MANGE MANAGEMENT & SYMPTOMS
How to Identify and Treat Mange on Goats, Sheep, Swine, & Dogs
WHAT IS MANGE?
Mange is a microscopic pest that causes severe itching and skin irritation. As a general comment, for any species with skin, mange causes hair loss, severe itch and the animal will appear to look old, crusty and bald. Their natural hair color is lost. Mange, also called “Scabies” is a category of persistent skin diseases caused by parasitic mites living and breeding on or under the skin causing immense discomfort for the animal. All types of mange are very uncomfortable for your animal and should be treated as soon as possible to avoid serious harm. Most are contagious to humans, so treatment is needed immediately. Mange will not “go away” on it’s own!
SYMPTOMS:
Mange generally starts on the head behind the ears. The animal starts with shaking their head and rubbing on things. Quickly they will be itching to the point of bleeding. The itch and pain is great! In the pictures, see how each animal looks a little different? They all have crusty bumps and hair loss.
PREVENTION:
As part of your daily management, look for any red bumps, scabs or itchy areas. Take a picture and begin the process of finding a remedy! The pictures are examples to develop your eye for what mange looks like. It can affect all species…even you! The life cycle is 14-15 days from egg to adult. The mite dies out when it is removed from the animal. Separate the infected animal as soon as you see the infestation. Keep segregated until the skin is clear. Watch other pen mates for signs.
REMEDY:
Apply Ivermectin – Ivermectin based worming paste, injection or topical solution must be applied over 3 days and repeat every two weeks until hair begins to grow back. The Ivermectin based medicine should remedy this infestation regardless of which type of mange that the animal has contracted. All newly purchased animals should be given an Ivermectin based wormer as a general safeguard. With a severe case of mange, it can be a 2-3 month recovery and a vet should be seen to prescribe stronger medicine for treatment.
Separate Infected Animals – When mange is present on one animal, it is essential that all animals on the property be treated at the same time as it is likely that they will become infested.
Change Bedding – Also, all bedding should be changed out every week until the mange is cleared up.
IN ALL CASES – IF THE SYMPTOMS OF MANGE ARE NOT CLEARING UP WITHIN A FEW DAYS, CALL A VET FOR FURTHER EVALUATION AND TREATMENT!
SEVERE CASES OF MANGE INFESTATION
The left and center pictures are a pig infected with Mange on the neck and face. Notice how the pig’s skin looks dry, scabby and crusty? The picture on the right is what healthy pig skin should look like. The ivermectin paste remedy cleared this infection up without any trouble. Early treatment is the key to a fast recovery!
MANGE ON OTHER SPECIES:
Mange will attack anything with hair follicles! Here are some severe examples of mange on other species; Dogs, Cats, Deer, Cattle, Bears & a Fox. It’s important to know what it looks like. There are also other parasites like ringworm that can cause similar hair loss symptoms.
THE MANGE SHORT STORY:
All parasitic infestations must be treated as they will not heal up on their own and are highly contagious!
This information is intended as reference information and is not a replacement for the advice of your veterinarian.
MANGE SPECIES
For those of you who want to know more…here is the scientific names and up close look at these little buggers! Some burrow deep into the hair follicle while others live at the skin and hair base.
Depending on who you’re talking to, some call it mange and others say mites or ear mites. It’s basically the same.
Definitions:
Mange – a skin disease of mammals caused by parasitic mites and occasionally communicable to humans. It typically causes severe itching, hair loss, and the formation of scabs and lesions.
Mites – Parasitic mites that cause mange in mammals embed themselves in either skin or hair follicles in the animal.
MEDICINE CABINET
- Ivermectin based paste, injection or topical solution.
- New Bedding – changed every week for 3 weeks.
Apply Ivermectin medicine over a 3 day period and repeat every two weeks until hair begins to grow back.