Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]CANINE DEMODECTIC MANGE[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Mange is a parasitic skin disease caused by microscopic mites. Two different mange mites cause skin disease in dogs. One lives just under the surface of the skin, while the other resides in the hair follicles. Although both mites share some s imilar characteristics, there are also important differences. It is important not to confuse the two types of mange because they have different causes, treatments, and prognoses.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]What causes demodectic mange?[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Demodectic mange, sometimes just called "demodex", is the most common form of mange in dogs. It is caused by the demodectic mange mite, a parasite which lives in the hair follicles of affected dogs. Under the microscope, this mite appears shaped like an alligator with eight legs. All dogs (and many humans) have a few of these mites on their skin. As long as the body's immune system is functioning, these mites cause no harm. [/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Demodectic mange most often occurs when a dog has an immature immune system, allowing the mites to grow rapidly. Therefore, this disease occurs primarily in dogs less than 12-18 months of age. In most cases, as a dog matures, the immune system also matures. Adult dogs that have the disease usually have defective immune systems.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Does this mean that demodectic mange is not contagious?[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Yes. Since the mite is found on virtually all dogs, exposure of a normal dog to one with demodectic mange is not dangerous.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Why doesn't the immune system mature correctly in some dogs?[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Development of the immune system is under genetic control. Thus, an affected dog usually comes from a litter containing other affected puppies. Owners of littermates should be put on the alert to watch for it. Because the disease is due to a genetic defect, affected dogs should not be bred. Also, parents of the affected dog should not be bred again.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]What does demodectic mange do to the dog?[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Surprisingly, a dog with demodectic mange does not itch severely, even though it loses hair in patches. Areas of bare skin will be seen. The hair loss usually begins on the face, especially around the eyes. When there are only a few patches of hair loss, it is termed localized demodectic mange. If the disease spreads to many areas of the skin, it becomes generalized demodectic mange.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]How is demodectic mange treated?[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The localized form is usually treated with topical medication. The generalized form requires shampoo therapy and a special dip or oral medication. Shampooing with special cleansing shampoos helps to flush out the hair follicles prior to dipping. Dipping is described below. For dogs with generalized demodectic mange, secondary skin infections may represent a complicating factor requiring antibiotic therapy. Dogs with skin infections have very red, inflamed skin. This is the source of the term "red mange." [/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I heard that there is a drug that can be given orally for demodectic mange? Is that true?[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Yes, with some reservations. Ivermectin is a drug that is used for prevention of heartworms. It is also used for certain parasites on cattle. The cattle preparation has been used orally for demodectic mange in dogs. In many dogs it is very successful and is less expensive to use than some of the newer topical products. However, it is a very strong drug that can cause severe side-effects, including death, if it is not dosed properly. It is not approved for use in dogs, so we would only consider using it as long as you are willing to accept liability for adverse effects.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]What is the prognosis for my dog?[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Treatment of the localized form is generally successful. Treatment of the generalized form is also usually successful. However, if the immune system is defective, neither the mites nor the infection may respond to treatment.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Following successful treatment, is it likely to recur?[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Because the immune system does not mature until 12-18 months of age, a dog with demodectic mange may have relapses until that age. It is important for retreatment to begin promptly to minimize the possibility of developing uncontrollable problems . Demodectic mange may also occur in very old dogs because function of the immune system often declines with age. Dogs who have immune suppression due to illness or medication are also candidates for demodectic mange.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The dip commonly used for demodectic mange contains the insecticide amitraz. Its use requires some caution because it is a strong insecticide that can have some side-effects to your dog and to you if it is not used properly. Your dog may experience vomiting and sedation for 24-36 hours following each application. If so, those problems will usually be self-limiting. If this occurs, the dip should be diluted with 25% more water the next time it is used. Since each dipping results in the development of tolerance to the dip, your dog is less likely to have side-effects with each subsequent treatment. Your dog should be dipped three times at fourteen day intervals, then examined for the presence of live mites or mite eggs. Further treatment will be determined by the results. If you do the dipping yourself, be sure to wear rubber gloves to prevent getting it on your hands.[/font]

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

thanks for the info...

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

how about to a 2 month old pup that has this demodectic mange. What would be the treatment that is not too toxic to the pup.I believe ivermectin is not advisable to administer to a pup because of their undevelop body what would you suggest to use like wash, etc. Any info cold help a lot.

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

I suggest having a skin scrape done first to determine if the pup is suffering from demodectic mange or sarcoptic mange (scabies). If it is indeed demodex, I would just try bathing in oxydex shampoo once a week & giving the pup a short period of time to see if it will clear up on its own. In many cases of pups this young, it can clear up. Also if it is just localized (in certain places not making up the majority of the dog) then there are some ointments you can use. If the pup makes it to 4-5 months old with no change, I still like Mitaban the best but you have to bee real careful on the dosage. The pup might also have scabies which can be cleared up with lyme sulfur dips. On a dog that small, it's not a big deal to use that dip. It usually only takes 2-3 dips & your pup is safely "cured".

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

Nu-Stock ointment is great, even on pups that young..

Personally, I don't use the mitaban dip, ever, I made the mistake of reading all the problems and saw just how toxic it is so I chose to treat it with nu-stock and ivomec with great results.

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

hey guys please post he difference between demodectic mange and sarcoptic mange.
Thanks

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

Chopper got red mange when he was about 7 months old Luckily I cought it really early. The vet did a skin scrape and perscibed mitaban I had to mix it in a milk jug and dip him twice, waiting a week in between the dippings. It got rid of it but it is difinitly some strong stuff!

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

oral ivermectin may take care of the problem.

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

ivermectin is not sufficiant for severe cases of demodex, antibiotics are needed.

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

Demodetic mange mites live in the hair folicles of the skin - Sarcoptic mites actually live right under the skin. They have similar characteristics, but are different in many ways as well.

Sarcoptic mites are highly contageous, even for humans, and feed off materials just under the skin surface. Commonly called "scabies," these mites cause EXTREME itching and discomfort, usually on the belly, inner legs, and armpits. The best treatment for scabies is Ivermectin. The itching and scabbing associated with scabies can cause secondary skin infections, where anibiotics would be neccessary.

Demodex mites are found in all dogs at all times. In fact, we do too. You'd might be surprised to know that there are MANY demodex mites living on your eyelids right now! What makes the difference is whether the animals immune system is mature or capable enough to supress the mites or not...or to be able to create a harmonious balance with the mites. Puppies usually have a weaker immune system, therefore are more likely to have a problem with "demo." Although patches of hair loss will be evident, the dog will not be suffering from severe itching. The best treatment for demo is also Ivermectin and additional antibiotics. Most use a liver/kidney-ease suppliment while dosing with ivermectin in dogs.

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

Not always, i have a boxer that had D-mange until about a month ago. he is now 1.5 yrs old. he was bald at one point and was on antibiotics for a short period of time in the begining but they didnt help. he was going to the vet for 1 dip a week and a shot to boost immune systemtwice a week. about 4 months ago he was taken off all that and put on inv. and he is now off everything with ALL his hair back.

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

Question: My girl had adverse reactions (accelerated hair loss, loss of appetite, listlessness, irritability) due to the Mitaban Dips, and is now being treated with Ivermectin, and I'm definitely looking into better quality diet, and limiting stressful conditions... What else can I do to for her? Is Oxydex shampoo a good addition to her treatment?

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

How old is your dog? Try nu-stock

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

Keep in mind that a supressed immune system can be due to young age, recent trauma (cropped ears, first heat, pregnancy, fight wounds, other bodily infections, etc)...but it may also be, and alot of times is, due to a hereditarly weak immune system passed down from the parents. Check into the health history of your dogs sire and dam, and find out if they had any skin or immunity problems.

If your dog has Localized Demo, meaning there are just one or two patches of effected area, my advice is to improve the dogs immune system capabilities by feeding a better diet (maybe even a Carb-free diet as someone mentioned on this forum once), getting good exercise, and living a generally stress-free life for a while. If you are interested in ever breeding that dog, give it time to try to fight the demo problem off naturally, without the intervention of medications. What this will do for you, is to prove that the dog has/will have a strong enough immune system at maturity if he fights it off naturally.

If he doesn't fight it off naturally, and it begins to move into the Generalized Demo stages, than I would suggest stepping in and treating the problem promptly. That dog (IMO) should then not be bred, and if determined that this is a problem with most of his littermates, that whole litter should be culled if possible. However, if you have ZERO intentions of breeding the dog, take care of the problem as soon as you see the signs and get it diagnosed as positive demodex.

This is a problem you DONT want in your 'line of dogs, whether breeding for game, show, or pet quality animals.

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

I have never seen the 'Dips have success with treating Generalized Demo. More often than not, I've watched friends' dogs get worse, lose more hair, and the infections get more painful. I've also heard somewhere that dogs build a quick immunity to the dip chemical itself... even though, generally, their immune system is lacking at that time.


Sorry Rod, I clicked 'Reply' to the wrong post...

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

Just to give another side of this "probem" the latest info and I think the right take on red mange which is that it is just a by-product of a weak and or suppressed immune system is that it is a "systemic" problem and NOT a "genetic" problem. It can almost always be corrected by proper diet and with or without treatments. There are logical reasons why it cant be genetic but I know that what nearly every vet. will tell you that it is. There have been holistic type animal folks who proved ( at least in the tests they did ) that if and when the immune system was corrected or strenghten by proper diet and then the animal was bred under good health that the suppressed immune system and the effects "red mange" is NOT passed on to the pups. Years of unhealthy dogs, feed crap food, with weak immune systems is why these pups with mange just all of a sudden appear out of no where in animals that never had this problem before.

The mitaban dips are toxic and I wouldnt do it unless it was an extreme situation because it is nasty stuff and pluss you are just treating a symptom and not the problem. I know on on dogs under 2 years the immune systems seem to be weaker and instead of waiting untill the dog is in full health with a strong immune system it is eaiser to just kill the mites early and then let the system recover. Nothing wrong with this approach as long a a good diet is also given to the dog but the dips themselves are hard on the dogs immune system and can also lead to seazures too. I would try the diet first and just let the dog grow up and depending on how bad the dogs mange is, do the dips as a least resort.

FYI, I am not a vet. nor a dog health expert this is just my personal conclusion to private study, personal experience and research so take it for what its worth.
hbk

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

i treated a pup with SEVERE demodex. i refused to use the mitaban dip.

i put him on www.timberwolforganics.com food, gave him wild alaskan salmon oil, icelandic organic kelp, vitamin C, Bee pollen w/ propylis, DMG Immune liquid, ivermectin oral meds, neem oil to rub on his body, and www.botanicaldog.com flea therapy shampoo(as it helps mange too).
here is when i first got him:

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

and here he is 2 months later :

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

I do agree with you on most, especially the diet issue...but is also my personal experience from personal study and observation that a bitch who HAD demo as a pup but is appearantly healthy at breeding age is about a bazillion times more likely (that's a scientifc number ) to throw that to her offspring (the weak immunity) than a bitch who never had a problem. My thoughts are, that while breeding you want to select two dogs who have been the epitome of good health throughout their entire lives. It would be a much better idea, to breed a dog who has never had an immune deficiency than to breed one who has. That's not to say that the one who has been healthy her whole life WONT produce demo pups, nor that the one who had demo, 100% WILL throw demo pups. But in my obso...the risk is alot higher, and I personally wouldn't want to take a risk like that if I were trying to start a yard, my own bloodline, or had plans to breed this ONE bloodline in my yard for years to come.

 

Re: Demodectic Mange (aka Demodex or "Red Mange")

NEVER EVER breed a dog that has had demodex mange.. the mange can and will reoccur during stress, and that is not something to breed with.