Parasites and Parasitic Diseases of Dogs 



9 



Treatment. — The subject of treatment for clemodectic mange is 

 still a controversial matter. Some competent veterinarians report 

 a large measure of success in treating this disease, but others find 

 treatment generally unsatisfactory and will not undertake it. In 

 advanced cases of j^ustular mange destruction of the animals is 

 commonly recommended. In general the treatment of such cases is 

 such a long, costly, and tedious affair, and so often ends in failure 

 to obtain a cure, that the owners of the dogs are dissatisfied. This 

 is especially true because dogs usually are not brought in for treat- 

 ment until the disease reaches the pustular stage. After a few 

 experiences of the sort the veterinarian prefers to avoid trouble with 

 his clients and the presence of such unpleasant and unprofitable 

 patients. When the treatment is left to the owner it frequently 

 happens that he wearies of carrying out the prolonged treatment, 

 forgets it from time to time or finds it inconvenient to attend to 

 it, or neglects details and thoroughness. Even if he carries it 

 out conscientiously, 

 failure to cure is 

 not an uncommon 

 result, as much de- 

 pends, apparently, 

 on the condition 

 and resistance of 

 the individual ani- 

 mal. The writer 

 cured one case of 

 extensive simple 

 depilatory mange 

 in a dog by the 

 daily application 

 of a mixture of 

 olive oil 100 cubic 

 centimeters, chloro- 

 form 30 cubic centimeters, and thymol 5 grams, but it required 100 

 treatments. In spite of sentimental considerations, few dog owners 

 would care to carry out a treatment of this magnitude, especially in 

 view of the fact that failure would follow in some cases. In general, 

 treatment should be begun early. The disease is more curable in the 

 depilatory and localized cases than in the pustular and generalized 

 cases. 



The animal should be clipped before treatment is begun. Of the 

 treatments which have been recommended, one which has the merit 

 of simplicity and safety and is recommended as very effective, con- 

 sists in the daily application of castor oil to and around the diseased 

 areas. Whatever is used should be thoroughly rubbed into the skin, 

 not neglecting its application between the toes if needed. Liquid 

 oil of tar has given good results in some cases and failed in others. 

 Another treatment consists in the application to one-fourth of the. 

 body daily, as directed for sarcoptic mange, of an ointment consist- 

 ing of liquid phenol 1 part, camplior 2 parts, and white petrolatum 6 

 parts, the dog being bathed on the fifth day in a 2 per cent solution 

 of sulphurated potassa, and the treatment begun again the following 

 day and continued as long as necessary. Another treatment which 



25711°— 25 2 



Fig. 6. — Dog with demodectic mange, pustular form 



