Continued from last week
Well, let’s return to the more mundane matters pertaining to pet care. And, again, allow us to wish all the companion animal owners/caregivers all the very best for 2014.
Skin infections
Practically every dog in Guyana has a skin infection – some of greater magnitude than others. Puppies are no exception. If anything, they succumb more to blisters, crusts, small sacs filled with pus, flakes on the skin, infected mosquito bites, scabs, etc, than adult dogs.
The fact of the matter is that we live five degrees away from the equator, below sea level, and with humidity levels often between 90-100 per cent. Under such conditions all sorts of infectious materials and agents flourish. Fleas, lice, mange mites and ticks are in seventh heaven.
There is a type of mange that affects puppies primarily. It is called by a fancy name: Cheyletiella mange. But I have seen the condition descried in the literature as ‘puppy mange’ or ‘walking dandruff.’ This latter name corresponds greatly to the symptoms shown. There is heavy concentration of skin flakes (dandruff) on the head, neck and back. It starts in one small area and then spreads (‘walks’) over large portions of the pup’s body.
This puppy mange is caused by a large reddish mite and it is very contagious. Several (even all) the puppies in the litter would exhibit scratching (moderate to intense) and bald patches (sometimes similar to ringworm). The pups have a ‘motheaten’ appearance. The infective agent is very active and virulent, that’s why I said that all of the pups in the litter/kennel could exhibit symptoms.
I should mention that this mange mite can move between species, eg, from dogs to cats. What is worse, this is one of the few diseases that cats can transmit to humans, especially those who allow cute ‘Felix’ to sleep in bed with them.
I have noticed that this disease is self-limiting, probably because the mites tend to die easily once they are off the host. This means that the ailment could possibly cure itself without veterinary intervention. Don’t bank on this happening though. The very fact that there is the itch-scratch syndrome means that the skin will get broken. Into those open lesions, (wounds) bacteria and fungi can secondarily invade and infect. We then have a double whammy – mites and bacteria/fungi.
If the skin is broken, we have an added problem with the treatment, because the usual chemicals, which we introduce to kill the mites, can more easily get into the bloodstream (via the lesioned skin) and injure (even kill) the puppy. On the whole, one should be quite careful with the use of toxic chemicals on young animals.
Treatment
One must bathe or dust the pups with an insecticide. There are many on the market. I tend to shy away from the organophosphates (eg. Sevindust, Supona, etc). I recommend a gentler but effective natural product called Pyrethrin. So, look for those dusts/sprays/shampoos that contain Pyrethrin, and use those as directed on the label. The scabies remedies like Benzyl-Benzoate or Lindane can be used but they tend to burn the fragile pup’s skin. What also works is the old faithful of crab oil and yellow sulphur powder mixed into a paste and applied on to the affected area. One could also use dandruff shampoos (produced for humans) to firstly get rid of the flakes and scales, before applying the insecticide.
The last word is that you should let your vet assess the situation and then recommend the extent of the therapy and which insecticides, if any, are to be used.
Another aside
Is it my imagination, or is it a false sense of wanting something good to happen? Actually, I do believe there were less squibs/firecrackers sold at the shops, markets and along the pavements. Also, vets have not reported in great abundance that clients brought dogs injured by squibs-induced confusion/disorientation in the usual (during the festive season) high numbers.
This would mean that the police and the customs officers have really done their job relative to the importation and marketing of explosive devices. Or it could mean that the massacre of dogs at Ogle last year has had such impactful reactions by the decent people of Guyana as to curb the propensity to scare and disorient companion animals before, during and after the festive seasons (religious holidays).
In passing, it has occurred to me that the texts of the Holy books on which all religions are based, urge their followers to be kind to animals. Have the priests and pandits and imams and rabbis and monks emphasized this from their pulpits? I hope so.
Please implement disease preventative measures (vaccinations, routine dewormings, monthly anti-heartworm medication, etc) and adopt-a-pet from the GSPCA’s Animal Clinic and Shelter at Robb Street and Orange Walk, if you have the wherewithal to care well for the animals. Do not stray your unwanted pets, take them to the GSPCA’s Clinic and Shelter instead. If you do not wish your pet to have puppies or kittens, you may exploit the GSPCA’s free spay and neutering programme. If you see anyone being cruel to an animal, or if you need any technical information, please get in touch with the Clinic and Shelter by calling 226-4237.
