CANINE / FELINE DEMODICOSIS (aka: Mange’s Demodectic in dogs and cats)
This is a very interesting disease, not least because the mite Demodex canis mange that is causing the problem must be present in large numbers in the hair follicles of the skin before the symptoms of the disease manifest themselves. Another interesting phenomenon is that a low level Demodex mite infestation does not create a great itching / scratching display. Generally, one assumes that if there is a foreign body (eg mites) in any part of the skin, the dog or cat would scratch a lot. Biology / nature is very strange indeed.
QUESTIONS MISCELLANEOUSLY ASKED FOR THIS DISEASE.
Q: Does the dog / cat have to be ill with some other disease in order for the Demodex mite to hold firm to the dog or cat?
A: The research literature seems to believe that canine Demodicosis is more common in weak puppies and young dogs. Felines infected with the cat mite (Demodex gatoi) can pick up the disease at any age, and even when they are strong and in good health.
Q: Are short-haired dogs more infected with these mites?
A: I seem to think so, and scientific research tends to support my empirical observation. In fact, I have a theory that when they are young, dogs actually experience a deficiency in their immune system (at least temporarily). This defect tends to disappear as the animals get older; as a result, adult and older dogs do not usually give up easily to Demodicosis. Of course, if the adult dog is pelted with immune suppressant medication, it will be easier to affect the pet with Demodex mites. It follows therefore that if the pet dog is well cared for and healthy, the Demodex mite will not defeat the animal as easily.
The situation in cats is very different. Ill or healthy, they can become infected relatively easily with the cat-specific demodectic mite.
Q: Can one detect / diagnose Mange’s Demodectic by looking at a dog alone?
A: One should never be too self-reliant and pretend to be all-knowing. However, experienced veterinarians can largely detect Demodex infection without taking abrasions and without extensive laboratory testing.
That said, many untreated dogs (most?) Not afflicted with the Demodex canis mite will look like the Dobermans pictured below.
But let us not go beyond ourselves. Let us have a look at Mange’s Demodectic symptoms.
They are:
(i) Hair loss,
(ii) Some scratching; but not as severe as Sarcoptic Mange infection (see last week’s column). Demodex gatoi (demodectic cat mange) creates a lot of scratching in cats.
(iii) Several small, fragmented, bare areas emerge at first. Later, if left untreated, these hairless pieces tend to merge and look like the dog in photo # 2 above.
Q: Once the diagnosis has been made correctly, how can the caregiver treat the affected dog / cat?
A: This generation is so lucky. The treatment of skin mites (Demodex and Sarcoptes and any others) has been revolutionized. Nowadays, we have pharmaceutical companies producing medicine specifically for dog and cat diseases – and Hurray !!, they all work well in killing the mites
As part of the total therapeutic intervention, your Veterinary Surgeon may discontinue any treatment that, in his opinion, would tend to inhibit the animal’s innate ability to fight germs that take part in the mange sores . Once I am satisfied that the mites have been killed (live mites are not seen in monthly scrapes), I tend to be hesitant when introducing antibiotics, and so forth. Let the animal’s own defense mechanism take over the healing process. Of course, the patient with mange has to return to the clinic as often as needed.
For me, the cure against mite infestation is only achieved if there has been no new recurrence during the one year period following completion of the treatment protocol.
