Mo Chara Animal Rescue - When help comes too late

Mange is a skin disease that can affect just about any animal – including humans (though it is called scabies in people). It is caused by several species of tiny mites, some of which are usually harmless unless the animal’s body is under some other stress (e.g. starvation, illness, immuno-suppression). Many types of mange are not transferrable between species but Sarcoptic mange is zoonotic, meaning it can be transferred from animals to humans.
On it’s own, mange can cause severe itching, hair loss and sore, red, scabby skin. Mange can be localised, i.e. confined to small areas or patches or widespread covering the animals whole body. Luckily, if caught early, mange in animals can be treated quickly and cheaply with a spot on treatment and soothing shampoo available from your vets. The real trouble with mange occurs when it is left untreated for a long time and a secondary bacterial infection sets into the already damaged skin, in these cases the animal’s skin may have weepy, crusty sores on it and the animal is at risk of developing septicaemia (blood poisoning). Severe mange that is complicated by secondary infections is far more difficult to treat and requires a multi-pronged approach including skin treatments, medicated shampoos and ointments and systemic antibiotics.
The day that Abigail arrived with us, having been picked up by kind passerbys on the Moyne-Templetuohy road, she was very thin and covered in mange so severe that she had only random tufts of hair left – she was almost completely bald. Her skin was thick with oozy scabbing indicating that she had been suffering for a long time – likely many months. We brought her to our vets for initial treatment and our worst fears were confirmed – Abigail’s mange was paired with an aggressive bacterial infection. Abigail started an intensive treatment programme. Her first bath left us in tears as the scabs softened and lifted showing the true extent and cruelty of her condition – we’ve seen and healed a lot of mangey dogs here at Mo Chara but Abigail’s was the worst case we had ever come across.
Despite our best efforts, Abigail’s skin did not start to heal as rapidly or as cleanly as we would have expected and after repeated visits to the vets including several changes in treatments and tests, it was determined that the bacterial infection was in fact resistant to antibiotics. She wasn’t getting better. She was not gaining weight as her body was putting everything into fighting off the infection, her skin was still cracked and sore and oozing. New treatments were tried yet again but her poor little body was spent and after two weeks of battling, her condition took a nose-dive. The infection was still not responding to the new treatments, it had spread into her blood and was causing her organs to shut-down. In the end, the last kindness I could offer Abigail was to hold her in my arms as the vet ended her suffering.
Abigail was a sweet natured, friendly little girl. She was only two or three years old. She should have had a long, love-filled life ahead of her but she was robbed of that. Had her ‘owners’ sought treatment for her in the early stages she could have been swiftly healed for the price of a full Irish breakfast. Instead, hundreds of euros and unbelievable suffering later, she died. Please do not hesitate if your pet needs veterinary care. If you see a family member’s or neighbour’s dog who needs help, please don’t turn a blind eye. If it’s not safe to approach the owner directly then please contact your local rescue or ISPCA inspector. No animal should suffer like Abby did.
For more information about Mange or about adopting from Mo Chara Animal Rescue, please call 087-6576022 or 087-2577182, email mocharaanimalrescue@live.ie or find us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/mocharaanimalrescue)