Reader Question
WE adopted a puppy( lap shep mix) from north shore animal league. He started scrationg andbitinh amd when theychecked him out they said he did nothave manage. A few weeks later the itching and biting only got worse and I noticed huge patches of hair lose. We finally got another scraping and they said that he had a mild case of manage andthat it would go away and he would be fine( they saidhe was born with it. Months later and many scrapping, shots and pills later he only seems to have gotten worse. he cannot stop scratching or biting, it is so bad sometimes his whole paw is inhis mouth or he starts bleeding. He has flacky skin all obver his ears and knows and legs and trunk. He has lil patches on his ears that are losing hair and his whole backside( legs and behing) lost hair and his skin has turned a reddis brown. He also has rashes/ lesions and inflammation on his elbows behind, chest and belly. I feel so bad for him because I knowhe mustbe so uncomfortable and i am so worried about him. We have taken him numerous times to the vet and nothing has worked and he know says he is baffled. We have an appointment with a dermatologist but not until the 13( they had no available times) Is there anything i can do in the meantime to make him more comfortable. I also have notice a few random bites on me that are extrenmely itchy but dont last more than
a week usually but then another would pop out( at first i was paranoid I had bed bugs but I checked and continue to check also there are only one or 2 at a time and not rash like.) Should I try giving my dog a dip? or would putting cortisone on him help? I can upload pictures if it will help, i do not have any at the moment but I cant take some.
Answer from Our Team
We're sorry he's so uncomfortable. Seeing a veterinary dermatologist is a great step. Meanwhile, call your regular vet about short-term relief, because severe itching, bleeding and red-brown skin often mean a secondary bacterial or yeast infection that needs treatment now.
Please don't use a dip or a cortisone cream without your vet's okay. Dips need to be the right product at the right strength, and steroids can make demodectic mange worse. Dogs also tend to lick creams off. A cone or a soft T-shirt can protect his skin from chewing, and keeping his bedding clean helps.
It's also worth asking whether he could have sarcoptic mange (scabies) rather than, or as well as, demodectic mange. Demodectic mange usually isn't very itchy, while scabies is intensely itchy, often affects the ears, elbows and belly, and is easily missed on skin scrapings. The itchy bites you've noticed are worth mentioning too, since scabies mites can cause temporary bumps on people. Fleas can do the same. Read more about the types of mange and how vets treat them.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
