What is Demodectic Mange?

Demodectic mange is caused when the population of the mite, Demodex Canis, can no longer be kept in check by the immune system of the dog. That means to say that this mite is often already present in the dog’s body, as early as birth because the dam can pass it on to her whelp, but will ordinarily not cause any problems up and until it is triggered.

The symptoms of a Demodectic mange infestation in newborn puppies often do not manifest until they are four months of age, and will happen only if their immune system cannot keep the mange population in check, or if they go through an experience that will lower their immune system.

Triggers for an infestation can occur when the dog’s immune system is weakened, such as in cases of illnesses, stress, or other skin infections. These are the common causes, though not all dogs that experience these triggers will automatically get and infestation. The trigger will allow the mite population to go up, and when the population is high enough, it can cause irritation and hair loss, usually accompanied by many red spots in certain areas. The infestation is also called the Red Mange because of this reason.

There are three types of Demodectic mange infestations, according to their areas:

1. Localized areas such as the face.

2. Generalized, which means that the parasite infestation can be found all over the body.

3. Demotectic Pododermatitis, a localized infection found on the dog’s paws.

There are some breeds that are more likely to get an uncontrolled infestation than other breeds, like the pug, the Chihuahua, and the Boston Terriers, to name a few. There are also evidences strongly suggesting that certain lines are prone to juvenile Demodectic mange. Breeding from these lines are not encouraged.

Treatments for Demodectic mange is often topical or localized and not ingested. There are shampoos and soaps for milder infestations, and medical baths for the more serious ones. Oral medications are given only in cases where there are secondary infections from microorganisms and harmful bacteria that go along for the ride.

The infestation is easy to cure, but there are times that these infestations will recur in dogs, especially if they come from a breeding line that has predilection to it. Unlike Sarcoptic mange, this type of mange cannot be passed on to people, but there are certain types of Demodectic mange that will thrive on human skin.