What I've learned about sarcoptic mange

[Blanche]

May none of you ever need to use this info--but since I'm living it I thought I'd share it.
*dogs can have the mites for sarcoptic mange and not show symptoms other than itching--even skin scrapings may not show mites.
*The treatment for sarcoptic mange is Revolution. One of the diagnostic confirmations of sarcoptic mange is if after one treatment of Revolution, the itching stops or significantly decreases--you've got mange and will need a second treatment in 3 weeks.
* while humans can "catch" scabies from dogs--it is not the same mite that causes scabies in humans and does NOT need to be treated. The mites will burrow under the skin and may make you itchy, but they cannot reproduce on humans and will die off in a couple of days. If you continue to be itchy--you either have human scabies or haven't gotten rid of the dog variety mites.
* While washing all the bedding etc is important to do--it is the heat of the dryer that is essential. Washed items should be dried at the hottest setting of the dryer. Unwashable items like feather pillows can just be dried in a hot dryer.
* Warm winters (like we are having here in Toronto) encourage mange because it doesn't get cold enough to kill off the mites and the biggest mange carriers (raccoons and squirrels) are still active and leaving their mites around the yard, park, etc.

That's my public service for the year.

[Maryjo's Gang]

I do know that sarcoptic mange is catchable between dogs, and demodectic mange isn't. Of the two, sarcoptic mange is easier to get rid of.

Interesting stuff you found, Blanche. 24 years or so ago when I worked at a vet clinic, I ended up at a dermatologist because I had a rash after handling several dogs in a row with sarcoptic mange. Revolution wasn't around then, I forget what we used then-probably a dip- and the dermatologist gave me lyndane lotion for me.

Thanks for researching it, Blanche!

[PugLady3]

Very useful, Blanche! Thank you!

[Blanche]

I should have put in that it is also transferrable to the cats--so everyone got Revolution.

[tall grass pugs]

Wow, I can't quite get all that-information overload, I expect. Perhaps you could drive down and show me how to do that, dippng Pug X as a demonstration. Oh--no accounting for danger on the road, bring Bob for a guard dog.

[tocents]

Wow, I can't quite get all that-information overload, I expect. Perhaps you could drive down and show me how to do that, dippng Pug X as a demonstration. Oh--no accounting for danger on the road, bring Bob for a guard dog.

Heh heh heh....Dipping PugX indeed.....

[crazypugmom]

I have tried to recommend to several people whos pets are extremely itchy to try Revolution instead of their regular monthly heartworm and see if it makes a difference. Some people just don't want to believe it could be sarcoptic mange.

My one foster had it plus I found out that another pug I transported had it also. I had actually broken out in itchy bumps on my chest and stomach area. Guess what, I held the pug in my lap for two hours on the drive home. It wasn't until after he went to his forever home that he was diagnosed with the mange.

[Blanche]

Shoot--Lily's been gone since November 28th and just got diagnosed. Mange never occured to me since not everyone was itchy and certainly not Lily when she was here--or no itchier than most new fosters. I would have eventually gotten around to Revolution just because everything else I had tried on the itchers had failed. but then Lily's mom gave me the news so we skipped my plans X and Y and went straight to plan Z.

I haven't seen sarcoptic mange in any of my fosters before.

[Candace]

Well, I guess I may have to go this route too, since Petunia came from the same place as Lily. I am a little worried, as Salvador has allergies and had a bad reaction to hearworm medication a few years back.