Sarcoptic Mange

[Charlie809]

I'm concerned... We took Charlie (6 month old fawn) to the vet last week, and she said he had sarcoptic mange. I'm not very sure what this really means. I know it's a mite (or many, many mites). But what can I do to prevent this? It's not like a cold that simple runs it's course and goes away. The vet gave him a shot of invermectin and told us to use a sulferated lyme dip every five days. She also gave him prednazone tablets for the itching.

That's all well and good, but what about the environment he's in. I read somewhere that all of his bedding should be washed. So, I took the covers off his two beds and washed them with the various blankets he uses. Do I have to throw away the pads from his beds? Do I need to fumagate my house? The vet didn't really give me any information about treating the enviroment.

Is sarcoptic mange cronic? Will he break out in these itchy bald spots for the rest of his life? I read a couple of d-mange threads. They said that d-mange is the result of an underdeveloped immune system. I think d-mange is different than sarcoptic mange. Is this true? Will "s-mange" go away eventually (with treatment)? Is it related to his immune system?

A friend recommended Solid Gold's SeaMeal supplement for his coat. Will this help with the mange problem? Will it complicate things?

I know this was a little long, but I'm just so full of questions...

 

[gmacleod]

Yes, sarcoptic mange is very different to demodectic mange. D-mange is the result of a suppressed (or underdeveloped) immune system allowing mites that are a natural flora on the dog to multiply out of control. Sarcoptic mange is scabies (nits). It's also infectious - so you need to keep your pup well away from others till the mites are eliminated.

Here's a short article that you may find helpful: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1554&articleid=764

 

[harleyboxer]

Sarcoptic mange is easily treated with the topical product revolution. Revolution treats heartworms, fleas, sarcoptic mange, and i think ticks in dogs. One application will relieve the itching, but it should be applied a few months in a row to completely solve the problem. Sarcoptic mange is also transmitable to people. My dobe puppy was itching and chewing pretty badly when I got her and I suspected sarcoptic mange and used revolution. It cleared it right up.

 

[Charlie809]

Thanks for the info

Thanks for the input. I do know it's contagious, so I have been keeping him away from other dogs. I wasn't aware of the new solution "Revolution." I'm going to check that out. Is it a replacement for the normal flea and tick preventative (e.g. advantix)? The article suggested by gmacleod also said to treat the environment with a residual insecticide like permethrin. I'm going to look into that, too. And the finally, it appears that I should replace his bed with a washable blanket for at least 1 week to eliminate the mites from the bedding. Thank you both very much for your help.

 

[beasleymom]

Sarcoptic mange is easily treated with the topical product revolution. Revolution treats heartworms, fleas, sarcoptic mange, and i think ticks in dogs. One application will relieve the itching, but it should be applied a few months in a row to completely solve the problem. Sarcoptic mange is also transmitable to people. My dobe puppy was itching and chewing pretty badly when I got her and I suspected sarcoptic mange and used revolution. It cleared it right up.

Beasley has used REVOLUTION monthly since he had a mild case of S-mange a few years ago. If you've been through S-mange once you never wanna go there again and REVOLUTION has an anti-parasitic in it so it's a good preventative.

This is some info from the fine folks at REVOLUTION that's worth reading:

http://www.revolution4dogs.com/content.asp?country=US&lang=EN&drug=RV&species=CN&sec=200

 

[Charlie809]

We have an answer!

After a month of unsuccessful treatment for s-mange, the vet did a skin scrapping and determined the problem to be d-mange. So, the contagious part is off my mind. Now, we just have to lick the d-mange mites so we can get on with puppyhood.

I found one of Charlie's sisters last night while I was walking him. She lives in the next neighborhood over, and has a very bad case of d-mange. It's a real shame. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Charlie doesn't get that bad. There is another boxer pup at our vet that got a dip yesterday for d-mange. I've never met him, but I believe they are related, too. They have very similar birthdays in the vet's records. I'm pretty annoyed with the breeder. He should have known better! I think I'm going to write a letter and advise that he not breed his dogs anymore.

 

[TossBranAbi]

I personally would not dip my dogs as the dip is not healthy for them. D-mange usually just runs it course and then goes away (I think it is that way for 90% of cases). I am sure others will give you more information on the subject. Are the mites that similar that the vet made a mistake like that? Just a thought...

 

[gmacleod]

Are the mites that similar that the vet made a mistake like that? Just a thought...

The mites are not even remotely similar. It is rather a concern for a vet to make a mistake like that (I can't imagine how he possibly could, unless the initial diagnosis was made without a skin scrape - and that's worse!). Unfortunately, the un-needed treatment for sarcoptic mites in the meantime will have taken a toll on her immune system - which will probably make the demodex worse.

 

[Net45582]

You may want to let the breeder know that this litter is having this problem also.....to reduce the chance of it from happening in another mating.
Wanda Chancey & angel Kiddo

 

[Charlie809]

Misdiagnosis

The initial diagnosis was made by a young vet. She recognized a pattern of bald spots on Charlie's sides. She classified them as signs of sarcoptic because she considered them to be on the dog's underside. She didn't want to do a skin scraping because it was uncomfortable for the dog. (I guess that was a mistake). We did treat him with prednizone unfortunately (only for about a week). He also received a shot of invermectin every two weeks for a month. When I took him back for his third shot, I told the vet he had a new bald spot in his back. The new spot together with the fact that another boxer pup was just diagnosed with d-mange made the vet take a skin scraping. She said it was clear as day on the slide that Charlie had d-mange. I'm happy that we finally figured it out, but I'm bummed because the vet didn't find it earlier. I'm more upset over the idea that the initial treatments can make matters worse for the d-mange. I'm most concerned about Charlie's progress though. He is starting to loose more hair on his muzzle. I'm afraid he's going to develop the soars and cracked skin that his sister has. I randomly came across her when I walking Charlie the other day; she has mange also. It's such a shame!

I know the dips are nasty. We gave him three sulferated lyme dips during his month of s-mange treatment. I read an article about d-mange. It said that localized d-mange can resolve its self, but generalized should be treated. I would say that Charlie has generalized based on the quantity and spread of bald spots. Does anyone have other opinions about treatment? If I don't dip, what else should I do? I might call around to other vets in the area and get their opinions.