I have a 4 year old Boxer who has broke out in red rashes/spots on his feet, the front of his legs, under his chin on his neck, and around his ear. He has broken out like this before, usually in the summer, but never this bad. He has no hair on the places and they are raw and scabby.

The veterinarian that we have been seeing for about two years now says that it is not demodectic mange. He has told us that the ones on his feet and neck are hot spots and the one around his ear was a bacteria infection that leaked out from his ear. But it seems like no matter what medication we put on the places, they continue to get worse, never better.

When Teej (the boxer) was around six months old, our old veterinarian told us that he had demodectic mange. She diagnosed this from a skin scraping she took and gave us the lyme dip, an oatmeal shampoo, and some other medication. She even showed me the small mange mites on the microscope (I worked for her at the time). And with the medication she gave him, the small spots that he had on his muzzle then seemed to clear up.

I am confused. Our new vet seems to think that once we treated the demodectic mange mites when he was a puppy, that they would never return. But from all the research I have done, I’m starting to think he could be wrong….

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what these spots could be? Or any suggestions for them that we could try at home?? I have spent a lot of money on vet bills trying to get rid of them and nothing seems to be working.

Please help!!!

Dont doubt yourself you saw it the first time, is it the same as before? if so just go to another vet or convince yours to do a scrape

Dry scaly patches are often mange. Of course, there are two different types of mange….demodectic and sarcoptic. Demodectic usually occurs in younger dogs and doesn’t usually cause severe itching even though there will still be hair loss. It is not contagious. Sarcoptic mange is very contagious and will cause lots of scratching and chewing, as well as hair loss.

Diagnosing Dog Mange

Only a veterinarian can diagnose mange and suggest a good treatment plan. If you suspect your dog has mange, please take him to the vet as soon as possible. Here is a website where you can read more about both types of mange.

Best Dog Mange Treatment

Pets’BestRx Sulfinex Cream is a topical skin cream designed specifically for dogs and cats to provide immediate relief and contains ingredients that are widely recognized for their soothing, skin repair anti-fungal properties.

A topical skin treatment designed to provide immediate relief from fungal infections, Mange Mites and other pet skin parasites. Pets’BestRx Sulfinex Cream tackles pet skin conditions in every direction! The pleasant-smelling cream doesn’t stain like most sulfur products and is safe to use on a variety of pet skin conditions.

How, then, are they different from the Staffies? For the UKC or the United Kennel Club, Staffies and APBT are of the same breed but many disapprove of this suggestion. For instance, if the American Kennel Club has an American Staffordshire terrier, it will be registered as an American pit bull terrier by the United Kennel Club. Furthermore, many breeders noted that their lineages have been separate for a long time already for these dogs to be still considered as having the same variety. 

Meanwhile, the American Kennel Club does not register a UKC-listed American pit as an American Staffie. In order to gain dual-registry, the dog must initially be recorded as an AKC American Staffie before it can be listed with the UKC as an American pit bull, and not the other way around.

The following are some of the basic facts breeders would really love to know about APTBs:

Category: Terrier Living Environment: either outdoor or indoor Coat: smooth, shiny, thick, and short Colors: color varies Height: between 18 and 22 inches Weight: between 30 and 60 pounds Temperament: courageous, full of energy, and loyal; should be socialized early on with other animals especially with children Health Issues: heart murmurs and mange

Care and Exercise: athe when necessary. Brush their coat only occasionally using a brush with firm bristles. Rub down their coat with a towel or a chamois to remove hairs that are loose. Their physique requires a regular exercise routine which includes a daily play time and/or running along a bicycle while on a leash. They should be on leash while walking in public places.

Origin/History: The ancestors of APBT came to the US in the mid-1800s with some Irish-Boston immigrants. Like the Staffie, they were originally bred from bulldogs and terriers. Since APBT is a forerunner to the Staffie, it was also molded to be a fighting dog. However, the Americans made their variety some pounds heavier and trained them to have a more powerful head.

Bull baiting and dog baiting were prohibited in England so bull terriers were no longer bred for bouts. It is in America where the pit bull also gained its popularity for many uses and reasons like:

It was used to embody the country in one WW1 artwork. Well-known companies like the Buster Brown Shoe Company and even RCA used the breed as mascots.    Petie, a pitbull, was one of the stars in, “Our Gang”, a well sought children’s TV series. A mix breed called Stubby was transformed into a popular and decorated WW1 hero. Pits became good companies of pioneer families on their journeys. Jack, a working pit bulldog was owned by Laura Wilder of lines of books called “Little House”. Popular people like Helen Keller and US President Theodore Roosevelt owned the variety.

Here is some history about the cause of dilemma regarding the registries of APBTs. In 1898, the United Kennel Club or UKC was structured to provide fighting guidelines and registration for APBT as fighting dogs. Later, there were breeders who shun away from dog fighting so they asked the AKC to recognize their pits so they would be fit for performance events like dog shows.  In 1935, the AKC approved of their petitions but the dogs were registered as Staffordshire Terriers, naming them after the little province in England that the breed was known to have originated from. Thus, many breeders have dogs that have dual-registry.

It is interesting to note that Petie, which was one of the stars in the, “Our Gang” TV series was the first breed that was dual-registered to be Staffordshire Terrier/Pit Bull. However, the UKC later started registering other performing-type varieties and they also began holding dog shows comparable to those of the American Kennel Club.

The AKC soon sealed its studbooks to APBTs. They allocated registration to those pit breeds with lineages that are listed as Staffies. For a little time during the 1970s, the AKC disclosed the American pits to their studbooks.

In 1973, the American KC decided to add the word “American” with the pit’s name to discriminate it from a Staffie. At present, those dogs with mixed APTB-StaffIe parents are recognized by UKC and even the American Dog Breeders’ Association as “American pits or American pit bull terriers”.

Nowadays, the pit has employed as search and rescuers, police/armed service dogs, livestock workers, and even as therapy animals because they are good as companions and working dogs.

Moreover, the variety can even compete in dog sports such as herding, obedience, and conformation, French Ring, and Schutzhund. Breeds of this type can be very loving as pets for everyone. The physical demands and harshness of various activities developed a healthy, strong, and stable animal.

If you want to have an APBT as a pet, be sure that the puppy is handled well and properly socialized. A solid and good training will surely produce an obedient, tranquil, and good companion or even a working dog!

Joy Smit
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/the-american-pit-bull-terrier-this-breed-of-dog-also-fondly-called-as-apbt-is-known-for-its-loyalty-and-intelligence-the-dogs-with-this-breed-make-704466.html

My son brought a little puppy over here that had the mange and had to be put down. The little puppy gave it to the big dog without us knowing it until it was too late now we are wondering if we can do anything to heal our big dog with at home remedies?

Types of Dog Mange

There are two types of mange with multiple types of treatment for each – only a vet can diagnose which type the dog has and suggest an appropriate treatment. Period. There is NO actual “at home treatment” (though there are plenty of old tales which have been disproven time and time again…)

FYI one type of mange is contagious to humans.

Best Dog Mange Treatment

Pets’BestRx Sulfinex Cream is a topical skin cream designed specifically for dogs and cats to provide immediate relief and contains ingredients that are widely recognized for their soothing, skin repair anti-fungal properties.

A topical skin treatment designed to provide immediate relief from fungal infections, Mange Mites and other pet skin parasites. Pets’BestRx Sulfinex Cream tackles pet skin conditions in every direction! The pleasant-smelling cream doesn’t stain like most sulfur products and is safe to use on a variety of pet skin conditions.

Used only once a day, this product will combat the Mange Mites, repair the skin and reduce inflammation. It takes pet skin care to the NEXT LEVEL! Sulfur has proven to be an exceptional source for treating most pet skin conditions for decades.

My dog has some balding and she bites on her back close to her tail,shes lost hair and her skin is black and rough.

How do you know your dog has sarcoptic mange?

Sarcoptic mange is very contagious to humans and other animals, but it sounds like your dog has a flea allergy and possibly other allergies as well. dogs with fleas will typically chew at the base of their tail and dogs with chronic allergies will typically develop black skin. SEE YOUR VET!

Best Remedy for Sarcoptic Mange

The Veterinary strength Sarcoptic Mange 8 oz Combo combines the power of veterinary strength products with a gentle, safe, non-toxic sarcoptic mange-combating formula perfect for treating larger breeds of animals (over 10 pounds) with mild cases of sarcoptic mange.

The Sarcoptic Mange Mite 8 oz. Combo offers the same powerful features as the Sarcoptic Mange Combo 2 oz. , but supplies larger quantities that are suitable for treating larger animals (10 or more pounds) with more severe cases of sarcoptic mange.

I know of a few over the counter treatments, for various kinds of mange. I’m trying to avoid an astronomical vet bill.

Try scratching her ear flap on the inside with your finger nail. if her foot starts scratching or it makes her feel good then she probrablly has sarcoptic mange. or some kind of mange i can never remember which. but its a quick and easy test. then go to the vet for skin scrapings for a definite diagnosis.

Dealing with Sarcoptic Mange

* try the edge of the ear on the inside too, also known as the pinna*

This really does work. but its not a diagnosis by itself. its just a quick and easy way to rationalize a skin scraping. you still need the medications.

Everyone gives me the thumbs down but they most likely dont work at a vet. look it up online heres the website

Sarcoptic Mange Best Treatment

The Veterinary strength Sarcoptic Mange 8 oz Combo combines the power of veterinary strength products with a gentle, safe, non-toxic sarcoptic mange-combating formula perfect for treating larger breeds of animals (over 10 pounds) with mild cases of sarcoptic mange.

The Sarcoptic Mange Mite 8 oz. Combo offers the same powerful features as the Sarcoptic Mange Combo 2 oz. , but supplies larger quantities that are suitable for treating larger animals (10 or more pounds) with more severe cases of sarcoptic mange.

Extreme itching,flakey skin, loss of hair, build up of flakey skin skin red and sores due to scratching.

How did you know that it is Sarcoptic mange? Did you take the dog to a vet and have a skin scraping done?

Mange comes in three varieties: Demodectic, Cheyletiella and Sarcoptic. It is caused by different species of mites, tiny eight-legged critters related to spiders.

Sarcoptic mange, also known as scabies, is caused by a microscopic mite. The female mite causes the characteristic intense itching as they burrow under the skin to lay their eggs. The eggs hatch in a few days, develop into adults, and begin laying their own eggs in less than three weeks.

Dogs with scabies dig and bite at themselves with great ferocity. Their skin reacts with oozing sores, and secondary infection may set in, requiring treatment with an antibiotic in addition to treatment for the mites. Unfortunately, the sarcoptic mange mite can be difficult to find in skin scrapings, and unless the veterinarian parts the hair and carefully examines the bare skin for the characteristic pin-point bite marks, diagnosis is difficult. Furthermore, the presence of a secondary skin infection can hamper the search for the mite bite marks.

Telltale signs of sarcoptic mange are crusty ear tips, fierce itching, and hair loss, particularly on the ears, elbows, legs, and face in the early stages. Later on, the hair loss spreads throughout the body.

Contagious Sarcoptic Mange on Dogs

Sarcoptic mange is contagious to canines and humans. If the dogs share sleeping places or if the infected dog sleeps on beds or furniture, everyone will begin scratching. It is not unheard of for the family dog to infest the kids, the kids to infest their playmates, and the playmates to infest their pets and parents with scabies. Fortunately scabies in humans is self-limiting, that is the mite can burrow under the skin and cause itching, but cannot complete its life cycle on humans and dies within a few weeks.

Veterinarians now use Ivermectin in two doses, two weeks apart, to kill the mites. They may also prescribe steroids for short-term use to relieve the itching until the mites begin to die off and give the dog some relief. Itching usually begins to subside within a few days of the first dose of Ivermectin.

Canine skin damaged by sarcoptic mange and secondary skin infections can take weeks or months to recover, depending on the scope of the problems. Frequent medicated baths may be necessary to soothe irritated skin.

Mange damage can mimic that caused by other skin conditions, including autoimmune diseases, bacterial infections secondary to flea allergies, and contact dermatitis, making it impossible for the pet owner to diagnose with any success. If your dog suffers from irritated, itchy skin, make an appointment with the veterinarian. Early diagnosis of any of these problems will give you a head start on a cure and will be less uncomfortable for the dog and your wallet.

Best Treatment for Sarcoptic Mange on Dogs

The Veterinary strength Sarcoptic Mange 2 oz Combo combines the power of veterinary strength products with a gentle, safe, non-toxic mange-combating formula perfect for treating smaller breeds of animals (under 10 pounds) with mild cases of mange.

PetsBestRx Sarcoptic Mange Treatment Spray targets and eliminates sarcoptic mange, while Sulfinex Cream provides additional protection to nourish and heal the skin. The colloid-based Mange Treatment Spray penetrates deeply into your pet’s skin to attack the sarcoptic mange head-on. This provides your pet with soothing relief; great even for sarcoptic mange in smaller animals such as birds, rodents, and reptiles. Give your pet a double dose of protection!

Please take your dog to the vet for the appropriate treatment for Sarcoptic Mange on Dogs.

Mange is caused by mites. Humans can contract mange from their pets, but it is known as scabies in humans. It is a communicable disease, so be sure to treat your pet at the first sign of mange. The symptoms are the loss of hair and itching. Check your other pets if you find one that does have the disease. Mix 2 tablespoons each of garlic powder and goldenseal powder. Add to 1/4 cup of olive oil. Apply frequently to affected area.

Cat Mange Treatment Using Motor Oil

Another treatment for mange is used motor oil. It can be messy, but it works. Just pour the oil on the
parts affected. Keep the pet as clean as possible and you should have no problem with mange. If the
animal stays out of doors, make sure that the area where they sleep is kept clean.

Most Effective Cat Mange Treatment

The Mange Buster Pack for Cats offers potent antimicrobial, environmental cleaning action, in addition to deep-penetrating, pet skin care products to combat the Mange-affected skin. This pack is exactly what is needed to treat cats large and small with Mange effectively.

Heals Mange (even worst cases) and Itch Less

• Pet is happier because he quits scratching and no longer itches
• You and your pet are less stress from fighting mange
• No longer bites or scratches the skin which cause infections
• Be proud because you know you are doing what is best for your pet
• Hair grows back causing your pet to look healthier
• The best cat mange treatment.

Proper soil preparation is the key to successful organic gardening. The goal is to feed the soil, which in turn will feed your plants. Begin by testing your soil to find out precisely what you’ve got to work with. Contact your local Cooperative Extension Service. Most counties and some universities have one; look in the phone book under “Cooperative,” “Extension” or your county name to find out what is required for a soil test. Home test kits are available at garden-supply stores, but their results are not as accurate or complete. A soil test will measure pH, the soil’s acidity or alkalinity. The recommended pH for a vegetable garden is 6.8. The test results should include guidelines for adjusting the pH, for example, how much lime to add to acid soils or how much sulfur to add to alkaline soils. Both are available at gardening centers. The test also should analyze the amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium and other elements in the soil that are critical for healthy plants. The testing agency may suggest nutriments to balance these elements; when you mail off your sample, be sure to enclose a note stating that you intend to garden organically so the tester does not suggest chemicals.

Some of the nitrogen sources the tester may suggest can be problematic, especially for vegetarians: Bone meal is a slaughterhouse byproduct, fish emulsion is a fish-processing byproduct, cottonseed meal is subject to heavy pesticide use and urea, or crystallized animal urine, is so processed it can no longer be considered even remotely natural. If nitrogen is a problem for your soil, and you are opposed to using animal byproducts, your best bet may be to plant a nitrogen-fixing cover crop this first year and start your vegetables the next.  When gardeners speak of a soil, they are referring to earth that looks, feels and smells pleasant. That means fertile soil, with good structure depending on the extent to which the inorganic soil particles; sand, silt, clay, and humus are bound together. No matter what kind of miserable soil you begin with, it can be transformed into the stuff great gardens are made of.

You also should test the soil’s percentage of organic matter, or decomposed plant material. There are different levels of consideration according to your area that will determine if a soil is organic. The best organic matter to fertilize your garden with is compost. As a new gardener, you may not have compost of your own yet, but we’ll help you out with that a little later in the book.

Composting involves recycling of natural matter like vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and egg shells. All of these will provide nutrients to the soil that a successful organic gardener knows are of paramount importance! When you till up your plot, work in some loose topsoil along with natural organic matter into the existing soil. Horse or cow manure will work the best here. Find a local farmer and ask if you can buy some dung from him. If you don’t have any of these available to you, most local garden centers will have some natural additives that you can till into the soil. You can also use leaves or grass clippings.

By tilling this organic matter into the soil, the organic material will form moisture-holding humus in the soil and the loose structure will permit good drainage. Plus, it can provide needed nutrients to your plants and help them thrive as they grow.

You can make your own organic fertilizer as well. We’ll give you a couple of great “recipes” in later sections.

Be careful that you don’t dig up your plot too soon in the season. Cool spring soil holds moisture, and disturbing wet soil will damage its structure. We found one tip online that can help you determine whether or not your soil is ready for tilling.

Jim Crockett, former Public Broadcasting System gardener extraordinaire, suggests that before digging you take “the chocolate cake test”: If the soil has the consistency of moist chocolate cake, it’s safe to dig. If it’s more like fudge, wait until the soil has dried out to cake consistency.

Soil is structured in layers, and it’s best not to disturb those layers. Dig down just far enough to remove clods of grass, weeds and root masses, shaking and pounding out as much dirt as possible back into your garden. Save the grass for composting.

After the dirt is prepared, let the garden rest for a couple of days before planting.

It’s almost time to plant!

Jaden Santon
http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/getting-the-soil-ready-for-organic-gardening-736524.html