Treating Remaining Spots After Mange in a Jack Russell Mix
by A reader
In june last year,we began dock-diving competitions with him (a real natural,by the way).We noticed in July or so that he was getting red patches on his shoulders and neck.I used tea tree oil on the redness,which didn't really get worse for another month.We took him to the vet,by this time he had a horrible odor about him,and dark spots appearing where he once had light brown patches.The vet took a skin scraping,and put him on STEROIDS and a medicated shampoo,and he also received his VACCINES that day.
The vet thought it was a topical allergy,possibly goldenrod.
The itching and spots were not deterred by the above.The vet then put him on an antibiotic,and the skin scraping came back negative.The problem would get better while on the antibiotic (he had 3 courses total)then return even worse.
By now the poor boys immune system was really low,I started making home made dog food and treats also,not only to boost his immune system,but to help rule out food allergies.
After many,many hours of research on line,I came to the conclusion that it was mange.My biggest reason for that conclusion was that I,myself was having bites on my forearms.Needless to say,I did the whole routine of vacuuming and laundering
We treated everyone with the lime sulfur mange medicine,he has been treated several times,but I'm afraid to keep putting it on him.He looks WAY better,but he has a couple spots that are still red and hairless.Do I DARE keep treating him with the mange medicine? Can you spot-treat it,or do I have to do his whole body again? Have you ever SMELLED that stuff? Wow,it's brutal. I'd appreciate any advice you can offer,I just want him to be better! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.I forgot to mention that he killed a baby woodchuck that summer,can they transmit mange? And we also just put FRONTLINE PLUS on all the pets..HELP!!!
I'm glad he's looking better. If the improvement came with the lime sulfur dips and you had bites too, sarcoptic mange (scabies) is quite likely. It's very contagious between dogs and causes brief itchy bites on people.
Please don't spot-treat. Mange mites can be all over the body, so treatment must be the whole body and all dogs in the home, for the full course. Today, vets often use modern anti-parasite tablets that work very well and are much easier than dips, so ask your vet about switching. Remaining red, hairless patches may be healing skin or an infection that needs its own treatment.
Wildlife such as woodchucks and foxes can carry mange, so contact with them is a possible source. Ask your vet to recheck him and look at the remaining spots.
See mange in dogs.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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