You may think that mange is not an illness that can affect your furry family friend. We have this preconceived image of a mangy looking creature, all skin and bone, half -starved with a patchy looking coat of fur. While dogs and cats that suffer with this condition do often exhibit the typical signs of the illness, it can be diagnosed, treated and prevented with proper animal care.

The first of these is demodectic, caused by a mite called Demodex canis. This mite, which is only visible with a microscope, appears even on healthy dogs. However, when it goes through a rapid growth in population, it can cause your pet to develop bald patches where the infestation explodes.

If your dog has a small mangy spot, it will likely disappear on its own. However, if your dog is covered in spots, it might need treatments in order to clear it up. Some people believe that some breeds of dogs are prone to this condition. Indeed, veterinary experts have noticed that certain breeds, such as Chihuahuas, Dobermans, Old English Sheepdogs, Afghan Hounds, Boston Terriers and Collies to name a few, are more likely to develop the demodectic variety.

If your dog has scaly looking dry flaky skin around its neck and or back, chances are it has "walking dandruff", the common name for Cheyletiella. This version of the condition is caused by a large red mite. Although it only causes minor itching, it is a major concern as it can spread very easily to other dogs.

Often found in kennels, the mite that causes this will live on the surface of the skin. Because it is easy to spot, it is possible to remove this mite from its host. Without the food of its host to sustain it, it dies quickly. If your dog comes home from the kennel with this condition, be certain to let them know so that they can spray their facilities and prevent illness for their other guests.

Sarcoptic mange, otherwise known as scabies, is caused by a tiny mite. With this mite, the female burrows under the skin in order to lay her eggs. In the process, she irritates the skin, which causes your pet to scratch and bite themselves. The worst part of this form is not necessarily the bites, but how they become infected from constant scratching and biting.

Both sarcoptic and cheyletiella varieties are contagious, and the sarcoptic is even contagious to humans. If your beloved dog has either of these, make certain that your other fur bearing pets receive treatment at the same time in order to reduce the chance of becoming infested again. Clean every pet's and human's bedding, vacuum the sofa and carpet and other favorite places where you pet likes to rest. See your veterinarian - they is the only one who can make the diagnosis for the kind of mange that your pet may have.

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An essential piece of equipment for pet owners is doggy doors, but they could also pose threats to your home as far as security.

By installing a doggy door on any door in your home, this could be an invitation to thieves. However, there are a few precautions that can be taken in order to keep your home safe.

The most important thing to pay close attention to when picking out a door for your dog is size. You don't want to get a door too big in size because a small person could easily fit through one of these. You can get a moderate size doggy door and still accommodate your pet.

So the first thing you need to do is measure your pet, by height of their back and width of their shoulders. You can also check the weight requirements on mist boxes before purchasing to make sure your pet will be able to fit through the door.

You need to know that if you need to make a change for a bigger doggy door, then you can do so but if your dog needs a smaller size then you would need to replace the entire door.

The location of the doggy door is very important. They are usually placed on the back door where it is safer because it is hidden from anyone's view on the street and it leads right into your backyard.

If your back door isn't hidden from street view, then you need to make sure you position the door correctly. If you put the door to high up, someone could stick their arm through the flap and unlock your door.

There are different settings for a doggy door. You could set the door to swing one way, outwards when you know you won't be home but the only thing is your pet will be stuck outside until you get home. Or setting the flap to swing both ways, only inside or locked, are your other options.

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Ear mites are a common annoyance of dogs, cats, and other small and furry animals. They are very small white tick-like insects that live and feed in the ear canal.

It is rare to find a case of ear mites in humans but if you think you have contracted them, visit your doctor for treatment. Fortunately, they do not burrow into the skin, but live in the ear canal instead.

Infection in animals is spread through direct contact with other infected animals. Outdoor pets are therefore the most commonly affected and infection spreads among animals very quickly. The mites, if untreated, will lead to a variety of health issues. These issues include skin diseases and infections in areas other than the ears as well as eventual deafness.

The appearance of dark crumbly material in the ears is a good indication that your pet has become infected. If you look closely, you may even see the mites among the dirt. Other signs that your pets ears are infected includes scratching of the area, shaking of the head, sudden imbalances, and sores around the ears and sometimes the mouth.

It is important to remember that even if these symptoms are present, if your pet has not come in contact with another and lives in doors, then it is likely they have some other type of medical problem. Your vet will be able to help you decipher the cause of the problem. Be sure to tell the vet that mites are very unlikely so that they do not automatically jump to this conclusion and prescribe and unnecessary and ineffective treatment.

Treatment of mites is relatively easy. Anti-parasitic treatments are the most popular. The ears need to be cleaned followed by application of the treatment. Vets can also supply injected treatments as well as oral medications.

The various treatment options vary in the amount of time that it takes to kill the infection. Over-the-counter topical treatments are of an older variety and take at least 21 days of application as they do no kill incubating eggs. Prescription topical treatments generally take only up to ten days and other options take only one treatment. As the infection and treatment can be quite uncomfortable it is recommended that a shorter treatment duration be used.

This infection can be quite uncomfortable for your pet and really requires medical attention. Early treatment will avoid further complications that can be quite serious and expensive to treat.

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