“Education is a Progressive discovery of our own ignorance.” -Will Durant

CASE #3

Tick life cycle

Tick life cycle Female lays 1,000 to 10,000 eggs before dying

Ticks *** HOW TICKS INJURE ANIMALS: Irritation of the bite wound Vector for diseases Monocytic and Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis Lyme Disease Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Tick Paralysis Many others… Clinical signs vary with disease Dx: finding tick on physical exam, history of exposure to wooded and grassy areas

Ticks Treatment Remove ticks: Grasp head parts close to skin with hemostats (NOT HANDS) and pull; no gasoline, cigarettes, etc. Topical treatments (sprays, shampoos, powder, dips) Topical systemic products Advantix Bravecto Nexgard… Client Info Routinely check pets for ticks, esp. after walks in parks, etc. blood may be infectious Ticks will feed on humans

CASE #4

Burrowing Mites Family Sarcoptidae Sarcoptes, Notoedres, Knemidocoptes Small, round, live in skin tunnels. Short legs close to body. Sarcoptes, Notoedres, Knemidocoptes Trixacarus Family Demodicidae Live in hair follicles. Adults cigar shaped. Demodex canis Demodex cati Demodex gatoi

Burrowing Mites Diagnosis Deep Skin scraping for Demodex Superficial skin scraping may be sufficient for sarcoptes

Demodectic mange

Demodex *** Demodex canis Inhabits hair follicles, sebaceous glands or apocrine sweat glands Normal inhabitant in small numbers Immune system controls infestation Transmission: genetic predisposition to overgrowth

Demodex in cats *** D. cati D. gatoi - Similar to D. canis – lives in hair follicles D. gatoi - Fat (broad, blunted abdomen) Lives more superficial in stratum corneum More pruritic

Demodex Demodex cati (right) Demodex gatoi Demodex canis (left)

DEMODEX

Demodex *** Clinical Signs Localized Young dog (3m-1 y); Alopecia esp. on face Not pruritic unless secondary infections are present Generalized Often febrile Entire body surface involved Secondary bacterial infection - pustules

Demodex Treatment for localized demodex Goodwinol (Rotenone) topical daily Bactoderm (mupirocin)

Demodex Treatment for generalized demodex Mitaban (amitraz) – topical dip FDA approved treatment Side Effects – sedation for 12-24 hrs (up to 72 hrs) Ivermectin: SQ or PO extralabel use CAUTION in herding breeds Side Effects: ataxia, respiratory arrest, stupor and tremors Treatment recommended for 3 months

Demodex Treatment for generalized demodex Bravecto (fluralaner) - off label 12 week oral tablet given once Oral antibiotics given for secondary infection

Demodex Treatment Approved topical dip Off labe use - SQ or PO

DEMODEX *** Client Info Many animals outgrow demodex as they age Not contagious to humans Tx does not completely remove mites Strongly recommend OHE with treatment or relapse may occur with heat cycles Generalized form can be fatal.

CASE #5

Sarcoptic mange- Scabies

Sarcoptic Mange *** Species specific Burrows under skin – stratum corneum Hypersensitivity reaction causes extreme pruritis

SARCOPTES Clincal Signs Red crusty lesions on ears, elbows and trunk Intensely pruritic Progressively more severe

Sarcoptic mange Treatment: relatively easily killed Mitaban (Amitraz): extralabel use for sarcoptes Ivermectin injections: extralabel use Revolution (selamectin) – approved Lime Sulfur Dips Client Info – highly contagious to other dogs and humans