He`s scratching. He`s really going at it. He`s been at it off and on all day. He`s making YOU feel itchy just watching him. The mother-in law is due to visit and she can`t see him like that..... You`re really going to have to have a close look at him. Surely he couldn`t have picked up something........
Yes he could. Parasites thrive on the ability of dogs to "pick up something" from other dogs on very casual contact. Fortunately nowadays most of them can be quickly exterminated - the parasites, that is, not the dogs!.
So let`s pick Fido up and have a really close look. Part his hair and get right in there, with a magnifying glass if necessary. Look at the parts he can`t scratch so easily - parasites don`t like scratching. Look at the root of his tail and under his armpits and behind his ears and along his spine. What do you see?
1. Little black specks in clusters. He`s got FLEAS. The specks are their droppings, and the more you see, the more fleas he has. You may even see the flea itself - a very speedy dark brown insect about 4mm long - but you`ll have to be quick to catch it. It lives on the dog and feeds on his blood. Some dogs are allergic to the bites and will develop skin sores. Others just scratch philosophically.
Solution - first spray or bath the dog with a suitable insecticidal treatment, of course. BUT - and it`s a big one - the eggs can be laid in his bed, your carpet, anywhere. And the whole life cycle is only 18 days. So you will need another spray treatment for the bedding and carpets. You can catch a flea from your dog, but he will not find you very tasty, and you will only suffer a few bites before he decides you are not a "des res" and hops off to find another dog.
2 Little crusty itchy scabs. He has LICE . If you have a glass, or really close eyesight you may be able to make them out, clustered along the affected area - tiny things with pale bodies and a dark head. They live and lay eggs on the dog and suck his blood. They are much more irritating to the dog than fleas, but are really easier to get rid of with the right insecticide. You will not have to treat your carpets, and they will not transfer to you. Only human lice live on humans, and I don`t propose to get into that...
3. The dreaded "living" or "walking dandruff". Lots of dandruff, and some of it is actually strolling about among the hairs. He has a mite infestation called CHEYLETIELLA. This is a tougher one, and it can survive for quite a time off the dog. It`s also more resistant to treatment You will have to treat the dog repeatedly and spray the whole house. And yes, YOU can catch this one, and it can cause quite a nasty dermatitis. There was quite an epidemic of it in Scotland a few years ago.
4. Scabby, sore weepy smelly areas, with thick crusty skin. He has SARCOPTIC MANGE. I hope you never see this one, and indeed you are very unlikely to. It`s another mite infestation with the mites burrowing in the skin and laying eggs there - in fact it is just like scabies in humans, and like scabies, it takes time to get rid of. I haven`t seen this one in forty years, when a neighbour`s Westies got it, but I still remember the smell. The dog has to be shaved, and bathed repeatedly in insecticide - although I believe that nowadays Ivermectin is also used as an injection. But don`t worry about this one - it`s SO rare in well-kept dogs. People can catch it, but it is said not to be severe in humans.
5. Scaly bald skin around the eyes and muzzle in puppies under 9 months. This is DEMODETIC MANGE, and despite the name "mange", is not in any way the problem that number 4 is. Puppies catch it from mother(it`s unnoticeable in her) and usually just grow out of it. Only rarely does it affect an adult. It`s caused by the Demodex mite, which is microscopic in size, and most puppies have it but don`t react to it at all, so it goes unnoticed and is harmless. Spraying again is the teratment., for bitch and puppies.
You can`t catch this one. Demodex is species specific. You have your own demodex - they live in the roots of your eyelashes, completely harmless and undetected. You have more pets than you thought you had. Now there`s a happy thought.!
(NOTE : I haven`t mentioned any specific treatments - ask your vet for the best one, as there are always new ones coming on the market.)
I`d be happy to hear from you on this one. Share your experiences!
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