Mange in dogs, also referred to as canine scabies or sarcoptic mange, is a skin condition that causes a large amount of irritation and discomfort for the infected dog.
The condition is caused by mites that burrow into the dog's skin, and luckily there are several ways to rid an infected dog of these pesky mites. Treatments include topical and oral medications, along with proper grooming.
Any treatment will be most effective and easiest to manage if the mange is spotted early.
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First Signs
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It generally takes approximately two weeks for signs of mange to appear, but the first noticeable signs are hair loss and excessive itching.
The itching and hair loss most often begin in the elbows, armpits, ears, chest or stomach because the mites prefer areas of the skin with less hair.
Progressed Infection
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Shortly after the itching and hair loss begin, the infection will progress and your dog's skin will begin to show more traumatic signs of infection.
Small red areas of skin filled with pus similar to a pimple will form along with a yellow crust along the top layer of skin.
The dog will also cause additional trauma to the skin with excessive scratching and biting at the unpleasant infection. This will cause a variety of sores, raw spots and irritated red skin.
When Left Untreated
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If this condition is left untreated, it will worsen further.
Severe cases of mange are marked by darkened skin and enlarged lymph nodes near the infected area. It is also likely that the sores caused by the dog's own scratching will become infected by other bacteria and debris.
Misdiagnosis
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While the signs of mange are fairly simple, the infection is often misdiagnosed as an allergic reaction to something in the dog's environment.
The infection associated with mange is caused by an allergic reaction to the mites, but it will not respond to traditional treatment for environmental allergies.
If a dog is diagnosed with allergies and the condition continues to worsen once treatment begins, it is likely that it has been misdiagnosed. In this case, the owner should schedule a follow-up with the veterinarian.
Professional Diagnosis
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While the signs of mange are easy to spot, it is still important to have the diagnosis confirmed by a veterinarian.
A veterinarian will be able to scrape a sample from the dog's skin and examine it under a microscope.
Unfortunately, the mites are only visible in about 20 percent of skin scrapings, so veterinarians are often times forced to go on other information to make a proper diagnosis. They will take into consideration factors such as the dog's history with allergies or mange and the time of year.
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