Mange in Kathmandu, Nepal

Mange is a skin disease that is caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin of dogs and other animals. It causes intense itching, loss of hair in patches, and crusty skin. Mange in dogs sometimes affects the ears and elbows first.

In worse cases of mange, the patches of affected skin can become infected, making them red and swollen. Dogs with mange often scratch and bite at these areas and can make them bleed. A boxer was in this condition when she first arrived at KAT, but after a couple months of treatment, she’s making an amazing recovery. Dogs with severe mange often lose weight, become weak and malnourished, and are in generally poor health.

The boxer when she came to KAT . . . and after loving treatment

Mange is more common in dogs with weak immune systems. It is particularly prevalent in street dogs in Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal, because many of them eat only trash or leftover scraps, resulting in malnourishment and poor immune systems.

Treatment

A mange infection is easy to treat in its early stages. Ivermectin is the most common medicine used, and it can be given as an injection or mixed into food. Most dogs with mange completely recover after about a month of treatment. More severe cases, such as animals with mange over most of their bodies, may take longer to heal.

Dogs with mange should be isolated from other animals and their bedding, and areas where they have spent a lot of time should be thoroughly cleaned. Dogs in close contact with an animal with mange should be checked by a vet.

Types of mange

There are two common kinds of mange in dogs. Demodex (demodectic mange) does not spread to people or even to other canines. Scabies (sarcoptic mange) causes more severe symptoms. It is very contagious and can spread to other animals, including humans, cats, and farm animals. A vet can determine what kind of mange a dog has by looking at skin scrapings under a microscope.

Mange in Nepal

Although the early stages of a mange infection can easily be treated, many people in Nepal dump their dogs in the streets when they start to lose patches of hair. Pet dogs don’t know how to survive in the streets, and they often starve or are hit by vehicles, especially in busy Kathmandu. If they survive, the mange usually spreads until the animal is almost completely hairless and utterly miserable.

Haaku, when he arrived at KAT . . . and during his treatment

The Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre treats dogs with mange in a variety of ways. Canines with minor cases can stay in their own neighbourhoods, and our staff can give them ivermectin every week until they recover. If a member of the local community is willing to help the animal, we give them oral ivermectin to mix with food for the animal once a week. More severe cases of mange in dogs are addressed at the KAT Centre so our vets can check on the animals every day and treat them for the infections and malnutrition that can result from mange.

Read about Buddy, who we rescued from a terrible case of mange, and more of the Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre's success stories!