February 26, 2010

Mange Treatments To Aid An Afflicted Pet

by Becca G. Taylor

If you have a dog or cat that suffers from a case of Mange, calling your vet as quickly as possible to get Mange medicine is definitely in order. They can help you identify the best course of action to get relief for your pet and prevent any further suffering. Mange is also known as Cheyletiella, Scabies, Ear Mite infections or Red Mange.

There are many varieties of mites that adversely affect live stock, dogs and cats. Some of them even affect people and are a cause for concern. There are three mites that need to be checked by the vet since they may cause sever health issues for your pet and they are ear mites, Demodex mange mites and Sacoptic Mange mites.

Sarcoptic mange or scabies can affect dogs, cats and even humans amongst other animals. The Notoedres mite cause intense irritation and itching in humans and animals. They can be transferred from the pet on to the human though if the pet is disinfected on time the symptoms would disappear within a few weeks in the humans. The mites burrow themselves under the skin in the ear, face and elbows. Crusty skin on the ear is a sign of scabies in dogs.

It is important to treat these conditions as quickly as possible, as the discomfort can become quite severe. Seepage, scabs or boils may begin to appear as well as balding skin patches. If that happens, the vet will likely have to do a biopsy to check for other types of infections that may have developed.

The vet will need to give the pet periodic injections of Ivermectin for a up to four weeks. Bath your pet with dandruff shampoos and dab the affected area with insecticides recommended by the pet. The steroid cortisone and antibiotic creams would relieve the redness and itching.

A type of mange that is not contagious is the Demodex variation. But many of the symptoms the animal has are the same as the other types of mange. There is the same amount of itching, irritation and discomfort with Demodex, and again, it is urgent to get it treated quickly as once the bald patches of skin begin showing, it is quite possible for the animal to develop a secondary infection.

When a pet has a weakened immune system, he will be more prone to contracting Mange and also slower to recover. But, luckily, in most cases, pets that are healthy and not experiencing any hormonal changes will recover fairly quickly from the condition.

Vets would recommend treatment to ensure safe recovery and that includes boosting the dog's immune system with tonics and vitamins. Baths with a Benzoyl peroxide shampoo would help the pet.

Cats tend to be a bit more sensitive than dogs are to certain chemicals, so you will have to be more careful in the treatment you administer. Definitely consult your vet when dealing with a cat with a Mange condition.

Homeopathic treatments are a popular choice for many pet owners and they can be a good choice for pets that have sensitivity to certain medications. But, again, the first course of action is to talk to your vet. Of course the most important thing is the proper care, nutrition and cleansing of your pet to help prevent him from getting any of the varieties of Mange ever again.

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Filed under Dog Health by Becca G. Taylor

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