Perseus' luck had run out, or so it seemed.  He had been left on the side of the road in the cold and rain with practically no fur and paws that were bleeding.  His appearance had hindered his chances at ever finding a loving, forever home.  Fortunately, one person had the heart to stop and pick him up, bring him into her home, feed him, and present him to Alexandria Animal Hospital the very next day for care.  Here are a few pictures of him at that first visit with us.


During initial exam, Dr. Phelps recommended a skin scraping be performed.  This is a test that is utilized to determine if any type of skin or mange mite is present.  Through this, it was determined that Perseus had an extremely large number of Demodex mites over his entire body which was the likely cause for all of his hair loss, sores, and bleeding feet.  These mites, in small numbers, are common inhabitants in the skin of healthy dogs.  However, during certain times of illness or stress, they can multiply to the point that they cause severe skin issues and hair loss.  This condition is known as Demodectic mange.  This is not a contagious form of mange and in many cases, quite treatable.  Perseus was started on medications to treat the mites as well as the secondary bacterial skin infection that had taken hold.  Over time, Perseus showed steady improvement.  In one month's time, the pictures tell the story.


After 2 months of treatment, a significant difference can be seen, and his owner reports he has been happy and comfortable at home.  It is amazing what the compassion of one individual can do to transform the life of a pet.