Dog's hairless spots likely caused by mites
By Dr. Stephanie K. Wolf Q: I have a 5-month-old intact male pit bull terrier puppy that has developed several hairless spots on its back and head region since our last trip to the vet. I have applied the free tube of Advantage, which was given to me at the last visit. I don't see any fleas, but I am unsure what might be causing these spots. My other pit bull is normal. Can you help?
A: Without seeing your dog, it is difficult to make a definitive diagnosis, but it certainly sounds very much like your dog may have mange, specifically Demodex canis.
This mite is a parasite of the dog skin only and is present in small numbers on all dogs. It is transmitted by direct contact from the mother to the pups within the first 3 days of life. It is not contagious to you, your family or your other dog. However, in young or otherwise immuno-compromised dogs, this mite can overpopulate and cause hair loss, patchy redness and suppuration.
Sometimes itchiness will be associated with this disease as a result of a secondary bacterial infection that can be set up on the damaged skin.
It is important for you to take your dog back to your veterinarian to perform some diagnostic tests including skin scrapes, hair plucks and possible skin biopsies. Your veterinarian will also determine if this disease is localized or generalized, which will determine treatment options.
If fewer than 5 spots are found on your dog's head and back region, considered localized disease, it will often spontaneously resolve within 4 months.
Your veterinarian will also recommend your dog be neutered. There is some evidence that there may be a hereditary predisposition to developing this disease.
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Prepared as a public service by the Niagara Frontier Veterinary Society. Send questions to Pets, P.O. Box 1252, Buffalo, N.Y. 14205 or to the Web site at nfvs.online.org. Sorry, personal replies cannot be provided.
(C) 2005 Buffalo News. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
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