I never thought that any of my dogs would suffer a skin disease particularly a MANGE attack. It took me some time to realize and an additional time to accept that it does happen, even to good dogs in a good home. But as soon as things became a little bit clearer, there's nothing left to do but to act on it, solve it. That's what we're doing now.
Background:
When Bruce was little he had small red bumps in his semi-hairless belly. It's like "bunging araw" probably something caused by the heat and moist. We regularly bathe him of course with anti-fungal shampoo and Dr. Kaufman anti-bacterial soap just like the rest of our dogs. It never really signaled a major problem for us. He sometimes scratches himself, but we didn't see anything alarming that needed further medical attention.
He grew up in a fairly happy environment. He plays around, likes to hang out in puddles of water, dirties himself by destroying mom's plants and he even had time to be trained in a professional dog school. While growing up, we noticed small skin irritations, again nothing extraordinary. Dogs scratch themselves from time to time. His coat still looked fine, he's not in a major chronic itching spree, but we do still make sure that he gets his regular bathe and sways him away from sleeping in puddles. We thought that some small bumps are just minor skin irritation bought by heat and dirt. To be honest, we were more on the lookout for fleas and ticks. As an average dog owner, that's the only thing I know that could attack them.
Until a couple of months passed and we noticed the bumps beneath his fur multiplying in his legs and we saw scaling and skin patches in his forehead. Abnormal things started to get noticeable. I thought it was still caused by normal dirt and we tried to buy a heavy duty anti-bacterial and anti-fungal shampoo. We bathe him more often, but after weeks of observation, nothing. We noticed that he would scratch himself from time to time, but what's more alarming are the bumps beneath his fur and the scaling and patches of wound on his forehead. It became worse. I knew he might have some discomfort, but Bullmastiffs are tough dogs. He won't whine.
I researched online and came across the same symptoms with dogs that have MANGE. Mange is a skin disease caused by MITES, supposedly common external parasites that lay eggs and bury themselves beneath the dogs' hair follicle. In general, they do attack puppies more with underdeveloped immune system (1 - 24 months) assisted by dirt and heat. As I was looking at the images, my heart beat fast. I knew I had to take him to the doctor. He had bumps, scaling on his forehead and open wounds already present from scratching. Thankfully he's not yet in the worse stages of balding, discoloration and chronic licking and scratching. But I was in panic mode.
Two things I am definite. The bumps are all over his body and his skin disease is already generalized as supposed to localized. Second, he has to be taken to the vet.
SATURDAY WEEK 1:
We took Bruce to his vet for treatment. The vet did the usual scraping and inspection and it was confirmed that the skin disease was caused by mites. At that point, I just wanted it to be cured. The vet was explaining things to me, but my mind was floating somewhere else. I ended up asking him again again like a nervous parent.
I have 2 other dogs that didn't have mange:
Background:
When Bruce was little he had small red bumps in his semi-hairless belly. It's like "bunging araw" probably something caused by the heat and moist. We regularly bathe him of course with anti-fungal shampoo and Dr. Kaufman anti-bacterial soap just like the rest of our dogs. It never really signaled a major problem for us. He sometimes scratches himself, but we didn't see anything alarming that needed further medical attention.
He grew up in a fairly happy environment. He plays around, likes to hang out in puddles of water, dirties himself by destroying mom's plants and he even had time to be trained in a professional dog school. While growing up, we noticed small skin irritations, again nothing extraordinary. Dogs scratch themselves from time to time. His coat still looked fine, he's not in a major chronic itching spree, but we do still make sure that he gets his regular bathe and sways him away from sleeping in puddles. We thought that some small bumps are just minor skin irritation bought by heat and dirt. To be honest, we were more on the lookout for fleas and ticks. As an average dog owner, that's the only thing I know that could attack them.
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| Bumps on his body. no major baldness and open wounds yet. |
I researched online and came across the same symptoms with dogs that have MANGE. Mange is a skin disease caused by MITES, supposedly common external parasites that lay eggs and bury themselves beneath the dogs' hair follicle. In general, they do attack puppies more with underdeveloped immune system (1 - 24 months) assisted by dirt and heat. As I was looking at the images, my heart beat fast. I knew I had to take him to the doctor. He had bumps, scaling on his forehead and open wounds already present from scratching. Thankfully he's not yet in the worse stages of balding, discoloration and chronic licking and scratching. But I was in panic mode.
Two things I am definite. The bumps are all over his body and his skin disease is already generalized as supposed to localized. Second, he has to be taken to the vet.
SATURDAY WEEK 1:
We took Bruce to his vet for treatment. The vet did the usual scraping and inspection and it was confirmed that the skin disease was caused by mites. At that point, I just wanted it to be cured. The vet was explaining things to me, but my mind was floating somewhere else. I ended up asking him again again like a nervous parent.
I have 2 other dogs that didn't have mange:
- All dogs harbor mites, but as long as the dog has healthy skin and strong immune system, the mites should be harmless and curable without any treatment. Harvey and Chivas have strong immune systems. Mites do not stand a chance.
- In Bruce's case, he's young and his immune system is weak, mites took a chance to feast on his
Is there just one kind of Mange?
- Sarcoptic and Demodectic.
- Sarcoptic are transmitted from one infected dog to another. It causes chronic itching, balding especially in ears, elbow and face
- Demodectic are overgrowth of mites usually found in puppy's skin from the start. Mild to moderate itching is present and in worst cases, hair fall and abnormal looking skin. Mites that have grown haywire.
- Bruce has Demodectic Mange that became wild because of his suppressed immune system.
Treatment:
- Oral antibiotics, injections and medicinal bath
- Get rid of the beddings, put 1 tablespoon of corn oil (to moisturize his skin) on his food and bathe him with anti-fungal shampoo
- Visit the vet every week for shots and medicinal bath
- Strengthen his immune system
We left Bruce to the vet for a couple of hours so he could take his medicinal bath and dip. That special bath involves medicine and pesticides so the mites in this body could be killed. According to my research, there are some bad side effects to it if done regularly like vomiting and malaise. You are dipping them after all in strong pesticides. Don't be surprised if it smells like gas.
Aside from the bath, he also got an anti-fungal shot as opposed to oral antibiotics.
We took him home the same day smelling of gas and really feeling worried. The vet said with the medicine and heat, his bumps may flare up as an immediate reaction to the medicine. We just have to make sure his place is clean, he's not exposed much to sun and he must avoid dirt/soil at any cost. The vet even suggested to put in him a cage most of the time. I cringed. I told the vet that he won't like it.
It was hard on the first night. As much as we don't like locking him up, he must heal and maximize the effects of medicine. He was in a bad mood for sure, but we had no choice.
That was a Saturday. He took his next bath with the same strong anti-fungal shampoo and Dr. Kaufman anti-bacterial soap on Wednesday and Thursday. He is scheduled to be back on Saturday for a follow-up check up and treatment.
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| Bumps have flared. No Chronic Itching, but has patches on his forehead and wounds caused by scratching |
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| Waiting for his diagnosis |
