You may have seen dogs with matted, itchy skin and missing hair, often in stray or feral dogs. This is usually caused by mange, or canine scabies, which is easily transmitted between hosts. Mange is caused by microscopic mites that can come in three different types. Localized cases are the most common and result in scaly, bald patches on the dog’s skin. Generalized demodectic mange and demodectic pododermatitis mange are more serious forms that require treatment. Mange is highly contagious but usually does not cause severe issues in healthy dogs.
Signs of Scabies in Dogs
Dogs with severe mange will have patchy fur with tufts missing, especially on their ear flaps, elbows, belly, chest, and hocks. Other signs include intense itching and scratching, large bald spots, scabbing, sores, lethargy, depression, and changes in behavior. Dogs may also exhibit body language cues such as head tilting, shaking, panting, scratching, ear dropping, pacing, weakness, and raised ears. Additional signs can include vision or hearing loss, weight loss, loss of appetite, thickening of the skin, self-mutilation, bleeding, skin sores, scabbing, ear flapping or twitching, tufts of loose hair around the house, bald spots, itching, scratching, and fever.
Historic Causes of Mange
Mange can be transmitted from infected dogs, wild animals like foxes and coyotes, or indirectly through items like leashes, collars, and bedding. Dogs with poor health, weak immune systems, or existing diseases are at a higher risk of contracting mange. Mites can also be spread through grooming tools such as brushes and scissors.
The Science Behind Scabies
Sarcoptic mange mites have a short life cycle spent entirely on the host’s (dog’s) skin. Adult female mites burrow into the skin, lay eggs, and repeat the process for about three weeks. The eggs hatch in about five days, and the larvae go through a maturing cycle before the adults mate and start the cycle again.
Training Your Dog to Deal with Mange
Preventing mange involves keeping your dog healthy, feeding a balanced diet, and treating any conditions promptly. Avoid contact with suspect dogs and regularly wash and sterilize bedding. Training your dog to be comfortable with routine skin scrapes at the vet is also important. Providing love, treats, and positive attention during these visits will help create positive associations.
“Training your dog to prevent and deal with mange is crucial for their health and well-being.”
Tips & Things to Know
1️⃣ Keep an eye out for signs of mange in your dog, such as patchy fur, extreme itching, bald spots, and changes in behavior such as lethargy, distraction, or a lack of desire to play. More serious signs include loss of vision or hearing, weight loss, loss of appetite, and self-mutilation.
2️⃣ Mange is highly contagious and can be transmitted from other infected animals, as well as indirectly from things like leashes, collars, or bedding. If your dog has poor health or a weak immune system, they are at a greater risk of contracting mange. Regular grooming can also spread mites from one dog to another.
3️⃣ Maintaining your dog’s health is crucial in preventing mange. This includes a well-balanced diet, regular exercise, and prompt treatment for any health conditions. Avoid allowing your dog to play with other dogs that are suspected to have mange. If your dog has had mange before, ensure all bedding is thoroughly cleaned or replaced, and prepare your dog for regular skin scrapes at the vet.
Frequently Asked Questions, Answered ✅
1. What are the signs that a dog might have scabies?
– Signs include patchy fur, extreme itching and scratching, scabbing and sores, lethargy, and depression.
2. What are some body language cues that a dog might have scabies?
– Head tilting, shaking, panting, scratching, ears dropping, pacing, weakness, and raised ears.
3. What are some other signs that a dog might have scabies?
– Loss of vision or hearing, weight loss, loss of appetite, thickening of the skin, self-mutilation, bleeding, skin sores, scabbing, ear flapping or twitching, tufts of loose hair around the house, bald spots, itching and scratching, and fever.
4. How can dogs catch scabies?
– Dogs can catch scabies from other infected pups, wild animals such as foxes and coyotes, and indirectly from infected leashes, collars, or bedding. Weaker immune systems and poor health increase the risk of infection.
5. How can dog owners prevent and manage mange?
– Keeping the dog in good health, feeding a balanced diet, avoiding contact with suspect dogs, washing and sterilizing bedding, and training the dog to be comfortable with routine skin scrapes at the vet can help prevent and manage mange.
