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What is Demodex?
Demodex is a parasitic mite and an infection of demodex is call deomdectic mange. This is not to be confused with fox mange which is a completely different type of mite.
A normal animal should have some of these mites in their skin but in demodex cases the numbers become excessive. Some cases are localised meaning just a solitary patch, sometimes the infestation is in the feet and in other cases the whole skin has become infected.
What are the signs?
- Scaly skin
- A patch or several patches of hair loss
- Infected skin patches
Which animals are affected?
Dog (especially short heaired dogs like Staffordshire Bull Terriers) are most at risk but occasionally we see demodex in cats and small animals such as hamsters. As for age - animals are either quite young (3-12 months) or older (4 - 14 years).
Where did my pet get this from?
Always remember that these mites should be present on your dog albeit in low numbers. In young animals it is likely your pet caught the mites from the mother whilst in older patients the animal probably developed if themselves because some underlying cause reduced their ability to fight off the infestation.
My animal has mange and I am itching at the thought!
Unfortunately demodex mites can actually cross species meaning that you can catch the mites from your pet! We are obliged to tell you this information but before you rehome your pet we should say that in our experience this is actually quite rare. What you must take away from this paragraph is that if your pet is diagnosed with mage and then you or your family have skin problems, consult your doctor and print off this page to take with you.
How is it diagnosed
Demodectic mange can only be diagnosed through skin scrapes. Skin scrapes are unfortunately as unpleasant as they sound. A blade is repeatedly scratched acriss the site of your pet's hair loss and mites are squeezed out onto a slide. Demodex mites hide among the follicles of the skin and are often buried quite deeply. As a result a lot of force is needed to bring the mites our into the open to allow the blade to scoop them out.
Essentially this is just like giving your pet a graze but if it concerns you then we can consider sedating your pet. it is our experience that most animals will let us do the scrapes whilst they are conscious with very little reaction.
How is demodectic mange treated?
Demodectic mange can be very difficult to treat and the usual treatment is bathing in a special insecticide. It can take many baths to clear a pet of mange - usually a minimum of three or four.
Are there any risks of treatment?
The insecticide used for bathing can be a bit of a sedative, so it is vital that neither you nor your pet ingest any product. It is because of the potentially dangerous nature of this liquid that we typically suggest that clients have the baths performed by staff at our hospital. This is a safety precaution for both you and your pet.
As a side note, if your pet is having baths and seems sedated in the next couple of days then ring your vet for advice as it may be necessary to bathe them clean.
What are my commitments?
- Bringing your pet in for regular bathing (usually at weekly intervals)
- Being aware that bathing may continue for a prolonged period
- Being aware that you pet will not be 'cured' until the have had three separate mite free scrapes
Will my pet get this again?
The short answer is unfortunately probably, because looking for the last couple of mites is like looking for a needle in a haystack and it can be difficult to know when to stop bathing. The usual test is three negative scrapes on three separate occasions but this is not necessarily 100% reliable.
In addition some pets are never cured and these may need bathing for life or stronger medication. Finally, always remember that the mites should naturally exist on the skin in small numbers.
