Dakota Has Red Mange.YIKES!!!

**many houseapes** · 12-17-2007, 08:36 PM

Dakota( Siberian Husky) has been losing the fur around his mouth-then today I noticed that he's losing it under his eyes and his neck. I KNEW that I couldn't treat this myself & took him to the vet. The vet told me that he has red mange. I have been raised around dogs my whole life and this is the first I've heard of it. I have heard of Mange-but not this type of mange. Apparently, dogs that are going through the "puberty stage" are more prone to get it. It is hereditary. That is odd b/c my other husky, Asia, has had nothing like this - & they are from the same litter.The good news is that it is not contagious - the bad news is- we got socked for $82!!!(including antibiotics & dip) I just hope & pray that he never gets it again.I need to know if any of you have ever had to deal w/ Red Mange? Did your dog ever have subsequent attacks?
The vet also told me it would be better not to breed him b/c of this & that I should have him neutered. Do you think that there is any truth to this, or is he just trying to make a little extra money by selling me this "story"?

**frugalfarmwife** · 12-17-2007, 10:42 PM

I've never dealt with it personally but what the Vet says is true, I THINK it's more of an immune deficiency that makes them much more prone to contracting the mange, also I THINK some do carry it and it crops up from stress. So the Vet is right no not breeding him.

Also, $82.00 isn't bad at ALL for a Vet visit, especially for a dip and antibiotics for a dog that size. And finish the WHOLE prescription no matter how soon he seems to be cured, not following proper dosages and times on antibiotics is one of the reasons that we're seeing more and more "super bugs", people don't finish the entire dosage and as a result don't completely wipe out the problem, those "bugs" that survive end up with immunities to the antibiotics over time.

kj

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 12-17-2007, 11:42 PM

Red mange can be inherited,so DO NOT breed him. You wouldn't want to put anyone else through this misery would you?

**many houseapes** · 12-18-2007, 12:02 AM

Originally Posted by Lori Biever-Launder

Red mange can be inherited,so DO NOT breed him. You wouldn't want to put anyone else through this misery would you?

No, I absolutely would not want anyone else to have to go through this...Its just that the way that things are here with the vets, I feel that its difficult to trust them sometimes(no offense)...and in my case, this is the first I have ever heard of Red Mange, so I thought that I would ask here if anyone had heard of it before making a final decision.

**Sari** · 12-19-2007, 11:04 AM

It's true that dogs with this mange should be neutered. It's influenced by stress/hormones and WILL flare up again if he's not. It's not that your vet is trying to get more money.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...S=0&C=0&A=1556

"...all generalized demodicosis patients be neutered as soon as their disease is under control. This is in the best interest for your dog since stress (breeding, heat cycles) can cause recurrence of the disease."

**many houseapes** · 12-19-2007, 07:43 PM

I've done some more research on the matter & found that I caught the problem before it became generalized. Dakota didn't have the scabs or huge horrible patches of missing fur everywhere. He has a localized case-but still- I've looked into what the county charges for neutering/spaying & its alot cheaper than the vets, so I'm going to go have both dogs fixed.I feel pretty bad-they are both such beautiful animals-but they don't need this to happen again.Meanwhile, Dakota has been on medication & had his first dip & he looks so much better already.We'll see what happens in about 4 weeks- I just hope that we don't need another round of treatments(expensive for us) to get rid of the stuff,but I'm tucking whatever I can away just in case.

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 12-19-2007, 08:04 PM

Hooooraaay! Your fur kids will feel better soon!

**MarshHen** · 12-21-2007, 08:00 AM

LOL, I was just reading this post when our vet called to check on us to see how we are doing after loosing Dixie (He's a real sweetie), and I read your post to him over the phone. He agreed on everything your vet said, so I guess that would be a second opinion.

Hope Dakota feels better soon, and Dr. Blackburn said it's wonderful that you caught it early.