Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

154 •DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
There is a vaccine for cats for ringworm, primarily used in catteries with
longstanding problems, but nothing for dogs at this time.
Strict hand-washing precautions are necessary to prevent human contamination.
Children should not be allowed to handle pets with ringworm. Wash
contaminated clothing and fabrics with bleach.
DEMODECTIC MANGE
Demodectic mange is caused by a tiny mite, Demodex canis, too small to be
seen with the naked eye. Nearly all dogs acquire mange mites from their
mother during the first few days of life. These mites are considered normal
skin fauna when present in small numbers. They produce disease only when
an abnormal immune system allows their numbers to get out of control. This
occurs primarily in puppies and in adult dogs with lowered immunity. A high
incidence of mange in certain bloodlines suggests that some purebred dogs are
born with an inherited immune susceptibility.
Demodectic mange occurs in localized and generalized forms. The diagnosis
is made by taking multiple skin scrapings and looking for the mites.
Demodectic mites are usually easy to find.
Localized Demodectic Mange
This disease occurs in dogs under 1 year of age. The appearance of the skin is
similar to that of ringworm. The principal sign is thinning hair around the eyelids,
lips, and corners of the mouth, and occasionally on the trunk, the legs, and
the feet. The thinning progresses to patches of ragged hair loss about 1 inch
(2.5 cm) in diameter. In some cases the skin becomes red, scaly, and infected.
Localized mange usually heals spontaneously in six to eight weeks, but may
wax and wane for several months. If more than five patches are present, the
Localized demodectic
mange with moth-eaten
hair loss around the dog’s
right eye and on the forehead.
The skin is red and
inflamed.