Dogs with mange may experience hair loss, itching and inflammation. Microscopic mites that invade the skin cause the reaction. Many types of mites cause mange. Types of mange include canine scabies, ear mites, and walking dandruff.
Canine scabies are mites that burrow in the skin and lay eggs. Ear mites form on the outer part of the ear. Walking dandruff is characterized as mites walking on the skin.
In severe cases, mange in sensitive dogs can cause widespread inflammation and even death.
But there are several ways to control it.
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Prevention
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Maintain optimum health with your dog, Diet is important to preventing mange. Keep your dog's surroundings clean to significantly reduce a mite manifestation. Ask your vet for recommendations on controlling mange.
Treatment
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The type of mange determines the treatment. Treat ear mites with a parasiticide, which can be administered by a vet. For canine scabies, treatment could include clipping the hair and removing crust and dirt by soaking the dog with medicated shampoo.
For walking dandruff, treat the dog by dipping the hair in an insecticide prescribed by the vet. The insecticide is to be applied weekly.
For general use, use a medicated shampoo on the dog. Drench the dog in sulphur medication. Sulphur remedies skin diseases. Use should be directed by a vet.
Preventing a relapse
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Clean thoroughly areas where the dog had contact. Also clean such items as toys, bedding, collar, brushes and dishes. This is necessary because mites can survive off a dog or host for a variable length of time.
Also, take the dog to the vet for checkups to make sure that mites are expelled.
Keep the dog isolated from other dogs until he is healed.
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