Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hair loss from demodex mites in nine pet prairie dogs
By Jekl, Vladimir et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2006·Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Demodicosis in nine prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Nine pet prairie dogs were brought in for hair loss and skin problems, which were found to be caused by Demodex mites. The affected prairie dogs had symmetrical bald patches on their backs, thighs, and tails. After diagnosing the issue through skin scrapings, the veterinarian treated them with amitraz, a medication that helped clear the mites. All nine prairie dogs showed improvement, with their skin lesions resolving and hair regrowing.
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Abstract
This case report describes the clinical signs and treatment of demodicosis in nine pet prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). Clinical records including history, clinical examination, microscopic evaluation and fungal culture of the skin lesions were available for all nine animals. In seven animals, blood was obtained for haematological and biochemical analyses. Clinical signs comprised bilaterally symmetrical alopecia extending from the middle part of the back down to the skin of the thighs and the dorsal and ventral parts of the tail. Demodex mites were found in skin scrapings from all cases. Treatment with amitraz at 250 p.p.m. resulted in resolution of lesions and hair regrowth. This is the first report of demodicosis in this species.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16827672/