Animal Talk

O

ut of the blue you notice your

dog scratching himself and upon

closer investigation you notice he

is losing patches of hair as well. You wonder

whether it could be ringworm or mange. It

doesn’t matter whether it is either one of

the two, your dog needs treatment as soon

as possible.

Mange

Mange is caused by parasitic mites that

burrow under the skin and cause itching and

inflammation. There are four kinds of mange:

Demodectic mange is caused by the

demodex mite burrowing into the hair follicle.

Younger puppies contract the mites from their

nursing mothers and demodectic mange is

therefore normally diagnosed in younger

dogs. In the beginning, you might see patches

of hair loss on his face and the affected areas

are rarely itchy. But if you leave it untreated,

more generalised lesions that are inflamed and

crusty will appear. Cats can contract this kind

of mange as well.

Sarcoptic mange or canine scabies is where

mites infect areas like the tummy, chest, ears

and elbows where there is less hair. This is

extremely itchy and your dog might try his

best to get rid of the itch. Sarcoptic mange is

contagious to people and other pets.

Cheyletiella mange is another form of

highly itchy mange and is caused by mites

big enough to see with the naked eye. You’ll

notice distinct flakes with a dry, scaly rash. It

is also known as ‘walking dandruff’. Although

common in dogs, cats and humans can also

contract cheyletiella mange.

Notoedric mange is caused by notoedres

mites and is a feline mange that can be passed

on to humans and dogs. Normally starting on

the ear margins, it may spread to the face and

neck. If left untreated it may spread over the

body, leaving large, balding patches. Severe

scratching may break the skin and the open

sores are susceptible to secondary infections.

Mange symptoms

The following symptoms may indicate mange:

• Bald spots


• Hair loss
  
  
  • Lesions
  
  
  • Scabbing
  
  
  • Red or sore skin
  
  
  • Itchiness
  
  
  
  

Ringworm

Where mange is caused by mites, ringworm

is a fungus that can affect dogs and cats.

It is transmitted through direct contact or

contact with an object that contains spores.

Younger animals and animals with low levels of

immunity are more susceptible. You will notice

circular lesions that start off small and increase

over time. The round, balding patches may look

inflamed and may itch.

Even if your other dogs don’t show signs of

ringworm, it could be that they are carriers of

the fungi.

Ringworm can also be transferred between

animals and humans and should be treated

immediately.

Ringworm symptoms

You might see all or some of the following

symptoms:

• Round, bald patches


• Broken hair and poor coat condition


• Red or sore skin


• Dandruff


• Skin crusting


• Itchiness

See the vet

Seeing that ringworm and mange share

similar symptoms, it is important that you

take your pet to the vet the moment that

you notice any of these signs. Your vet will

diagnose the problem and will prescribe the

relevant treatment. Both ringworm and mange

are highly contagious and can infect other

animals and family members.

DID YOU KNOW?

Both mange and ringworm is

transferable from animals to

humans (called a zoonotic disease).

health

VETTA LK

A microscopic view of

demodectic mange.

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FA S T FAC T S

5 TIPS TO MANAGE THESE CONDITIONS

1. If you suspect any type of mange or ringworm,

visit your vet for a proper diagnosis. Your vet

will treat your pet accordingly.

2. If it is mange, the treatment may consist of a

medical dip, a topical cream, tablets or even

injectable medication to kill the mites.

If it is ringworm, the treatment might be in

the form of an antifungal topical cream gently

rubbed onto the lesions, or maybe an oral

antifungal if the condition is serious. Antifungal

shampoos might also help.

3. Your vet may also prescribe an anti-itch cream

to stop the itching.

4. If your vet suspects a secondary bacterial

infection in the lesions, he will prescribe

antibiotics.

5. Sterilise your dog’s bedding, blankets, grooming

equipment and toys with non-harmful chemicals

and in very hot water. Remember to wear

gloves when you apply treatment to your dog to

prevent cross-contamination.