What is mange?

What does mange look like on a dog?

There are two types of mange commonly seen in dogs in the UK, called sarcoptic and demodectic mange. The type of mange depends on the mites present.

Mange affects a dog’s skin and coat in various places. The dog’s skin might be thickened (wrinkly or swollen), crusty, and red. They may also have hair loss.

The mites can cause the dog to feel very itchy. As they scratch, bacteria can get into their skin and cause a secondary infection, making the skin look even worse.

Sometimes, other skin diseases and allergies can look like mange. To tell if it’s mange, a vet or vet nurse can examine samples of hair and skin cells under a microscope. This will show if mites are present and what type.

If you think your dog might have mange or another condition, it’s important to talk to your vet.

How to treat mange in dogs

Your vet can prescribe the right, species-specific treatment for a dog with mange. This may also include soothing baths while their skin heals, which your vet can also advise you about.

Is mange contagious?

Some types of mange can spread between pets, or to people. You should ask your vet for advice on how to avoid this. For example, you may need to keep your dog away from other pets and wear preventative or full-length clothing when handling them. Afterwards, you’ll need to wash the clothes and your hands straight away.

What is sarcoptic mange?

Sarcoptic mange is caused by a mite species called sarcoptes scabiei. It can be caught from another infected dog, some wildlife (such as foxes), or from a place where an infected animal has been. Sarcoptic mange can also pass on to humans. Fortunately, it’s treatable and preventable.

In dogs, sarcoptic mange is often seen around the ears, muzzle and feet, where the mites can burrow into the skin more easily. In severe cases, it can spread all over the dog’s body. Scratching can cause a secondary infection which will make the skin look worse.

You should always contact your vet if you think your dog might have mange so they can prescribe the right treatment. You’ll need to keep your dog away from other pets until they don’t show any signs of mange and your vet tells you that they’re mite-free. Typically, the infestation should go within a week or two of treatment.

We recommend using an ongoing treatment to prevent mange in the future. Some brands of flea treatment (but not all) help prevent mites. For advice about which products to use, speak to your vet.

What is demodectic mange?

Demodectic mange is caused by a mite species called demodex canis. The good news is that it’s a lot less contagious to other dogs than sarcoptic mange and can’t be passed to humans.

This mite lives in hair follicles (rather than burrowing into the skin). For dogs with this type of mange, you may see thickened, crusty, red skin, as well as hairless patches. In severe cases it can spread over the whole body. These mites don’t usually cause a lot of itchiness, but your dog might get a secondary infection, which can be very itchy.

In many species, demodex mites live on the skin of healthy animals, in low numbers. But in animals with a weakened immune system (caused by a different illness or a medication), the number of mites grows to an extreme level and causes problems. This most often affects young animals whose immune system hasn’t fully developed yet. Mites are also often passed on from the mother dog to her pups when they’re suckling (taking milk).

Several brands of flea treatment (but not all) treat the demodex mite. For advice about which products to use, we recommend speaking to your vet. Once you’ve finished the initial treatment, you may need ongoing treatments to prevent the number of mites building up again in the future.

If you need more information about preventing or treating mange, speak to your vet. They can provide the best advice for you and your canine companion.