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. However, if they scratch too hard and too often, causing red sores on their skins, then the problem is not a simple skin disease. Mange may be causing this behavior.
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 thin, the skin shows 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 their skin is extremely dry and wrinkled. These are the signs that parasites have invaded the skin of your dog and are continuing to damage it.
As mites invade the skin area, they will reproduce massively. In this case, a dog will experience severe itching. Your dog will scratch its skin all day. As your dog scratches different body parts, the mites will 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 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 of these signs, contact
a veterinarian immediately. Dog mange can easily be treated during the early stages. Otherwise,
the veterinarian might need to employ a more aggressive form of treatment. In the most severe
cases, even the strongest antibiotics can't guarantee the full recovery.