Mange Epidemic?

by Northern Maiden on 28 February 2012 - 05:02

There seems to be a mange epidemic running riot through the squirrels in our area; a week ago I noticed a squirrel with a raw, red rash covering half of its body, and now almost all the squirrels seem to have the red rash in varying degrees of severity. I tried to upload a photo that I got of one of them, so that the PDB users could analyze the rash, but my computer will not let me. I am a nervous wreck that one of my dogs is going to contract whatever it is. Should I be worried? And is there anything I should be doing to prevent my dogs from getting it? Currently, I am only allowing them outside to do their business, but it is resulting in some hyperactive dogs and a rather harassed owner.

by GSD Admin on 28 February 2012 - 06:02

You probably need to re-size the picture.

by Northern Maiden on 28 February 2012 - 06:02

You probably need to re-size the picture.

How?

by GSD Admin on 28 February 2012 - 06:02

Tutorials

by NigerDeltaMann on 28 February 2012 - 09:02

You're really "observant" and thank you instinc. Call "animal rescue" and see a vet for advice/prevention, before your dog starts looking like and old n worn-out rug or an "abandoned poor-man's rag" or the "sahel savanna" or the "kalahari desert". The squirel you saw mirrors the condition any infected dog'll look like.

by NigerDeltaMann on 28 February 2012 - 09:02

You're really "observant" and thank you instinc. Call "animal rescue" and see a vet for advice/prevention, before your dog starts looking like and old n worn-out rug or an "abandoned poor-man's rag" or the "sahel savanna" or the "kalahari desert". The squirel you saw mirrors the condition any infected dog'll look like.

by Blitzen on 28 February 2012 - 13:02

Most mange is species specific, so a dog may not "catch" it form a squirrel. Odds are greatly against that happening. A dog would have to come into direct contact with the squirrel. Even if a dog does get the mange, it can easily be treated with a pesticide or ivermectin and the mites will die. No need to not allow your dogs outside.

by macrowe1 on 28 February 2012 - 14:02

It could be scabies, which can pass from species to species, including humans. It could be another form of mange that's not contagious to your babies. It would probably be best to contact someone like animal control to evaluate the situation.

by firefly on 28 February 2012 - 15:02

Scabies is sicoptic mange. The dog has to have a compromised imune system to get any kind of mange. As long as the dog is healthy and didn't get vaccinated recently u should be ok. Igive my dogs ester C which helps keeping their imune system up.

by Blitzen on 28 February 2012 - 15:02

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_sarcoptic_mange.html

Human scabies and dog scabies is not the same.

http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/fnr/wildlife/newsletter/may05.html

I just don't think I'd keep my dogs inside for fear that they may contract mange from squirrels.

Mange Epidemic? - Page 1

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