Is Lime Sulfur Dip safe to use on cats to treat sarcoptic mange? What other options (minus vet) are there?
About a month ago I noticed a cat w/ a very serious condition of mange hanging around my neighborhood. I had not seen this cat b4 & it was obvious that he was in a terrible state, w/most of his hair missing & very thin. =’[ He only came out at night & I was unsuccessful in my attempts to trap & hopefully help it. Its been 3wks since Ive last seen him. I have 4 cats of my own (all outdoor/indoor & neutered) & 1 has since died ‘mysteriously’ & 2 have begun losing patches of hair around the neck area. It was a terrible loss for me when I discovered that Allen had died & I am still grieving. I do not want to lose Kit Fisto or Lite Bulb to this terrible & torturous disease (mange). I do not have the $$ right now to get them both (or even 1) treated by a vet & its so frustrating when I know they need me.
The Lime Sulfur Dip method for treatment of feline mange is the most common in my online research. Is this safe for cats? What are the risks? What about homemade remedies? Please help…
About a year ago I resuced a Persian from the animal welfare centre where I help out. She kept coming back in because of ringworm and nothing would shift it. I looked on the internet and found Pets Best RX (Q Based Healthcare) which is an American based company (I live in the UK). The testimonials were excellent so I ordered the lime sulfur cream and also a healing spray. Their lime sulfur is white and smells fresh (just like tea tree oil). Within a matter of days Dora Blossom’s ringworm was healing well and, thankfully, has never returned. I will ALWAYS have the products in my home now as they deal with so many skin problems and I know they can be used for mange as well. The company are excellent and have a help line which you can call and talk things through. They will also e-mail you with answers to your problems if this is more convenient.
Have just checked phone number 1.337.937.8800 and they have a special section for mange – they recommend a spray followed by Sulfinex (the sulfur cream). Hope this helps.
Just to clarify – Dora had been battling with ringworm for a year and had been re-homed 3 times because of the problem. It was obvious that the usual prescription medicines were not working in her case. I did discuss the lime sulfur treatment with my vet and we decided to try it – with excellent results. I would not use ordinary lime sulfur (the green one) as this smells awful and is probably a horrible substance to put on a cat.
Good luck.
How Long Does Sarcoptic Mange Mites Live Off Of The Host?
Sarcoptic Mange Mites
Sarcoptic mange is the name for the skin disease caused by infection with the Sarcoptes scabei mite. Sarcoptic mange Mites are not insects; instead they are more closely related to spiders. Sarcoptic mange mites are microscopic and cannot be seen with the naked eye.
How Long Does Sarcoptic Mange Mites Live Off Of The Host?
Adult Sarcoptic mange mites live 3-4 weeks in the host’s skin. After mating, the female burrows into the skin depositing 3-4 eggs in the tunnel behind her. The eggs hatch in 3-10 days producing a larva which, in turn, moves about on the skin surface eventually molting into a “nymphal” stage and finally into an adult. The adults sarcoptic mange mites move on the surface of the skin where they mate and the cycle begins again with the female burrowing and laying eggs.
Diagnosis of having Sarcoptic Mange Mites
Diagnosis of having sarcoptic mange mites is made by deep skin scraping in 12 or more affected areas. The skin should be scraped in many places around the edge of the progress of lesions. This is because the sarcoptic mange mites are usually at the head of the tunnels under the skin. Sarcoptic mange mites sometimes be very difficult to recover and processed animal in lesions characteristics and treatment response.
The life cycle of the Sarcoptic Mange Mites
Sarcoptic mange mites spend their entire lives in or on the skin. The second male and female on the surface of the skin and the male dies soon to. The female then digs into the top layer of the epidermis (stratum corneum) and begins to form a honeycomb of tunnels. When tunnels along the egg is laid, filling the tunnels. Adult mites feed on serum (the clear part of blood) seeping into the tunnels in the surrounding tissue irritation. When the female parasite completes mission, she died at the end of the tunnel. The eggs hatch quickly into larvae then molt to become nymphs. Larvae and nymphs also feed on serum and skin debris. When the nymph is a final molt to become an adult returning to the surface of the skin where they mate and start the cycle again. Transmission from animal to animal is considered by direct contact. Dogs and cats in close contact with an infected host is succeptible.
How is Sarcoptic Mange mites treated?
Pets
Sarcoptic mange is fairly easy to kill with sauces (amitraz), pour the acaricides (Ivomec alcohol based) or oral products (milbemycin – Interceptor). The condition may also need to be treated with antibiotics for secondary bacterial infection and corticosteroids to reduce itching and inflammation.
Environment
Adult sarcoptic mange mites can live for about 21 days without power. Therefore, all brushes, combs, collars, bedding, carpets and upholstered surfaces should be sprayed with insecticide. Families flea treatment products effectively kill the adult sarcoptic mange mites. One or two of depth that usually destroys the adult environment.
What is mange and what are the symptoms in dogs?
I am curious as to what the symptoms are? Is it more common in outside dogs than indoor dogs? What can be don’t to correct the problem? Mychocolate lab has tiny insect-bite-like marks on her ear flaps that are crusty and she has lost some hair and has thinning hair on her belly and chest. Thanks!
Sarcoptic mange, commonly known as canine scabies, is caused by the parasite Sarcoptes scabiei. These microscopic mites can invade the skin of healthy dogs or puppies and create a variety of skin problems, the most common of which is hair loss and severe itching. While they will infect other animals and even humans, they prefer to live their short lives on dogs. Fortunately, there are several good treatments for this mange and the disease can be easily controlled
The symptoms are varied, but usually include hair loss and severe itching especially on the elbows, ears, armpits, hocks, chest, and ventral abdomen (belly). The mites prefer to live on areas of the skin that have less hair. As the infection worsens it can spread over the entire body. Small red pustules often develop along with yellow crusts on the skin. Because of the severe itching and resultant scratching, the skin soon becomes traumatized and a variety of sores and infections can develop as a result. The itching seems to be much worse in warm conditions such as indoors or near a stove or heat vent. If the infection goes untreated or is mistakenly treated as an allergy, the skin may darken due to the constant irritation, and the surrounding lymph nodes may become enlarged.
Sarcoptic mange is a somewhat common infection and many cases have often been misdiagnosed as severe atopy (inhalant allergy). Any time we see a dog who does not have a prior history of allergies and develops severe itching, or if the itching is not seasonal but year-round, we have to suspect sarcoptic mange.
The intense itching caused by the sarcoptic mite is actually thought to be caused from a severe allergic reaction to the mite. When dogs are initially infected with Sarcoptes they do not develop itching for several weeks. If the animals are treated and then reinfected at a later time, severe itching starts almost immediately, which indicates the itching may be due to an allergic reaction. However, the standard treatments for allergies generally will not decrease the symptoms of scabies, and will do nothing to cure the disease.
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Learn more about Symptoms of Mange and different types, here.
