I noticed yesterday Alf was cleaning fagans face alot, when I looked I saw he had a big raw patch on his face and a bit further up another mark, a bit like a tooth mark.  I put some cream on it (steroid cream which the vet gave me for Alfs leg a while ago) and this morning it had dried up and looked much better.  Anyway, took him to the vets today (not my usual vet, one that was giving £10 off for boosters)  for his booster and asked the vet to take a look to see what she thought and she found other little bits all down his chest, still covered in fur and similar to insect bites.  She wasnt sure really what it was and suggested in might be mange, now ive NEVER seen him scratch or rub round that area, in fact he rarely scratches.  The vet decided that must be what it was so prescribed anit-biotics (because I had put the steroid cream on him - twice ) hibiscrub and stronghold to put on every two weeks.  All this came to £50, I only had £20 for his booster on me so said I would have to come back for it.  Ive made an appointment with my own vet, I dont really trust that vet I really dont think she knew what she was on about, considering when I said "oh no humans can catch that" and she said that she wasnt aware that could happen :rolleyes:  Just wondered if anyone has any experience of mange ? or could think what this could be

It would depend what type of mange it might be.  Either way further investigation is required and it can become costly. The different types are treated differently but a good twice monthly dose of Stronghold can usually clear up the sarcoptic type along with the right shampoo, demodex is a little more difficult to treat and it does need to be diagnosed.

If you trust your vet and can afford it get it checked out.  It doesn't hurt to go down the stronghold route though if your vet is happy to prescribe it.

Good luck with it all.

Echo

thanks, I trust my usual vet which is where im going on Saturday, and we are insured so no problems with the money side of things (apart from paying up initially :rolleyes:)

I expect he will take a few hairs from your dog and do some skin scraping.  To be double sure they can do a blood test that will show if your dog has been bitten by mange mites and it is a lot more accurate than just the scraping.

Hope everything is okay and your little one gets sorted out soon.

went to my own vet today and he thinks its just wet eczma where is had an allergy to something.  He said it does look like mange as it would have spread more and he would be scratching - im sooo relieved :)

Whilst i know that your vet is the best person to diagnose these things and can actually see your dog (obviously :D  ) i would still ask for a skin scrape to rule out demodectic mange.i had a ridgeback bitch who had demodex and all i noticed was a small patch of what looked like white dust on her coat one evening at ringcraft. I tied to brush it off but it wouldn't budge and then i realised it was where her skin was slightly showing thorugh a thin patch of coat.

I didn't think much of it but i took her to the vets to be on the safe side as we have loads of mangey foxes here. So i took her to the vets the next morning, by which time there was a small piece appearing on her cheek. I mean small, neither patch was bigger than a 20p piece.

The vet did several different tests as well as a scrape and sure enough she had demodectic mange. She had to be washed in a soloution every 5 days for 5 treatments then wait a week and start again etc (25 baths in all! although as it was winter she quite enjoyed a warm bath!! ;-)  )

She had been recentley done with stronghold so there was no need to re-do that. It did clear up, but not until she was looking like a ginger and white 'reverse' Dalmation!

The point i am (finally) getting to is, she didn't scratch or irritate it once. I caused her no problems whatsoever apart from going bald. So please dont think that because he isn't scratching it's not mange. Sarcoptic mange is itchy, demodex isn't. Our vet also though it might be eczema but did do a through test to make sure.

Hope it is just something simple that goes away :-)

The vet did say if it hasnt improved by next week then he will do some skin scrapings.  I really hope it clears up, I dont fancy going down that route :(