Mange in Dogs: Signs, Types and Treatment

Mange is a skin disease caused by tiny mites. They're far too small to see, but the damage they do isn't. Itching, hair loss, crusts and sore red skin are the usual result.

Not all mange is the same. One type spreads to people and other pets, and the other doesn't. Telling them apart is the most important step, because the treatment, the risk to your family and the outlook are all different.

What is mange?

Mange means a mite infestation of the skin. The mites either burrow into the skin or live in the hair follicles, and the skin reacts to them with inflammation. Think of it like a splinter. The splinter itself is tiny, but the body's reaction around it is what hurts.

Vets use the word for several mite problems. The two that matter most are sarcoptic mange and demodectic mange. Less common ones include ear mites, "walking dandruff" (cheyletiellosis) and chigger bites. Some owners call demodectic mange "red mange," and you'll still see that name online.

The two main types of mange

Sarcoptic mange (scabies)

Sarcoptic mange is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. It burrows just under the skin surface and causes intense itching. Dogs react to the mites and their droppings, which is why even a small number of mites can make a dog miserable.

It's very contagious. Dogs catch it from other dogs or from places where infested dogs have been, like kennels, groomers and dog parks. It also spreads to people. The mites cause an itchy rash on humans but can't complete their life cycle on us, so the rash settles once your dog is treated. You'll find the full story in our guide to sarcoptic mange.

Demodectic mange (demodex)

Demodectic mange is caused by Demodex mites, which live in the hair follicles. Nearly every dog carries a few of them from the first days of life. They pass from mother to puppy during nursing and normally cause no harm at all.

Trouble starts when the immune system can't keep the mites in check. That's why it mostly affects puppies under about 12 to 18 months, whose immune systems are still maturing, and older or ill dogs. It isn't contagious to people or other pets. Read more in our guide to demodectic mange and, for young dogs, mange in puppies.

Other mites

Ear mites live in the ear canal and cause head shaking and dark, crumbly debris. Cheyletiella ("walking dandruff") causes heavy scaling along the back and is contagious to people. Chiggers cause itchy bumps after a dog lies in grass or woodland. All of these are usually easy to treat once they're identified.

What mange looks like on a dog

The pictures you see online aren't always what you'll find at home. The look depends on the type, the stage and how much the dog has scratched.

Early stage mange

Early sarcoptic mange starts with sudden, relentless itching. The skin may look only slightly pink, with a few small red bumps. The ear tips, elbows and hocks are favorite spots. A classic test your vet may try is rubbing the edge of the ear between finger and thumb. Many dogs with scabies kick a back leg in response, as if you'd found the itchy spot.

Early demodectic mange usually looks like a small bald patch, often around the eyes, lips or on the front legs. The skin may be a little scaly or darker. Itch is usually mild or absent at this stage.

Advanced mange

Left alone, sarcoptic mange spreads over the belly, chest and legs. The skin thickens, turns gray or dark and develops thick yellow crusts. Dogs lose weight and become withdrawn. Generalized demodectic mange causes widespread hair loss, oily or crusty skin, a musty odor and often a secondary bacterial infection, particularly on the paws.

How dogs get mange

Catching sarcoptic mange

Sarcoptic mites pass by direct contact. A sniff at the dog park, a shared bed at a boarding kennel or a wild fox in your backyard can all be enough. Mites can also survive for a short time off the dog, so bedding and grooming tools can pass them on. The gap between exposure and the first signs can be anywhere from 10 days to 8 weeks, which is why owners often can't work out where it came from.

Why demodex gets out of hand

Demodex is different. Your dog didn't catch it. The mites were already there. Mange develops when something lets their numbers run away, such as an immature immune system, illness, poor nutrition or drugs that suppress immunity. Some breeds, including Pugs, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers and Shar-Peis, are more prone, and the tendency can be inherited. Affected dogs shouldn't be bred.

How vets diagnose mange

Your vet will start with your dog's history and a close look at the skin. They'll then scrape the skin with a blade and check the sample under a microscope. For demodex, the scrape is deep, because the mites live in the follicles. For sarcoptes, finding a mite can be hard, because only a handful of them can cause huge itching. A negative scraping doesn't rule scabies out.

If the scrapings are negative but the signs fit, vets often treat anyway and watch the response. Sometimes they also run tests to rule out fleas, allergies or ringworm, which can look similar. Our guide to hot spots on dogs covers another common cause of red, sore patches.

What else can look like mange

Plenty of skin problems cause hair loss and itching, and owners often guess wrong. That's one reason a vet check matters.

Allergies and fleas

Flea allergy causes itching and scabs over the lower back and the base of the tail. Food and environmental allergies tend to hit the paws, face, armpits and ears. Both are itchy, but they usually come on more slowly than scabies, and they often return every season.

Ringworm and bacterial infection

Ringworm is a fungus, not a worm. It makes round, scaly bald patches and, unlike demodex, it can spread to people. Bacterial skin infection (pyoderma) causes pimples, crusts and red rings, and it often follows mange or allergy. A dog can have mange and a bacterial infection at the same time, which is why some dogs need antibiotics as well as anti-mite medicine.

Seasonal shedding and thyroid disease

Thinning fur that's symmetrical, not itchy and not red can point to a hormone problem such as low thyroid. Normal shedding doesn't leave bald, scaly or sore skin. If the skin underneath looks healthy, mites are unlikely.

Mange treatment

Treatment depends on the type. In both, modern prescription medicines have made life far easier than the old smelly dips.

Treating sarcoptic mange

Vets use medicines such as selamectin, moxidectin, fipronil and the isoxazoline group (afoxolaner, fluralaner, sarolaner). Some are spot-on liquids, and some are chewable tablets. Many dogs need more than one type of treatment. Every dog in the household should be treated, even if only one is itching. Wash bedding and collars in hot water. Most dogs feel better within two weeks, and full recovery takes around 6 to 8 weeks.

Treating demodectic mange

Isoxazolines are now often preferred, with milbemycin or moxidectin as other options. Treatment continues until skin scrapings come back negative twice in a row, which can take a few months. Any bacterial infection that follows needs antibiotics. Some herding breeds, such as Collies and Australian Shepherds, can carry the MDR1 gene change that makes certain drugs dangerous, so your vet may test first.

Caring for your dog during treatment

Mange treatment takes weeks, and the skin looks worse before it looks better. Crusts loosen and fall away, and new hair takes a month or more to fill in. Be patient.

Keep your dog away from other dogs until your vet says the risk has passed, especially with sarcoptic mange. Vacuum floors and sofas, and wash your dog's bedding, blankets and collar. Mites don't survive long away from a host, so a deep clean of the whole house isn't needed. Wear gloves if you're handling a very crusty dog, and wash your hands afterward.

Don't stop medication when the itching stops. Mites are still on the skin at that point, and stopping early is the most common reason mange comes back.

Home remedies: what not to do

Search online and you'll find olive oil, apple cider vinegar, borax, motor oil and bleach baths. None of these is a reliable cure. Several are harmful if licked off, and bleach and borax burn raw skin. Delay costs you more than money. A dog with untreated sarcoptic mange can lose weight and develop deep skin infections within weeks.

What you can do at home is help the treatment work. Give the full course, keep follow-up appointments, wash bedding weekly and stop your dog scratching with a soft cone if your vet agrees. Feed a good diet and keep up flea and tick prevention.

Preventing mange

You can't completely prevent demodectic mange, but a healthy diet, regular vet care and keeping chronic illnesses under control all help. For sarcoptic mange, avoid contact with dogs that are visibly itchy or balding, keep your dog away from foxes and other wildlife, and choose groomers and kennels that clean surfaces between dogs. Some monthly flea and tick preventives also protect against sarcoptic mites, so ask your vet which one suits your dog.

When to see a vet

Book a visit as soon as you see unexplained hair loss, crusty skin or ongoing itching. Mange never gets easier to treat the longer you wait.

Go the same day if your dog has:

• Raw, bleeding or oozing skin over a large area
• Lethargy, fever or no interest in food along with skin changes
• A puppy with fast-spreading bald patches
• Itching so bad it can't rest or sleep

If a family member is itchy as well, mention it to your own doctor and your vet. For skin problems in general, see our skin and coat section. If your dog's eyes are red and sore along with a skin problem, read about red eyes in dogs.