Mange is a skin disease that can affect both wild and domestic mammals. In dogs, mange is caused by one of several different species of microscopic parasitic mites. The mites that most commonly affect companion dogs are Sarcoptes scabiei canis, which causes sarcoptic mange (“canine scabies”); Cheyletiella yasguri, which causes cheyletiellosis (“walking dandruff”); Demodex canis, which causes demodicosis (“demodex”); Otodectes cynotis, which causes otodectic mange; and Trombiculid mites (“chiggers,” “harvest mites” or “red bugs”). Most forms of mange are highly contagious and cause varying degrees of skin itchiness, inflammation, hair loss and discomfort. Many people use the term “mange” loosely to refer only to canine scabies, which causes affected dogs to become extremely itchy and to suffer patchy hair loss from excessive scratching, biting and licking. This makes them “look mangy,” in common jargon. Some mange mites have zoonotic potential, which means that they can infest people.
Mange is a bothersome skin disease caused by tiny parasitic mites. The mites live on or in the dog’s skin, causing varying degrees of discomfort and coat abnormalities. The mites that most commonly cause canine mange are described below.Sarcoptes scabiei canis mites cause sarcoptic mange, often referred to as “canine scabies.” This is a non-seasonal, highly contagious and intensely itchy skin condition that can affect dogs of all breeds and ages. People can also become
“Mange” is a general term that refers to several different skin disorders caused by several different species of tiny parasitic blood-sucking mites. Most mange mites cause infested dogs to become intensely itchy (pruritic), which leads to skin redness, irritation and inflammation at the feeding sites. As the mites multiply, affected dogs will lick, bite and scratch, causing painful weeping wounds from self-trauma. Only demodex mites rarely cause the profound itchiness that other mange mites do.Owners
When an owner brings his dog to a veterinary clinic because it has been scratching, licking, biting and rubbing at its skin and has developed skin redness, rashes, sores and patchy hair loss, most veterinarians will follow a fairly routine initial evaluation. The veterinarian will take a thorough history from the dog’s owner about its overall health history, vaccination status, symptoms or clinical signs (including when they started or were first noticed and whether they
The goals of treating canine mange are to completely eliminate the mites that are causing the dog’s condition and restore the animal to a good, comfortable quality of life. Because most types of mange are highly contagious, all mites must be eradicated not only from the skin and coat of the affected dog and other household pets, but also from the dog’s immediate living environment.There are quite a few treatment options for dogs with mange.