Cat with mange.
Mange is a skin disease found in many mammals and is caused by a mite that burrows under the skin. Most people know it from its presence in their pets, usually dogs and cats. There are several mites that cause the disease, but only a few affect pets.
Scabies mites cannot be seen with the naked eye, but the effects of their burrowing can be quite dramatic. There are several different types of scabies; some types look like dandruff, but the effects are usually short-lived:
Notohedral mange: A scaly skin condition that usually starts in the ears, but can spread to the rest of the face and body if left untreated. This type can be spread among cats, dogs, rabbits, and humans. Sarcoptic mange: A very itchy skin condition, sometimes called canine mange, and common in dogs. This type of disease usually attacks hairless areas, such as the abdomen and elbows. While it can spread to cats and humans, the mites usually don’t survive long. Demodectic mange: The mites that cause this type actually live in the hair follicles and are known to be very itchy. It can spread throughout the body and can be difficult to cure, but early treatment is often successful.
Common symptoms and diagnoses
Dogs are at risk for mange.
Depending on the type of mite causing the problem, the symptoms may vary for each animal. Some pets will experience intense itching, while others will experience no itching at all. In some cases, a hairless red patch will develop on the animal’s skin. Red bumps that look like pimples may also appear on the affected area of skin.
Veterinarians diagnose the disease by scraping the skin from the affected area of the animal and looking at the skin sample under a microscope; the process is painless and is generally a reliable source for determining whether or not your pet has the skin condition. Scabies mites, however, often burrow under the skin, and the scraping does not include the actual mites; veterinarians inspect the skin sample for symptoms of mange rather than actual mites.
Treatment
It may be necessary to shave an animal’s fur when mange is present.
Most types of this disease can be eradicated, especially if the symptoms are treated early. Treatment may include pills, special baths, medicated shampoo baths, injections, or a combination of medications. Many of the medications that treat the skin condition can be purchased at a veterinarian’s office, as many, especially shampoos and dips, must be prescribed by a veterinarian. It is also possible to buy prescription and non-prescription drugs over the Internet.
Mange can be carried by rabbits.
In more extreme cases, it may be necessary to shave the animal’s fur so that the medication can be rubbed directly into the affected area. Waxing can also reduce the number of mites that live in hair follicles. Another possibility is to quarantine the pet until the disease is gone to minimize the chance of the disease spreading to other animals.