Mange and constant scratching?

• Mange and constant scratching? Heather Day Posted : 4/11/2007 11:49:24 AM We have a 1 year old Jack Russell Terrier and Pit Bull mix. He has had mange 2 times. The first time we had the vet treat him and the second time we treated him at home. Both seemed to do the trick but the home remedy was much cheaper. I heard that mange can be a one time occurance or it can be a disease that flares up for the rest of the dogs life. I do not think he has mange at this time but he is always scratching and biting at himself. The area that seems to be affected to where he feels he needs to bite himself to relieve the itch is his back legs. I guess he couldn't scratch there if he wanted to. Is there anything that I can do to help relieve the itch that he constantly has. I don't know if this is dry skin or allergies but if there is anything that we can try before taking him to the vet I would appreciate the advice. LIKE 8 REPLIES 626 VIEWS LAST POST JANET_ROSE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Misskiwi67 Posted : 4/11/2007 12:15:28 PM Mange can be very difficult to get rid of if you aren't treating long enough. It sounds very much like your dog has mange again. What did you treat with and for how long? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• janet_rose Posted : 4/12/2007 2:30:18 AM Here is a post on mange: [linkhttp://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=299161]http://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=299161[/link]   Your dog's problem could be mange (two types), but it could also be food problems - especially if the food is high in grains.  What are you feeding? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Misskiwi67 Posted : 4/12/2007 7:09:29 AM ORIGINAL: janet_rose Here is a post on mange: [linkhttp://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=299161]http://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=299161[/link] Your dog's problem could be mange (two types), but it could also be food problems - especially if the food is high in grains.  What are you feeding? Food issues? Doubtful... Four things cause constant scratching. Flea allergy, malassezia yeast infection, scabies, and a disease of cocker spaniels that I can't remember the name of. Most dogs are allergic to proteins in the food, not grains. I would look elsewhere first. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• janet_rose Posted : 4/12/2007 1:21:23 PM Food issues? Doubtful... Four things cause constant scratching. Flea allergy, malassezia yeast infection, scabies, and a disease of cocker spaniels that I can't remember the name of. Most dogs are allergic to proteins in the food, not grains. I would look elsewhere first. I don't care if you call it allergies, food sensitivities, dietary insufficiencies, or poor digestion.  Lots of dogs scratch due to their diet and the problems do include grains.  Many believe that skin yeast infections are diet related.   It is so easy to try a good, simple dog food with a novel (dog hasn't had it before) protein that it is one of the first things I would look at.  Enough people have seen these foods help their dogs that there are commercially available foods.   This post lists some of the "simple" kibbles - those with a minimum number of ingredients and no grains except rice. Two have potato or sweet potato instead of rice.  Always double check the current ingredients. [link[/link][/size]>http://forum.dog.com/discus/messages/46/137734.html#POST421380]http://forum.dog.com/discus/messages/46/137734.html#POST421380[/link][/size]   Some sites on itching:   Allergies and Essential Fatty Acids[linkhttp://b-naturals.com/Win1997.php]http://b-naturals.com/Win1997.php[/link] Scratching and Itching - Could It Be Yeast?[linkhttp://b-naturals.com/Apr2002.php]http://b-naturals.com/Apr2002.php[/link] Canine allergies [linkhttp://www.canismajor.com/dog/allergy.html]http://www.canismajor.com/dog/allergy.html[/link] Fatty Acids for Allergies & Dry Skin in Dogs [link>http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1662&articleid=666]http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1662&articleid=666[/link][/size]   Itchy Pets: A different perspective on a common problem [linkhttp://www.caberfeidh.com/Itch.htm]http://www.caberfeidh.com/Itch.htm[/link] Canine Allergies [linkhttp://www.nhahonline.com/k9allergies.htm]http://www.nhahonline.com/k9allergies.htm[/link] Canine Skin Problems and Diseases [linkhttp://www.lowchensaustralia.com/health/skin.htm]http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/health/skin.htm[/link] 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• ottoluv Posted : 4/12/2007 1:55:44 PM Many believe that skin yeast infections are diet related. The wounds from scratching become secondarily infected with yeast which is present on every living organism normally. They just have a nice place to grow with the damaged skin. So although yeast infections are common with food allergies, or any allergies they are not really caused by the food, just another opportunist taking advantage of a situation. Hope you figure it out, I'd hold on food trials and rule out the things misskiwi suggested at your vet. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• jennie_c_d Posted : 4/12/2007 11:17:43 PM Whatever treatment you and your vet decide on (I do think it's time to see the vet), I would put him on a simple food and fish body oil supplement. Simple food will be nice and easy on his tummy, and the fish body oil helps with inflamation and skin issues.  0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• janet_rose Posted : 4/13/2007 5:34:31 AM With skin problems, of course, the vet should be consulted.  The last link in my list above, gives a list of many things to be considered - including bacterial, fungal, parasitic, yeast, and hormonal problems, plus allergies.   However, it can be really expensive to run all the tests.  Trying some things at home before going to the vet can be cost effective.  Of course, this has to be tempered by how bad the skin condition is.   Gold Bond powder can clear up hot spots.  Filthy Animal Shampoo (yes, that is the real name of the shampoo [sm=lol.gif]  can clear up staph infections.  A simple kibble for a few days may decrease a dog's chewing on its feet and, regardless of the problem, a dog has to eat!   Filthy Animal Shampoo >http://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=191075+401&Cat=[/size] (our board sponsor) 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• janet_rose Posted : 4/13/2007 6:11:09 AM The area that seems to be affected to where he feels he needs to bite himself to relieve the itch is his back legs [emphasis added]. Sweeps101, can you see any bumps or dry, grey, scaly patches on the legs?    [linkhttp://www.lowchensaustralia.com/health/skin.htm]http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/health/skin.htm[/link]   If you search for "leg" and "feet" on this canine skin problem page, you will see: (1) ringworm  (actually a fungus - contagious to humans) (2) mange  (usually front legs) (3) inhalant allergies (4) food allergies (5) hookworms  (red bumps) (6) chiggers  (bumps)   Ringworm [linkhttp://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_ringworm.html]http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_ringworm.html[/link]   Note:  No, I am not suggesting that these six items are the only possible problems. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login