mange-stupid question

[Bobbi]

Help!

We are expereincing a huge mange break out up in Sussex County NJ.
Can a fox/coy spread mange rubbing on a fence? I forgot to ask the vet--

I have sanitized everything with bleach just to avoid getting it. My pyr shows signs--however she does not have it scrappings came back negative--did the scrapping 3 times just in case.

Found out its tyroid and is on meds.

We are dealing with losing a lot of hair-she looks awful.

I would like to shave her down, but I don't know if this will be good or bad.

I'm very new to grooming-did home study.

I just took the course for tips on my 3 pyrs and to help out shelters.


Confused and worried-I have not done any other dogs, none have come to my home until she clears up.

[neanea]

Yes, it can spread through this type of contact. "Mange" is actually cause by a Mite, but there are different types of mange. Demodectic mange is cause by an immune system "weakness" and is a reaction to the demodectic mite, which is present on most all dogs. Then you have sarcoptic mange, which is very contagious and can spread rapidly through a population via casualy (or even secondary) contact.

As far as your Pyr, I don't think it would hurt anything to clip her down, but just keep in mind that the hair growth may take a while to grow back and fill in because of the thyroid issue.

[Helly]

If you're talking about sarcoptic mange, it can indeed be spread by incidental contact in areas where foxes and coyotes have spent time. The mites can also be spread by cats, squirrels and raccoons, even humans. But the species of sarcoptes that you usually find on dogs prefer canines; dogs, coyotes and wolves.

Sarcoptic mange can be difficult to diagnose from skin scrapings, since only about 20 percent of infested dogs will have a positive scraping at any given time. While finding mites in a skin scraping is a positive diagnosis, a negative skin scraping doesn't necessarily rule out mange. If there are positive indications of mange, intense itching and redness at the elbows, arm pits, belly, groin, and the dog doesn't have a history of allergies, many vets elect to treat for mange, even in the absence of a positive skin scraping.

There's also a condition called sarcoptes incognito. You won't ever get a positive skin scraping with this, as the mites are buried too deeply in the skin. Even skin biopsies sometimes fail to reveal the mites. But dogs that are treated for sarcoptes anyway will improve and recover.

Thyroid issues are a whole 'nother ball game. Clipping won't help, and you probably will not get good coat regrowth unless/until the tyroid problem is under control. You don't need to be concerned about other dogs being affected, it's not contagious.

If it were my dog, and he was showing positive signs for mange, I'd ask the vet to treat for it, even if the skin scrapings were all negative. If the vet refused, I'd head on down to the local hardware or lawn/garden shop and pick up some lime sulpher dip and do it myself. It's messy. It stinks. But it works.

[Bobbi]

Mange--thank you

thank you so much.

Yes the vet is treating her as if she does have it. Pred, antiboticis, Ivermyacin.

Its just so bizzare-no other dogs, cats humans are showing any signs.

I will keep you posted

[Helly]

There are a couple of things you didn't mention. Like how old the dog is, where the hair loss is occuring, if she also has a lot of dandruff, and if she's really itchy. Could it be possible she has demodectic mange, and not sarcoptes? Or, if she has a lot of dandruff, could it be chyletiella parasitavorax?

The chyletiella mite causes a lot of itching and dandruff. In fact, the common name for the condition is walking dandruff. But, thinking on it, they'd probably show up on a skin scraping.

Demodex usually shows up on skin scrapings, too. But there are rare cases where it doesn't. But demodecosis isn't contagious to other dogs, cats, or humans.

[eli]

unusal treatment to me for sarcoptic mange

I'm more familiar with the frequent dipping with ___ (name escapes me at the moment).

I was a champ at the dipping. All the mites were gone in no time due to my saturation soak method.
I used a large cat litter like plastic box, sat the dog in it & poured the mix over the dog catching the excess & reusing/repouring it over the dog over & over again. Careful not to get it in the eyes.

Yours sounds like something else. Demodex maybe?

Erica

[Helly]

I'm more familiar with the frequent dipping with ___ (name escapes me at the moment).

I was a champ at the dipping. All the mites were gone in no time due to my saturation soak method.
I used a large cat litter like plastic box, sat the dog in it & poured the mix over the dog catching the excess & reusing/repouring it over the dog over & over again. Careful not to get it in the eyes.

Yours sounds like something else. Demodex maybe?

Erica

That was probably Paramite or lime sulfur dip. I think the lime sulfur dip was extremely popular back in the day because it's inexpensive and relatively safe.

Since the discovery that ivermectin will kill mange mites (both types), along with some of the other oral medications used for heartworm control, many vets no longer do the dipping. Oral meds are just so much easier.

[eli]

Let's open a can of worms!

That ivermectin is such a wonder drug!!
Got me to thinkin-
Your momma dog gets her Heartguard (containing Ivermectin) monthly and passes the protection on to her pups for an undetermined amount of time.
New pup owner doesn't use the stuff. 6 months later the pup dog has an outbreak of Demodex. Possible? Probable?

Just one more reason to do your monthly duties.
Erica

[goldiphlox]

Help!

We are expereincing a huge mange break out up in Sussex County NJ.
Can a fox/coy spread mange rubbing on a fence? I forgot to ask the vet--

I have sanitized everything with bleach just to avoid getting it. My pyr shows signs--however she does not have it scrappings came back negative--did the scrapping 3 times just in case.

Found out its tyroid and is on meds.

We are dealing with losing a lot of hair-she looks awful.

I would like to shave her down, but I don't know if this will be good or bad.

I'm very new to grooming-did home study.

I just took the course for tips on my 3 pyrs and to help out shelters.


Confused and worried-I have not done any other dogs, none have come to my home until she clears up.

Hi Bobbi,
I live in Fl now, but I'm from Hampton Township and my whole family and their pets still live there. I'll have to let them know about this..Laura

[Helly]

That ivermectin is such a wonder drug!!
Got me to thinkin-
Your momma dog gets her Heartguard (containing Ivermectin) monthly and passes the protection on to her pups for an undetermined amount of time.
New pup owner doesn't use the stuff. 6 months later the pup dog has an outbreak of Demodex. Possible? Probable?

Just one more reason to do your monthly duties.
Erica

Sorry, Heartguard doesn't work that way. It kills all stages of heartworm larvea the dog was exposed to in the last 45 (probably more like 60) days, and exits the system within 72 hours. And the dose of Ivermectin in Heartguard isn't strong enough to affect the demodex mites.

Virtually all puppies are infested with demodex within the first couple of day of life. The only exception are puppies who don't have the opportunity to nurse from their mother or a foster dog during the first three days after they're born. After three days of age, they can't be infested, even if they're exposed. I don't remember why, but I do remember that they can't.

Dogs get demodecosis purely from a breakdown in their immune system; either immaturity or a defective immune response due to genetics, severe illness, extreme stress, drug toxicity, or old age. Or, in the case of my bull terrier, spider bites.

[eli]

Did an apricot 2 yr old Poodle

today with skin that looked like it was on a 10 year old. Kinda yeast smelling, but my other thought was demodex issues. Hair was somewhat sparse & very cottony. VERY timid dog with submissive wetting issues too.

Any thoughts? Stress related? Anything to do with color? I own 2 apricots & skin is good.

I told her to call her vet.