We are happy to have another set of interesting questions. Our pets and livestock play such an important role in our lives and it is gratifying to see so much interest in their care and wellbeing.

Please continue to submit your questions to us at burkevet@yahoo.com, visit our website at www.burkeveterinaryservices.com or call us at 756-9088.

I just acquired a new puppy which has hair loss. My vet says it has “red mange”. What is this and can it be cured?

“Red mange” is caused by a mite called demodex canis. It is a microscopic parasite which can be found growing in hair follicles.

This condition is found in animals which have weak immune systems and this condition is hereditary.

It is usually found in puppies less than a year of age. Symptoms include areas of hair loss anywhere on the body.

Itching is not a common symptom. Animals diagnosed with this condition should not be used for breeding purposes and should be spayed or neutered.

Your veterinarian can easily diagnose “red mange” by performing a microscopic examination of a skin scraping.

This is a condition in which there is no cure, but treatment is usually successful and often must be repeated as needed.

This condition is NOT contagious to people or other animals.

Other causes of hair loss include sarcoptic mange, fleas, allergies and bacterial infections. Sarcoptic mange causes severe itching and is highly contagious.

Hair loss is usually found around the eyes, the ears and the elbows. It is easily treated. Fleas generally cause hair loss around the tail and rear.

Hair loss due to fleas is from an allergy to flea saliva. General allergies primarily cause hair loss of the feet and sides (where animals can most easily scratch and lick). Bacterial infections can cause hair loss anywhere and often are secondary to abrasions.

Your pet should be seen by your veterinarian when hair loss first starts for proper diagnosis and treatment. Skin problems can quickly become severe leading to permanent hair loss.

What are my options for making my bull calves steers?

There are two acceptable techniques for altering bulls, castration and banding. Castration is the industry’s preferred method of altering bulls because there is no risk of missing a testicle and creating a stag.

Castration should be performed before a bull reaches 400 pounds in order to prevent complications from bleeding.

Banding can be done at any age provided you give a tetanus vaccination at the time of procedure.

The main risk of banding is tetanus and missing a testicle.

Your veterinarian is here to assist you in performing these procedures.

What is causing my older horse to lose weight?

There could be several reasons that an older horse is losing weight.

The horse’s teeth could need to be floated.

Uneven wear on the teeth can make it difficult to have the right mastication. Other tooth problems, like an abscessed tooth, will also cause chewing problems.

Your veterinarian can assist you in determining if these are problems.

Other associated problems would include intestinal parasites, poor nutrition and other management problems.

Some more severe possibilities would include tumors, hormone imbalances, and organ dysfunctions.

Your veterinarian can assist you in diagnosing these conditions.