The Symptoms of Mange in Dogs
Mange is a serious skin disease caused by mites. Such parasites will attack in big numbers and cause severe damages to the ears, face, and limbs of dogs. There are many signs indicating that a dog is suffering from mange.
Here are the most common ones:
- Excessive itching
- Hair loss
- Dry, crusty and thickened skin
- Strong, foul odor
- Sores and blisters
Dogs itch and scratch a lot. For most pets, that's normal. But if they scratch too hard and too often, causing red sores on their skins, then the problem is not a simple skin disease. It's mange getting the most out of them.
When mites attack, the body parts where they burrow themselves into get affected. Hair loss is the most common sign. If in some parts the hair of your dog seems a little scant or worse, the skin already shows with red blisters and sores, chances are, your pet is suffering from mange. It is best that you take it to the vet right away before the problem gets any worse.
The moment the skin of your dog becomes exposed due to hair loss, check it thoroughly. Hair loss can be caused by a lot of diseases and mange is just one of them. Your dog has mange if the skin is awfully dry and wrinkled. These are the signs proving that some parasites have invaded the skin of your dog and are continuing to damage it.
As mites invade the skin area, it would reproduce massively. And all the more the dog would experience severe itching. Your dog would scratch its skin all day. As your dog scratch its different body parts, the mites would start to spread. When mites increase in number, the odor of your dog changes. Dogs with mange develop odor similar to that of a strong cheese or something like athlete's foot.
As with most skin disorders, the presence of sores, reddening, and blisters on the skin are expected. You know the problem is worse when there's blood, open wounds, or severe inflammation on the affected areas. At such point, it is best that you take your dog to the veterinarian for first aid and for continual medication.
These are the symptoms of mange on dogs. If your dog exhibits any one of these signs, don't take it for granted. Dog mange can easily be treated during the early stages. Otherwise, the veterinarian might need to employ a more aggressive form of treatment. And in the most severe cases, even the strongest antibiotics can't guarantee the full recovery of your beloved pet.