Demodectic Mange in Puppies

Demodectic mange refers to a condition where skin mites have infested. All dogs raised naturally by the mother will have demodectic mange mites on them, as the mites migrate from the mother dog to the puppies during the first few days of life. In healthy puppies, these mites do not cause any health concerns; the puppy's immune system keeps the reproduction of the mites in check. However, in some puppies, the mites will proliferate and cause a condition known as demodecosis.

  1. Not Contagious

    • Demodectic mange is not considered a contagious disease, even though puppies get it from their mothers. The mites are not transmitted between unrelated dogs or to humans or other species of mammals. This is due to the quick development of the immune system, which protects the puppy from additional infestation.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of demodectic mange include itching, hair loss and reddened skin. There are two types of demodectic mange: localized and generalized. In a localized case, the puppy will have the normal symptoms; however, they will be concentrated in one of two areas, usually around the eyes. In a generalized case, the symptoms will be more widespread.

    Diagnosis

    • Diagnosis of demodectic mange in puppies usually occurs upon visual examination of the dog, due to the fact that hair loss usually occurs in specific patterns. If demodectic mange is suspected, the veterinarian will request a follow-up test to determine if the mange mites are present. An area affected by hair loss is scraped and the resulting sample is examined under a microscope. If demodectic mange mites are visible, the diagnosis is confirmed.

    Treatment

    • Demodectic mange mites live inside the hair follicles of the puppy. This makes them extremely hard to kill with topical pesticides. The treatment of choice several years ago was a series of medicated dips using the miticide Mitaban. However, this product is no longer being manufactured. Also, the use of Mitaban dip is contraindicated in dogs under four months of age. Veterinarians are now using oral or injectable ivermectin to treat demodectic mange in puppies.

    Prognosis

    • The long-term prognosis for puppies with demodectic mange is good. As a matter of fact, dogs under a year of age that have followed the appropriate treatment protocol have a better than 90-percent chance of making a full recovery. Puppies that have undergone treatment and have had two negative skin scrapings--meaning that no mites were found upon microscopic examination--can discontinue treatment altogether. However, some dogs will continue to have problems with the disease and a few will show no signs of improvement at all.