The demodctic scabies were first described in 1842.From that year to the present day, there have been many advances in veterinary medicine, both in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
Although described as one of the most difficult and persistent dermatological diseases to treat, today veterinary dermatology specialists report that about 90% of cases can be resolved with aggressive treatment, although this can take up to 1 year in total.
- If your dog has recently been diagnosed with old-fashioned scabies.
- Or just wants to learn more about old-fashioned scabies in dogs.
- Read on!.
Old-fashioned scabies, also known as black scabies, are the result of the proliferation of Demodex canis mites (the most common mit of this disease), these mites live normally and in a controlled way in the dog’s skin, but when this control is lost, mites reproduce excessively and this causes changes in the dog’s skin.
Animals under the age of 18 months are more likely to develop this disease because they have not yet fully developed the immune system, some breeds have a greater predisposition, such as the German shepherd, the Doberman, the Dalmatian, the pug and the boxer.
There are two types of demodicosis, widespread and localized. These two types of scabies should look different, as they have different symptoms and therefore different treatment approaches.
The localized shape is characterized by small areas of delineated reddish alopecia (hairless areas).The skin becomes thicker and darker and there may be scabs.Generally, the animal does not sting. The most commonly affected areas are the neck, head, and anterior limbs.
It is important to note that it is estimated that about 10% of cases can evolve into an outdated generalized disorder, so it is extremely important that even after diagnosis and defined treatments, the dog is regularly taken to the veterinarian., in order to always detect any negative changes in the clinical picture.
The lesions are exactly the same as those of the old ones located, but extend throughout the dog’s body.The animal usually has a lot of itching. This is the most serious form of the disease.It occurs most often in purebred animals under 18 months of age.Sometimes animals with this disease also have skin and ear infections.Other clinical signs that may also occur are enlarged lymph nodes, weight loss.fever.
Traditionally, localized demodecia is characterized by the presence of less than 6 lesions with a diameter of less than 2.5 cm.When you look at a dog with more than 12 lesions scattered throughout the body, it is considered a widespread old-fashioned disorder.In situations where it is not clear which of the two is involved, the veterinarian evaluates the lesions and tries to arrive at a definitive diagnosis, it is important to note that it is not always easy to distinguish the localized form from the generalized way.there is no additional evidence to distinguish the two forms of old-fashioned technology.
Although demodex canis mite is the most common, it is not the only one, dogs with demodecia due to Demodex injai have slightly different symptoms, dogs usually have seborrheic dermatitis in the dorsolombaria region, according to experts, dogs most likely to develop it Outdated areas are Teckel and Lhasa Apso.This outdated problem is sometimes the result of hypothyroidism or excessive use of corticosteroids.
It is the immune system of the dog that controls the amount of mites in the skin, the Demodex mite is naturally found in the skin of the dog without causing damage, these parasites pass directly from the mother to the young, through direct physical contact, when they have 2-3 days old.
Some studies have shown that dogs with generalized demodernity have a genetic disorder that affects the immune system, in cases such as those described in this study, where there is evidence that there is a genetic abnormality, dogs should not reproduce, to avoid transmitting the disease.problem to his offspring.
The most important factors involved in the pathogenesis of demoderncy are:
These factors explain the typical clinical signs of alopecia, itching and erythema.Other factors that can trigger this disease include:
Currently it is known that this disease has a strong hereditary component, this fact, combined with what is known about zeal can worsen the condition of the animal, makes castration highly recommended.
Unlike sarcoptic scabies, traditional scabies are not contagious to humans.You can stay calm and continue to caress your dog because it won’t get the disease.
Generally, when the veterinarian suspects demodernity, the veterinarian tightly compresses the skin between the fingers to facilitate the extrusion of mites and performs a deep scratch in about 5 different places.
Confirmation and definitive diagnosis are given when a large number of live adults or other forms of the parasite (eggs, larvae and nymphs) are observed under the microscope, remember that just one or two mites does not imply that the dog has scabies, since these Mites are part of the normal flora of the animal’s skin and can also be observed in other dermatological diseases.
The vet identifies the mite by its appearance. The Demodex canis (see image) has an enlarged shape and four pairs of legs; nymphs are smaller and have the same number of legs; larvae have only three pairs of short, thick legs; This mite is generally found in the hair follicle. Demodex injai, on the other hand, generally lives in the sebaceous glands and is larger than Demodex canis.
The prognosis of this disease depends on the age of the patient, the clinical presentation of the case and the type of Demodex present, as mentioned, about 90% of cases are recovered with aggressive and appropriate treatment, in any case only the veterinarian following the case can give a prognosis for the case of your dog.Every dog is a different world and each case is different.
About 80% of dogs with old-fashioned localized scabies are cured without any treatment, systemic treatment is not suitable for this type of scabies, so it is very important that this disease is properly diagnosed by the veterinarian.affects the animal’s immune system, for this reason, a nutritional assessment will be part of an animal’s treatment with this problem.
One of the most popular options for the treatment of generalized demoderncy is soaking in amitraze.Amitraz is used in many countries to treat the disease.Dogs are advised to swim with this product every 7 to 14 days.If your dog has long hair, it may be necessary to cut it before starting treatment. During the 24 hours after treatment, the dog should not be subject to anything but stress (remember that what causes this problem is a change in the immune system and stress is a major cause of changes in this system). In addition, it is important to remember that amitraz is a drug sensitive to interactions with other drugs.If your dog is being treated, tell your veterinarian.
Ivermectin is the most widely used drug for the treatment of generalized demodecia. Generally, the vet chooses to prescribe oral administration, along with the dog’s food, gradually increasing the dose. Treatment should continue for up to two months after two negative scratches have been obtained. .
Unwanted clinical signs of this medicine include
If your puppy exhibits any of the above symptoms or any other change in his normal behavior and condition, you should seek immediate help from a veterinarian.
Other drugs that are also commonly used in the treatment of this dermatological disease are doramectin and moxidectin (associated with Imidaclopride), for example.
In short, if your dog has demodex kennels scabies, the chance of him recovering is very high, the most important thing is that, like any other disease, you visit the veterinarian at the first sign that something is wrong, so with a correct diagnosis, proper treatment can be initiated.
The longer the treatment, the harder the problem is!Make regular visits to the trusted veterinarian. Sometimes small signs go unnoticed by the guardian and the veterinarian with a simple physical exam can detect a change.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis, we suggest taking your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read similar articles on demodctic scabies in dogs: symptoms and treatment, we recommend that you visit our Infectious Diseases section.