WHATS ON ? KUMBE MANGE NI GONJWA MBAYA LA KUAMBUKIZA MBWA NA HATA WATU ? JIEPUSHENI NA MANGE' MBUTA NANGA!!

Mange is a type of inflammatory skin disease caused by tiny parasitic mites on dogs. Nearly all dogs carry mites in small numbers throughout their lives. Generally, a dog's immune system is sufficient to keep the number of mites low and prevent noticeable symptoms. In cases of mange, however, the population of mites grows out of control. Large colonies of mites can cause skin lesions, hair loss, and even immune system problems. Though mange is rarely fatal, knowing how to recognize this obnoxious disease early makes treating the dog much easier in the long run.

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   Look for the symptoms of sarcoptic mange. Dogs can contract two forms of mange — sarcoptic mange and demodectic mange. Though both can be serious, the two forms of the disease differ somewhat in the symptoms they present. Sarcoptic mange usually causes intense itching. The dog may relentlessly scratch or chew at its skin to relieve the itch. The dog's skin, irritated from the constant scratching and biting, can easily become infected. The itching can even be so severe that it distracts the dog from necessary behavior like eating, drinking, and resting.
   • Severe cases of sarcoptic mange that result in secondary infections from bacteria or yeast can cause a white, crusty surface to form on the dog's irritated skin, though this does not occur in all cases.^[1] In addition, dogs with severe secondary infections will also often suffer weight loss, run a fever, and/or have enlarged lymph nodes.
   • While sarcoptic mange itself can't kill a dog, the dog's health can deteriorate quickly if it gets a serious infection or stops eating or sleeping, so, in this case, immediate veterinary care may be needed. This should be obvious — a dog with a bad case of sarcoptic mange will appear profoundly unhealthy.
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     Look for the symptoms of localized demodectic mange. Cases of demodectic mange, the second type of mange that dogs are able to contract, can be divided into three categories based on their severity and spread: localized, generalized, and pododermatitis. In general, demodectic mange is usually characterized by hair loss and sometimes scabbing or irritated skin. Localized demodectic mange, the least serious variety, usually results in one or two "thin" or bald patch in the dog's hair. Usually, this small patch will not appear inflamed or irritated and will not cause serious itching.
     • Localized demodectic mange is most common in puppies. In about 90% of cases, localized demodectic mange disappears on its own without treatment in a month or two.^[2] However, in a fraction of cases, the disease may develop into the more serious generalized demodectic mange.
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     Look for the symptoms of generalized demodectic mange. If a case of localized demodectic mange does not go away on its own, it may eventually spread to the rest of the dog's body, resulting in generalized mange. The dog will develop numerous thin or bald patches over its body. Existing patches may grow to about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. The skin in the patches may become red, scaly, and/or crusty. This skin irritation can cause the dog to scratch at its skin, which can sometimes lead to more serious infections. These secondary infections will lead to similar symptoms as those in sarcoptic mange cases — fever, weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, etc.
     • The dog may scratch at the bald, irritated patches on its skin, which, in some cases, can lead to the types of infections normally seen with sarcoptic mange. However, it's important to distinguish the two — the mites that cause sarcoptic mange lead to immediate, severe itching, while the mites that cause demodectic mange cause patches of irritated skin to develop which then may become itchy.
     • It is thought that dogs that develop generalized demodectic mange usually inherit their weakness to the disease genetically.^[3]
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     Look for the symptoms of demodectic pododermatitis. Some select cases of demodectic mange cause a condition called demodectic pododermatitis. This occurs when the mites that cause mange become deeply embedded in the dog's feet, where they are very difficult to remove. This condition usually presents itself in the form of swollen, irritated feet. The condition is usually worst around the nailbeds and is often accompanied by a secondary infection.^[4]
     • For demodectic pododermatitis, treatment can be long and complicated, often involving administering antibiotics and frequently dipping the dog's feet in a medication called mitaban.^[5] Because treatment is difficult, spotting this condition early is critical.
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     Look for the signs of mange-causing mites on humans. One of the ways to detect a case of mange on your dog is to find mite bites on yourself. When the type of mites that cause sarcoptic mange come into contact with a human, they can cause patches of red, irritated bumps similar to mosquito bites.^[6] Luckily, these almost never become serious. However, seeing these symptoms after being around a dog that can't stop itching itself can be a sure sign of sarcoptic mange.