Parasitic skin infections caused by a mite called Demodex Canis are common in dogs. This condition is known as demodicosis, puppy mange or young dog mange. The last two names are misleading, however, as this infection can affect dogs of all ages. Read more about the demodex mite, the condition demodicosis, the symptoms, the treatment and prevention here.
Demodicosis
The demodex mite hides in the dog’s hair follicles, mainly those of short-haired young dogs. The mite feeds on skin flakes, hair cells and blood. The female lays eggs in the dog’s skin. The eggs hatch within a few days and the mites are mature within 1 to 3 weeks. The demodex mite is naturally found in the dog’s skin. The mite only causes problems when the dog’s resistance is weakened; for example in young animals, old animals or sick animals. The demodex mite does not pass from the dog to humans or cats. He is supposedly; host specific. Demodex is therefore not contagious to other healthy dogs
Symptoms
The infection starts with some bald and red spots, often on the head and legs. At a later stage, the skin may flake and develop a serious skin inflammation with purulent pustules, which are the result of secondary bacterial infections that have developed. The dog will now have large bald patches. The dog suffers from itching with this condition.
Diagnosis
Demodicosis can be diagnosed by taking a skin scraping. A thin layer of skin is scraped off with a special spoon and examined under a microscope, so that the vet can see if there is an infection by the demodex mite. The demodex mite is elongated in shape and has four legs, making them arachnid.
Therapy
First of all, the Demodex mite must be controlled. Most vets prescribe a special shampoo called Ectodex. The active ingredient in this shampoo is Amitraz. This shampoo is very effective, but it is also very toxic. Caution is therefore important. When the dog suffers from severe skin infections, antibiotics will also be prescribed to counteract the inflammation.
An alternative to Ectodex is Demodex oil, which consists of powerful essential oils. Good results are often achieved with this too. Because Demodicosis affects the skin’s resistance, it can be good to give the dog a food supplement such as Megaderm. It contains extra vitamins and essential fatty acids that are good for the skin.
Prevention
To prevent an infection caused by the demodex mite, you can apply an Advocate Spot-on pipette to your dog’s neck every month. This pipette is intended for dogs suffering from or at risk of parasitic infections including Demodicosis. Because Demodicosis mainly occurs with a reduced resistance of the dog, it is important to always keep an eye on the general resistance of your dog. When the resistance has decreased, it is first of all essential to find out why the resistance has decreased.