Labrador Scabies Symptoms

Canine scabies is a highly contagious skin disease otherwise known as sarcoptic mange. The disease is caused by an infestation of the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. According to veterinary researcher Dr. Didier-Noel Carlotti, Labradors may be more susceptible to developing scabies than other breeds. Labrador retrievers do not have unique symptoms, however. They share the same uncomfortable and unsightly symptoms as other breeds.

  1. Itching

    • The mite that causes canine scabies spends most of its life underneath the dog's skin. Female Sarcoptes scabiei mites burrow tunnels beneath the skin to lay their eggs. The eggs hatch into larvae and molt several times while they are in the burrow, according to PetEducation.com. They do not emerge until they are full-grown adult mites. This causes severe and intense itching.

    Hair Loss and Skin Trauma

    • A dog with mange also develops extensive hair loss, according to PetSideHealth.com. This symptom first appears about a week after the dog has been infected. The ears and elbows are affected first, as well as the chest and belly. The hair loss spreads to the entire body. The web site explains that sometimes thickening of the skin also occurs with the hair loss. In addition to hair loss and thickening, dogs may experience hyperpigmentation, or darkening of the skin, because of the constant irritation, PetEducation.com said.

      Pustules, or pus pockets, erupt on affected areas of the dog's skin. The pustules rupture and ooze yellowish material that forms crusts, according to PetEducation.com. In addition, the severe itching associated with scabies causes the dog to scratch and bite at its skin. The dog develops sores and scrapes that often result in secondary bacterial infections.

    Diagnosis and Treatment

    • Several different methods are available to diagnosing scabies. A simple method is positive pinnal pedal reflex. The doctor rubs an ear flap between his fingers, according to PetSideHealth.com. The diagnosis for mites is positive if the dog scratches at the same ear with a hind leg. Skin scrapings look for presence of the mites under a microscope. Fecal samples sometimes contain mites that were ingested during biting and chewing.

      Scabies is treated with a topical monthly medication called selamectin, more popularly known as Revolution, according to PetEducation,com. The medicine also has the added benefit of providing heartworm prevention. Liquid ivermectin is another heartworm preventative that treats scabies. Weekly amitraz, mitaban and lime sulfur dips have also proven effective. Secondary infections and the symptoms of itching are treated using antibiotics and corticosteroids, according to PetSideHealth.com. Finally, wash the dog's bedding and environment in hot, soapy water or treat it using an insecticide such as permethrin.