Dog Health Problems - Spread of Red / Demodectic Mange
Red / Demodectic Mange is generally a disease of young dogs that have a poorly developed immune systems. The mites are transferred directly from the mother to the puppies within the first week of life. The mother and puppy must be physically touching, as the parasite cannot survive off of the animal. The Demodex Canis lives, without causing any problems on practically all adult dogs, and humans! It is not spread like the Sarcoptic Mange, also known as Scabies. Older dogs who have a depressed immune system have also been known to acquire the disease.
The Life Cycle of the Red / Demodectic Mange mite - Demodex Canis
Understanding the life-cycle is important so that strategies for treatment and prevention can be designed and implemented. The life of the Demodex Canis mite is spent entirely on the body of the dog its life cycle is as follows:
- Eggs - Are white or cream and are laid on the host where they they hatch into larvae
- Larvae - the larvae moves about on the skin surface and molts into the nymphal stage
- Adult - becomes an adult within 2 weeks of hatching
- Adults live between 20 - 35days on the host