Question

Mateo is a veterinarian who is asked to look at a six-month-old puppy. The puppy has lost several patches of hair

around its hindquarters and stomach. Its owner says that the poor thing is constantly scratching the areas and
she is afraid that it will get infected. After examining the pup, Mateo takes a skin scraping of the area without hair.
After examining the scraping under a microscope, Mateo prescribes some medication for the puppy and a
medicated bath for the owner to give her. He also advises her that if she has any other pets in the home, she
should separate them. Based on these findings, what type of parasite infection does this pup MOST likely have?
O
localized demodex mange
O
generalized demodex mange
sarcoptic mange
chorioptic mange

Answer 1

The six-month-old puppy examined by Mateo is most likely suffering from sarcoptic mange, which is a highly contagious mite infestation that causes intense itching and hair loss.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on Mateo's observations and the course of action he recommends, the six-month-old puppy most likely has sarcoptic mange.

This condition, also known as canine scabies, is caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious, which justifies the vet's advice to separate the infected puppy from other pets.

The mites cause intense itching and hair loss due to hypersensitivity reactions to the mites' feces and the physical tunneling in the skin. Observing the skin scraping under a microscope and prescribing a medicated bath and medication align with the treatment approach for sarcoptic mange.