Canine Demodicosis: Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment
When we talk about scabies, we think of a troubling process for our pet, which can be contagious. Canine demodicosis, or demodectic mange, is a relatively common phenomenon that, a priori, is treatable.
In this article, we’ll talk about the causes, diagnosis and treatments available.
What causes canine demodicosis?
The cause of this disease is a mite of the genus Demodex, more specifically the Demodex canis. Under normal conditions, these microscopic beings live in the follicles and in different areas of the skin of many mammals.
In dogs, more specifically, these mites are commonly found and the dog’s immune system is in charge of keeping their numbers under control.
When, for various reasons – a deficient immune system, for example – the population of these mites increases uncontrollably, an infestation appears, which causes a series of skin damages that finally trigger canine demodicosis.
Symptoms of demodicosis
This disease can affect both young and adult dogs. Therefore, we can speak of localized demodicosis when it affects puppies or dogs less than two years old. The most common symptoms are shedding of hair, along with inflammation of the skin, especially on the head and feet.
Our friend may suffer from the so-called pruritus, which is nothing more than continual and incessant itching. This variety of canine demodicosis is less aggressive and tends to subside over time.
On the other hand, generalized demodicosis is much more serious and affects adult dogs. The infection begins to spread to various regions of the animal’s body, and even reaches the nails and base of the feet.
In this case, the lesions that affect the skin are more virulent and deep and suppurative wounds may appear. All these symptoms are usually accompanied by fever, general malaise and incessant licking in the affected regions.
Diagnosis
Fortunately, the diagnosis of canine demodicosis is simple. Just do an examination by scraping the dog’s skin to confirm the presence of the causative mite. Typically, the veterinarian will shave the skin on the affected areas deeply to accurately confirm the diagnosis.
At this point, it should be noted that, if we observe any of the symptoms described above in our pet, we must quickly take him to the veterinarian, so that treatment can begin as soon as possible.
Treatment of canine demodicosis
Considering the underlying diseases, the treatment of this disease may vary. Whether the disease is localized or generalized also influences.
In the case of localized demodicosis, although it is common for it to subside over time, the veterinarian may prescribe some type of shampoo, combined with an acaricidal treatment.
If the disease is widespread, the solution is usually to resort to Amitraz baths. In fact, this antiparasitic medication can help cure symptoms, but it can have adverse side effects.
The products that are usually applied to animals with generalized demodicosis are focused on curing the symptoms, as some animals will suffer from the disease chronically. Thus, this phenomenon is usually associated with a compromised immune system.
It is important not to interrupt the treatment and have periodic exams to confirm if the presence of the mite has decreased. As preventing this disease is a difficult task, we must seek an adequate quality of life for our dog: healthy food, daily exercise and company.
Finally, we must remember that, in case of any doubt, the specialist veterinarian is the best person to consult when something is not right with our pets.
