerated powder of diatomaceous earth can help to counteract an infestation with mange mites without putting additional strain on the dog's organism.
In order to counteract the great strain that mange puts on your dog's immune system, we recommend that you take a dietary supplement with Bellfor Immun.
Our calluses ointment is ideal for treating small wounds that your dog has inflicted himself by scratching and biting and can help support the healing process of the skin.
The dog's mange is a parasitic skin disease caused by so-called mange mites. It is highly contagious and extremely unpleasant for affected animals.
The symptoms of mange include numerous pathological changes in the skin and severe itching. For the prevention and treatment different preparations come into question.
However, the active ingredients contained are often insecticides, which can also pose a risk to the dog's organism. Since a lack of treatment for mange can be fatal, the use of appropriate medication can hardly be avoided.