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Though you don’t hear about it too often these days, mange is a skin disease that many have described as “scabies for dogs.” The condition is caused by microscopic mites, and whether it’s a big deal largely depends upon the type of mange — sarcoptic or demodectic.

Demodectic mange

All pups that are raised naturally by their mothers have demodectic mites, because they are passed on during cuddling in the first few days after birth. Despite this, the vast majority of dogs live in complete harmony with their demodectic mites and never experience a problem.

However, that isn’t always the case. If mites proliferate, they can — and do — cause mange infections that vary from mild to severe. There are three types of demodectic mange:

• Localized
  When too many mites live on a specific patch of your dog’s skin, it can cause bald, scaly patches to form. Typically, localized demodectic mange is found in puppies, and it often clears up on its own.

• Generalized
  As the name implies, generalized demodectic mange can affect your dog’s entire body. It often leaves dogs smelly and incredibly itchy due to secondary bacterial infections that occur and can be a sign of bigger problems, like hereditary issues, a compromised immune system, and so on.

• Pododermatitis
  This form of demodectic mange may only affect your dog’s feet, but it is also one of the hardest to get rid of and often comes with bacterial infections.

Sarcoptic Mange

Generally speaking, when people share horror stories about mange, they’re talking about sarcoptic mange. While demodectic mange is not contagious, sarcoptic mange not only can be passed from dog-to-dog, but also to cats and even people.

Sarcoptic mange tends to start in areas that don’t have as much hair, but without treatment will quickly spread to the rest of the body. Affected skin becomes scaly, red, and extremely itchy, and hair loss is also common.

Prevention

There’s really only one thing that you can do to prevent mange in your dog, and then it only works for sarcoptic mange: if you know that another dog has it, don’t take your pup near him or her. You may even want to stay away yourself. However, sarcoptic mites can’t live long on people, so the chances of you infecting your dog are small.

Treatment

There are several things to do after your dog suffers a mange outbreak, most of which involve cleaning or replacing anything he uses that could have become infected, such as his collar, bedding, and possibly even some toys.

Make sure to isolate your dog to prevent the contamitionation of other dogs or humans. A vet will generally prescribe antiparasitic oral medications to treat mange and topical oiments to ease itching. But the dog may also need to be treated for general inflammation and other skin conditions associated with mange. Limit the treatment to your vet’s recommendations as certain medicines for skin conditions may actually have toxic side-effects depending on the dog.

Vets also recommend not breeding dogs that suffer from demodectic mange, because it is believed to be hereditary.

Have any of your dogs suffered with any skin problems? Tell us about it in the comments.

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Corinna Waters

Standish, Wigan UK

Read Dr. Kristy Conn’s Advice

Canine atopy is a common disease of dogs where they become sensitized to environmental allergens by producing an excess immune response to the allergen. It is a frustrating disease because there is no real cure but it can be managed. The main clinical signs associated with atopy are those which you have described including pruritus, alopecia, thickening of the skin, licking the top of their paws and chronic ear infections. Since he is allergic to house dust and you have been taking pains to minimize exposure with no improvement then perhaps other allergies are coming into play here. It is common for multiple allergies to be present.

Food allergies cause the same clinical syndrome and if you have not done so already I would recommend a food trial for three months. Select a food with one protein source and one carbohydrate source that your dog has never been exposed to such as lamb and rice and duck and potato. Be sure not to give any treats or rawhide during the food trial. If a food allergy is present you may see improvement in clinical signs after the first four weeks. If clinical signs improve, continue to feed this particular diet however if there is no improvement it is safe to go back to feeding him his regular food.

Another common allergy is flea bite hypersensitivity. A single flea can cause these allergic reactions so treat your dog and his environment for fleas. Monthly spot-on treatments available at your veterinarian are very effective at keeping fleas off your dog but do not neglect the environment as well. Only 10 percent of the total flea population in an infected household will actually be on the dog. The other 90 percent exist as eggs and nymphs in the environment. So treat the environment by washing his bedding, vacuuming and consider use of an indoor treatments such as foggers if you suspect a flea population may be contributing to your dog’s problems.

Supplementation with fish oils can help decrease the amount of immune response to an allergen and may help his coat grow back. A wide variety of supplements containing omega fatty acids are available for dogs promoting skin health. Ask your veterinarian which brands are recommended. Consider using frequent cool baths and hypoallergenic shampoos such as oatmeal shampoos to help remove offending allergens and quiet the skin. If you do not already have one adding an air purifier can help decrease the level of dust in the house and during cleaning keep him away from rooms being cleaned for at least one hour to minimize dust exposure.

Due to the severity of his allergies I believe your best bet would be to find a veterinary dermatologist. They can perform serologic allergy test and intradermal skin testing to see if your dog has other allergies that need to be addressed. Medications such as antihistamines and corticosteroids may be prescribed to break the itch-scratch cycle. He may also benefit from immunotherapy which works by using gradually increasing doses of the offending allergens in order to induce hyposensitization. It doesn’t work in all cases but does provide improvement in 60 to 80 percent of cases so it is something worth checking into.

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Dogs are just like people when it comes to acne. They tend to get acne as teenagers, but the only difference is that they are not self-conscious about it in the same way that people are. Generally, acne is not a major health problem for dogs as most of it will clear up once they have reached adulthood, but it can reoccur at times. Most acne will be pimples, blackheads, or whiteheads that appear along the chin, lips, chest, or genital area. If the area is irritated, then there may some bleeding or pus that can be expressed from these blemishes.

The Causes of Dog Acne

Dog acne can be caused by a number of things, depending on the dog and their living environment. Acne is a normal part of adolescence for dogs, so some breakouts will occur regardless of what you do as a caretaker. Other times it may be related to hormonal changes, an allergic reaction to a food or product, bacteria, or poor hygiene. Some breeds, like Great Danes, boxers, and Doberman pinschers, are more prone to acne than others, but it can and does occur in all breeds of dog.

Solutions for Dog Acne

Better Hygiene

Unless the dog is still in adolescence, most acne problems are caused by poor hygiene and bacteria. Regular bathing once a week or at least a few times per month will help the dog stay clean. Some of the acne around the mouth can be caused by poor dental hygiene, so brushing the teeth a couple of times a week or providing an edible dental treat can help as well. Look for any type of new food or product that may have been introduced recently to see if one of those items caused the problem.

Medicated Shampoos

Visit your local pet store to find an antibacterial or medicated shampoo designed for dogs. Dog shampoos that contain aloe vera or echinacea can be especially helpful in treating skin problems. Dogs should be bathed with products specifically made for dogs because human shampoos, creams, and ointments are not appropriate for them as they are too harsh. Be careful to notice whether or not the shampoo you are using is making the problem better or worse, because some of these products can be irritating to the skin or cause allergic reactions in some dogs.

Let Nature Take its Course

Although it may be tempting to pick with the acne, it is not a good idea and it could even make the problem worse. Picking with the bumps can actually cause the acne to spread or even cause a more serious infection. The most that you can do is apply a warm cloth the area to reduce swelling, but the rest should be left to a licensed veterinarian. Sometimes the acne may clear up on its own anyway.

Visit Your Veterinarian

If the acne seems to be getting worse or if the area appears to be infected, then it is best to visit a veterinarian for treatment. More serious cases of acne can be treated by prescription ointments, oral medication, or medicated soaps. Talk to your veterinarian for professional advice and treatment options.

Acne is a normal part of life for dogs, especially if they are still growing up. Mild cases are common in adolescent dogs, but if there seems to be a large outbreak or bleeding then it may be cause for concern. The most you can do at home is keep the dog clean through regular bathing, good dental hygiene, and the use of a medicated shampoo. Any other concerns or questions additional treatment options should be directed to your veterinarian.

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I recently adopted a male Westie mix from a local shelter. As suggested, I took him to my vet just to make sure he was healthy. Magnum had a rash on his back leg, and after careful examination, the vet concluded that he had a Staph infection.

She gave me some antibiotics and ointment to treat him. I know that humans can spread Staph infections, but can I get it from my dog? Can my other dogs get it from him?

Thanks in advance,
Summer

Dear Summer,

There are many species of Staph bacteria. While there are contagious species, most Staphs are normal inhabitants of the skin that cause infection only if the skin is not normal, such as the skin of dogs with allergies.

The most common species to cause a rash in an allergic dog, such as a Westie, is not contagious to anyone. With this dog, you will likely have non-contagious Staph infections periodically. I would not be concerned.

-Dr. Weaver

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Sincerely,
Camila Ponce
Boca Raton, FL

Dear Camila,

I would love to be able to just give you a quick answer to your problem. Unfortunately, itching is one of the most complex problems that vets face. The three big categories of itch are food allergies, inhaled or contact allergies, and parasites. There can also be secondary infections that need to be treated before you see relief. Your vet can do a skin scrape and prescribe an antiparasitic protocol to rule out parasites, and medications for secondary infections.

Since you say the itch has been going on for a whole year, food is the most likely culprit. In short, it is often not as simple as changing foods. You should be using hydrolyzed diets that are only available from a veterinarian. You need to feed one of these diets for 6 weeks, being careful to prevent your dog from eating any other foods during this time, including treats! If you see an improvement in the itch while feeding the special diet, that gives you a diagnosis of food allergy. Then you can decide whether to continue the expensive food or try to find a commercial food that also relieves the itch. If the itch does not improve on the hydrolyzed food, you can be comfortable that food is not the allergen. For these pets, the options are blood testing for allergies or trying to control the allergy with antihistamines or steroids, which you should discuss with your vet

-Dr. Weaver

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