Sweet Sassy Molassy - It's Mange !

Well - it's official. Our vet has diagnosed Sweet Sassy Molassy, or Molly, with MANGE. You should have been there to see the horrified, disgusted, flustered denials from Frank and I. Averted eyes and hung heads.

It all started with a routine check-up and we had un-wittingly even pointed out the little spot of skin where the hair was gone. We thought she had skinned her leg in the back yard. Oh no.

Dr. Morris efficiently brought in a microscope so our horrified eyes could look at mange first hand. He said you could best describe it as teeny tiny alligators. AAAARRRGHGH! We saw them! They moved! Our dog is a four legged plague. We pleaded openly "We sleep with this dog". Her favorite sleeping position is under the covers with no oxygen.

The term “mange” is used to describe a dog skin disease caused by a variety of microscopic mites. It is believed to feed on fluids present in the hair follicle. It causes inflammation in the hair follicle. This inflammation damages the hair follicle and the surrounding skin causing the hair to fall out. It is believed that all puppies acquire a small number of mites during nursing and dogs normally have a small number of mites in their skin. It is believed that susceptibility to mange can also be inherited.

Googled off the Internet

Well, God and Dr. Morris has blessed our household - humans don't get mange. Hallelujah! She has started on her antibiotic which she likes best stuffed into white meat chicken bites. She is currently "our" dog (2 sons have evaporated) and is eleven months old, is longer legged and is not quite the little adorable baby pictured above. She is a good girl at home alone with us, but a crazed MANIAC when ANYONE or anydog or anybird or anybug comes to our house. She wants to greet you with a holy kiss on the lips (literally). She needs some manners. She is truly a Jack Russell terrior through and through. Crazy...