Demodectic mange can make a dog miserable. The itchiness is so severe that dogs will roll on concrete to relieve it, and scratching only makes it worse and frequently hurts. Old wives' tales claim that bathing the dog in motor oil will cure it of its mites, but this is incorrect and can cause death. There are treatments that work, but prevention is the best cure.
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Cause
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Demodectic mange is caused by a proliferation of the Demodex mite. The mites are found in the hair follicles of perfectly healthy dogs and generally don't cause any problems, but when the immune system becomes compromised, the mites can flourish. It is this overpopulation of the Demodex mite that causes the visible symptoms and makes the dog miserable.
Transmission
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Demodicosis is not contagious in the traditional sense, and isolation of an infected dog is unnecessary. Although some species of the mite can migrate to another dog, the occurrence is rare, and as long as the dog is healthy will not cause any problems. By far, the most common transmission of mites occurs from a mother dog to its newborn puppies through cuddling and grooming. Once the puppy is a week or so old, however, its immune system has developed to the point where it will reject any new mites.
Symptoms
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Symptoms involve hair loss, redness and itchiness. Demodectic mange comes in three forms--generalized, localized and pododermatitis. The generalized form involves hair loss in large patches throughout the entire body to the extent that the dog will appear bald in places. The localized version affects only a small area of the dog, and no more than four places total on the body. Sometimes the bald spots associated with localized demodectic mange are small enough to be hidden by surrounding hair. Demodectic pododermatitis occurs only on the feet and is usually accompanied by a bacterial infection because the open sores come into contact with so much dirt. It is the form most resistant to treatment.
Treatment
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When an older dog is diagnosed with Demodectic mange, it is seen as an indication of a deeper problem and a sign that the immune system is not functioning properly, and the veterinarian will likely check for underlying disease before or during treatment. In young dogs, it is considered just a part of a maturing immune system, and most puppies recover without treatment. Vets often prefer to administer treatment anyway to help the dog's immune system along. A daily injection of Ivermectin is the preferred treatment, but some dogs may have an intolerance to the drug. In that case, weekly amitraz dips are recommended. The dog must be shaved for maximum contact with skin, and the sedative effects of the dip mean that it should be done at the animal hospital.
Prevention
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The No. 1 way to prevent demodicosis is to spay any female dog that has had it as a puppy because that tendency would be passed to its offspring, and it is not a desirable breeding trait. The rest is just about making sure your dog has the strongest immune system possible. Feed it quality foods and keep it free of fleas, ticks and intestinal parasites, and keep its vaccinations current.
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