demodectic mange or fungus

[rabbitsarebetter]

Ruckus is missing hair around his eyes. i notice it a couple of months ago, but the patch is getting bigger and bigger.
is there a way to tell if its demodectic mange, or some sort of fungus? of course a vet could tell me, but if theres a way to tell or treat at home of course i will go for it.

or any ideas what else it could be? he is itching on his body, but no hairless redness or scaling.

[rabbitsarebetter]

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f10/black_eyed05/sheltiehead2.jpg

you can sorta see it here around his eyes

[Spiritus]

Take him to the vet. If it's a fungus, you would need meds from the vet anyways. If it's mange, you will still need meds from the vet. The only way to be sure is to have a skin scraping done. If he's itching in other places, it is likely mange, but not necessarily demodetic mange, it could be sarcoptic mange.

[Charliesmommy]

I agree with Spiritus. Get him to the vet. When I rescued Charlie from the puppy mill he had mange and man, was it a b**ch to treat. The sooner the better if that's even possibly what it might be.

[Denaluvscorgis]

I agree...unfortunately a visit to the vet seems to be in order. Good luck!

[bubbatd]

Same here ^^^^ . Even my vet had me take Bubba to a dermatologist as they couldn't pin-point the type .

[rabbitsarebetter]

thank you for your help very very much
i will make an appointment for tomorrow. it is only getting worse :(

[bubbatd]

Let us know !!

[Buddy'sParents]

Vet..whether it's mange or not.

There are some holistic treatment methods for mange, though.

[StillandSilent]

I agree with taking him to the vet, but you can try sniffing the areas. If they smell like a baked potato, it is probably demodex. Around the eyes is a very common place for it to start.

[Jynx]

been there done that with both a fungus & mange.

This looks like sarcoptic mange which my aussie picked up..I guess I hadn't realized they could pick it up from animals such as squirrels..Anyhow, looked just like that, it can be contagious even to humans. And I swear after they told me what it was, I started ITCHING! LOL..but my vet told me, the mange mite prefers 'animals' to humans so it was kinda unlikely *vbg*.

Anyhow, treatment for my aussie was 3 'dips' at the vets spaced 2 weeks apart, since she can't take Ivermectin (which relates to mdr1 gene) we put frontline on her. It cleared up quickly after treatments.

One thing to note, if you have to go that route, keep in mind, they will 'itch' worse before it gets better, apparently the mites start really moving around underneath the skin when you start treatments.

diane

[rabbitsarebetter]

it smells like a baked potatoe!!

i see demodectic mange at work, and i really do think thats what it looks like.
i hope the vet can get me in tom. if not, then friday

[Buddy'sParents]

Having done the dip treatments for Buddy.. I will never again. If you are interested in alternative way to combat the mange (if thats what it is) feel free to PM, rabbits.

[OutlineACDs]

Of course with collies you have to worry about DM (dematomyocitis).

[rabbitsarebetter]

well, i have a sheltie. do they have DM too sometimes?
no, i dont want to do dips. i will def pm you if thats what they want me to do