Q: I think my cat has mange. She itches a lot and has lost
patches of fur on her back and sides.
Q: I think my cat has mange. She itches a lot and has lost patches of fur on her back and sides. When I went to get some medication to treat her, the veterinary clinic said they couldn’t sell any without examining her because there are several types of mange. How many can cats get and how is mange treated? Why aren’t there any over-the-counter treatments?
A: There are many different types of mange in cats (and in dogs, too) and each is caused by a different organism. If someone says their kitty-cat has mange, they could be talking about any one of a number of different mite infections. Demodectic mange, Sarcoptic mange, Notoedric mange…these are just a few of the different mange types that cats can encounter. Each is caused by a different mite (a microscopic organism that literally gets under the skin).
Most mite infections cause some hair loss. But other symptoms may differ depending on the mite. For example, a cat with Sarcoptic mange will be very itchy, while a kitty with Demodectic mange may not be. And because each of these mites is somewhat unique in its characteristics, each is treated a little differently.
And here’s something else to further complicate things. Mite infestations aren’t the only skin problems that can cause an itchy cat to lose fur. Flea allergy and food allergies can cause many of the same symptoms as mange. This is why skin diseases can be deceptively difficult to diagnose and treat.
In order to determine the cause of your cat’s problem, a veterinarian will do a skin scraping first, scratching the surface of the skin with a blade. The debris from the scraping is put on a slide and examined under a microscope to look for mites. Sometimes a skin biopsy is also necessary to confirm and identify the presence of mites.
Medications used to treat different mange conditions are prescription drugs. None are available over-the-counter, probably for two reasons. First, selection of the correct treatment requires the training and knowledge of a veterinarian to identify the mite. In order to treat a patient properly, a veterinarian needs to determine what type of mange is the culprit.
More important, these medications can be toxic if they are not properly administered. Used correctly, they are very effective in treating the problem. So if your kitty-cat has mange, you’ll need your veterinarian’s help to rid him of those bad bugs.
Q: Our vet doesn’t allow us to be present with our pets during blood tests, fecal testing, or when they get their vaccinations. We aren’t even in the room when they clip his toenails. Is this common practice with all veterinarians? Why?
A: Every veterinarian has a different style with which he or she runs the practice. Some vets prefer that the client not be present for procedures such as blood tests or stool checks because of several reasons. Sometimes, a patient may actually be better-behaved when his owner is out of the room. Furthermore, some people react differently to the sight of blood or to the restraint of a dog while a stool sample is taken. So to avoid any unnecessary strife, some vets opt to work away from the owner.
But take heart. There are many vets that enjoy having the owner present in the room. If this is what you prefer, ask your veterinarian if your request to be present can be accomodated. If not, check with your friends about other vet hospitals and how procedures are performed at different clinics. When you call for your appointment, ask the receptionist if the vet will allow you to be in the room for certain procedures. You’ll soon find a practice with which you and your pet can be comfortable.
Pete Keesling is a veterinarian at San Martin Veterinary Hospital and co-hosts Petpourri, a weekly show about pet health on KTEH in San Jose and a bi-weekly column for The Times. If you have any questions about pet care, please mail them to The Times, Attn: Vets, 30 E. Third St., Morgan Hill, CA 95037.
