SKIN IRRITATION ON AN AMERICAN PITBULL

Question
I HAVE AN 8-MONTH OLD FEMALE AMERICAN PITBULL TERRIER. ABOUT A 1-2 AGO MY DOG STARTED LOOSING THE HAIR AND DEVELOPING BALD SPOTS ALONG WITH FREQUENT ITCHING AND NOW SHE HAS BUMPS AND REDNESS HAS DEVELOP ALL OVER HER BODY. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO BECAUSE IVE ALWAYS SHAMPOO HER COAT WITH A MEDICATED SHAMPOO THAT CONTAINS TAR THINKING IT WOULD BE SEBORRHEA BUT I THINK ITZ NOT... HELP! PLEASE....

Answer
Hi Dayle,
I think she may have mange. The symptoms you are describing point right to it. There are two different kinds of mange. If it is Sarcoptic, then you can buy an over the counter dip and it will get rid of it.  Read the instructions carefully, because you will have to do it more than once.  If it is demodeptic it is harder to get rid of , and you will have to have a Vet apply a special dip.  The only way to know for sure which on it is, is having the Vet do a skin scraping and looking for the mites under a microscope.  If you have been using a medicated shampoo already, then I feel this is more than just a skin rash. If it were me, I would go ahead and try the dip for sarcoptic mange and if it doesn't help, then you will know that it is demodeptic.  

Good luck to you and God Bless,
Becky