Red Mange in Dogs

Red mange is caused by a parasitic worm known as demodex canis which is also a microscopic mite. Dogs with a compromised immune system are more susceptible to this disease, which may be genetic.

This condition can be localized or generalized. The former is mostly seen in young dogs below the age of one. The disease can occur due to sudden illness in the young dogs. The first signs show hair thinning in the areas of eyes, mouth, lips and front legs. It can be treated with medication in time. The latter could be caused due to acute illnesses.

Generalized form can be categorized depending upon the age of the dog, into juvenile-onset or adult-onset demodicosis. Juvenile-onset generalized occurs in dogs with age ranging from eight months to three years and can be self-cured. However, the adult-onset can develop due to immunosuppressive therapy or any other underlying diseases. Proper therapy is required to treat the lesions caused by it.

Symptoms
The most common symptoms include scaling, skin pigmentation, redness, itching, hair loss and skin papules. The symptoms can be diagnosed in dry form and in pustular form. The dry form is characterized with scaly and rough areas on the skin of the dog. The lesions start appearing on the head, neck and followed by the forelimbs.

The pustular form occurs in rare cases, with symptoms being red, swollen and greasy skin. Secondary bacterial infections may occur in the affected areas and spread to the other parts of the body. If not treated in time, it can be fatal for dog health.

Home Remedies
An oatmeal pet shampoo can be used to relieve the itch. Using garlic for its anti-bacterial properties helps prevent bacterial infections. Garlic contains sulfur that keeps the mites away. The extracts of some herbs like dandelion, licorice root and nettle can be taken internally to combat this disease. These herbs help in the blood circulation and blood purification.

A mixture of one part of lavender oil with ten parts of almond oil when applied to the affected area can cure this disease. Other than these, neem oil, Calendula oil and aloe vera are also effective to use as topical solutions for treating this disease. A healthy and nutritious diet is a must for strengthening the immune system of your pet.

Treatment Options
The treatment of red mange in dogs depends mainly upon two factors that are, the severity of the infection and what type of the parasite is present in your pet's body. You should take your pet to a vet whenever you notice any of the aforementioned symptoms. Antibacterial and antifungal medicines are usually prescribed for treating this condition.

Analgesics in the form of ointments and powders are to be applied in the affected region only after bathing. Lime-sulfur insecticide is given by the vet to kill the mites present on your pet's body. It is prescribed in the solution form for bathing purpose. This helps to get rid of the dog fleas from your pet's body. Localized mange can be cured with proper medication within four to six weeks. But, generalized treatment requires long-term treatment with proper follow-up.

This disease can be also treated with ivermectin. It is given orally or intravenously to the dogs. This treatment can be allowed only under strict supervision of a veterinarian. As many breeds of dogs are sensitive to this treatment, starting with lower doses is the best option to check the sensitiveness of the dog. One more drug, namely milbemycin oxime works well when it comes to curing this disease.

Amitraz dip is another option for curing demodectic mange. Four to fourteen dips are administered to the dog once in every two weeks. After two to four dips, a skin scraping is carried out to check the prevalence of the mites. Before treating the dog with amitraz dip, the dog should be bathed with benzoyl peroxide shampoo to remove all the cellular debris present in dog's body.

If your pet is showing any of the aforementioned symptoms, take your pet to the nearest vet to get the infection diagnosed quickly. If diagnosed at an early stage, this condition can be cured with proper treatment and care.