Demodicosis
Also known as Demodectic Mange, Red Mange, or Demodex Infestation, this is a common skin condition caused by tiny mites that inhabitat the hair follicles. A normal part of your dog's skin, Demodex Canis mites are typical inhabitants and on a healthy animal, will cause no issues. Problems arise when these mites multiply into numbers too large for the host animal, or poor health weakens the immune system into reacting to any and all irritants.
Localized Demodicosis is often found in younger dogs, around one year old, and often resolve themselves without further intervention. Hair loss, and skin lesions are the main symptoms of Localized Demodicosis and will be centered around a particular area of the body.
Generalized Demodicosis is a severe infestation and spreads over the skin fairly quickly. Hair loss, pus-filled lesions, and crusting skin are the obvious signs. Diagnosis is made via skin scrapings to identify the mite, and treatments are needed for both the mite outbreak and any resulting infections of the skin. Generalized Demodicosis is often caused by an underlying condition that has hampered the immune system, and steps should be taken to properly diagnose and treat all illnesses contributing to this condition.
Sarcoptic Mange
Sarcoptic Mange, or Canine Scabies is a highly infectious infestation of Sarcoptes Scabiei var Canis, and is found throughout the world. While generally found on dogs only, these can be transmitted to humans, although it is fairly rare, but they can also be transmitted through human contact, where the human is not the host animal, merely an agent of transmission.
Signs of Sarcoptic Mange include hair loss, crusting of the skin, infected lesions, severe itching and self-inflicted injuries (bite wounds, scratch wounds). The most common infested areas of a dog are the chest, ears, abdomen, elbows and legs. Diagnosis is made through skin scraping, often several sessions, and discovery of eggs, larvae, or in severe cases, adult mites, and examination of the animal's contacts, both canine and human in recent history. Well-groomed animals may be asymptomatic as typical crusting may have been removed by frequent bathing. Several scrapings should be done if the first turn up negatative in a suspect dog.
