Dog's Diseases

Scabies

This is a skin condition resulting from an infection with the biting and burrowing mite Sarcoptes spp. Dogs and cats infected with the mite are extremely itchy and uncomfortable. Sarcoptes is very infectious and easily spreads from animal to animal. It should be remembered that it can also infect people producing small red lumps normally on the arms of owners. These lumps are itchy as well but the disease in people is normally transitory and short-lived. The sarcoptes mites are often difficult to find but diagnosis is often made based on the sites of infection and the history of the animal. Treatment is with injections of ivomectin and is very effective.