Did you know that sarcoptic mange is a very common problem in dogs? Despite this, it is a disease that can cause a lot of discomfort for the animal if it is not treated early.
Below, you can learn more about this type of mange, its causes, symptoms, forms of transmission, diagnosis, treatments and prevention. Also, find out if it can affect cats, and the difference between it and demodectic mange. Check it out!
What is sarcoptic mange?
Sarcoptic mange is a dermatological disease in pets that causes skin irritation and severe itching. This can even cause deep wounds that can harm your dog’s health.
It is also known as canine scabies and is one of the most common diseases in dogs. This is because it is highly contagious. So, be careful if you have more than one animal at home. In addition, it is also transmissible to humans.
What is its cause?
Sarcoptic mange is caused by a specific mite — Sarcoptes scabiei. It is a parasite that makes a kind of “tunnel” in the pet’s skin, making the skin thicker and causing itching.
What are the symptoms?
The sooner you can identify the symptoms in your dog, the faster you can begin treatment and ensure that your pet is safe and healthy, without any discomfort.
So, keep an eye out if you identify any of the following symptoms:
- skin irritation;
- excessive itching , which causes the dog to scratch itself non-stop;
- hair loss in one area;
- reddened skin, especially where hair has fallen out;
- appearance of wounds and scabs;
- aggressive behavior;
- apathy;
- weight loss, among others.
Therefore, if you identify one or more of these signs, it is important to seek a veterinarian to monitor your best friend’s case.
Is sarcoptic mange easily transmitted?
Yes, precisely for this reason, this is a very common problem, as it can be quickly passed on to all the pets in a home and even to the owners themselves .
Therefore, it is very important to seek help as soon as you identify the first symptoms, to prevent the problem from spreading and harming the health of other animals or residents of the home.
How to get diagnosed?
Sarcoptic mange is a disease with very characteristic symptoms, but it can be confused with other pathologies that affect pets. Therefore, it is very important not to treat it yourself to avoid complications.
The diagnosis is made by a veterinarian, who analyzes the animal’s skin to check if there is any suspicion of the condition. If he believes there is a strong suspicion, he may request some additional tests.
Some of them are clinical and performed during the consultation. Others are performed based on laboratory tests, which can take a few days to receive the results.
Among the exams performed, the most common are:
- plucking test, to check if the hair comes out easily ;
- superficial scraping of the skin, aiming to collect material for microscopic analysis, in order to identify the presence of Sarcoptes scabiei ;
- blood test, to find out if the animal has any health problems that also need to be treated.
What are the forms of treatment?
If the tests indicate that the patient has sarcoptic mange, the veterinarian will prescribe the appropriate treatments. To do this, he will evaluate some issues, such as:
- whether the condition is at the beginning or if it is more advanced;
- whether the scabies is localized or widespread;
- if there are any changes in the dog’s blood test;
- if there are other pets with symptoms in the home.
The main types of treatment include the use of antiparasitic drugs to control mites, medicated shampoos, and the use of topical medications (such as ointments and sprays). The options will depend on the protocol chosen by the professional, depending on the case.
What is the difference between sarcoptic and demodectic mange?
Another type of dermatological disease that is reasonably common in dogs is demodectic mange. Both can have some similar symptoms, such as hair loss, itching and redness of the skin, which can be confusing for owners.
Demodectic mange is also caused by a mite, Demodex canis. However, in this case, it is one that is already part of the canine skin microbiota, that is, it is always present there. However, when there is a disordered multiplication that can occur due to a drop in immunity in the dog, causing the skin barrier to become fragile, the disease can develop.
In this case, it is not contagious, since the mite is normally present on the dog’s skin. It is essential to prevent the mite from spreading during periods of low immunity. There are also cases in which the animal has a genetic predisposition to developing this disease.
In the second case, it is necessary to keep an eye on it when it appears, but there is not much that can be done. Therefore, when the first lesions appear, it is necessary to seek veterinary care so that he or she can identify the condition.
Can sarcoptic mange appear in cats?
This is a very common question among pet owners: after all, if I have a dog and a cat at home, can sarcoptic mange from a dog be passed on to a cat? The answer is: yes.
Therefore, if one of the animals is sick, it is necessary to isolate it to avoid spreading the disease to other animals. And, if your cat is showing symptoms, it is also necessary to take it for evaluation and make a differential diagnosis in relation to other diseases that also affect the skin, such as sporotrichosis .
How to prevent?
To protect your pet, whether dog or cat, from sarcoptic mange, it is important to take some precautions, such as:
- When handling an animal on the street, consider the possibility that it may be infected. In this case, always wash your hands when you get home, before having contact with your pets;
- clean and sanitize the environment where you have a sick animal;
- isolate the pet that is undergoing treatment for mange, to avoid infecting other animals;
- be alert to possible symptoms of the disease, including in humans, and seek medical help if they appear.
As you have seen, sarcoptic mange is a relatively common disease that can greatly affect your pet’s well-being. However, with proper care, it is possible to prevent the disease or, once it has set in, treat it as soon as possible so that your pet gets better and recovers. Therefore, we hope that the information we have provided in this article can be useful for quickly identifying the problem.