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Sarcoptic Mange In Your Dog

....larger image

.Ron Hines DVM PhD


What Causes Mange ?

Two forms of mange are common in dogs. They are sarcoptic mange, caused by Sarcoptes scabei and demodectic mange caused by Demodex canis. Cats can also become infected with sarcoptic mange. But the form that is most common in cats is Notoedric mange. (ref) Sarcoptic mange is sometimes called scabies.

>Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious between dogs. It is found all over the World. Sarcoptic mites are near-microscopic, eight-legged creatures closely related to ticks. Their entire life cycle of three to four weeks is spent on the dog or another host.

Female sarcoptic mites are twice as large as males - similar to the one in the illustration at the top of this page. Males stay on the pet’s skin surface. But female mites burrow into the upper layers of the skin forming long tunnels. Your pet’s reaction to this activity and products the mites release cause intense itching, scratching, reddened streaks and skin inflammation.

Periodically the female mites lay small clusters of eggs in their tunnels that hatch into immature larva that mature into “nymph” forms (with six legs). Female nymphs mature to create their own skin tunnels, itching and more inflammation. As the number of mites on your pet increases, its skin often becomes very crusty.

Dogs of any age can become infected, but sarcoptic mange is most common in young animals.

How Did My Dog Catch Sarcoptic Mange ?

Sarcoptic mange is usually spread by close contact between a dog that carries mites and one that does not. It’s method of spread is similar to that of head lice in children. Dogs that spread the infections often have little or no signs that they are infected. Sarcoptic mange can also be spread by contact with objects, such as blankets and quarters that have recently been used by infected animals. Mange mites do not generally survive off a host animal for more than 2-4 days.

Sarcoptic mange is usually spread where large numbers of poorly maintained dogs are maintained in crowded conditions – such as at animal shelters, boarding kennels and pet shops. It is also transferred at grooming salons through towels, clippers and improperly sanitized caging. Mother dogs in recovery or in long-term balance with the parasite often transmit it to their offspring. So puppies from puppy mills and unsanitary breeders are also a major source of the disease.

What Signs Will I See If My Pet Has Sarcoptic Mange ?

It is easiest for the mites to burrow into skin that has sparse hair. That, plus the fact that pets check new situations out with their head, makes the edges of the ears and the face prime areas for mange to begin. Elbows and tummies are also areas that become infected early. When they do, small red papules and welts in these areas are common. As the disease progresses and the number of mites multiply, the whole body is eventually infested with these parasites.

The intense irritation these mites produce, cause the pet to scratch incessantly. No other chronic skin problem is as intensely itchy as sarcoptic mange. You can hear the pet scratching throughout the house. Oozing, raw skin often causes off-white crusts to form that are very typical for sarcoptic mange. You can see them on the edge of the dog's ear in my illustration (by clicking the larger image). When they are present, the disease is unmistakable. However, not all pets develop these typical crusts.

Bacteria and yeast take advantage of this unhealthy situation and give the pet a strong, musty odor (seborrhea) and a look similar to this. These secondary infections and mite debris also cause the lymph nodes that drain the skin to become enlarged. Pets often loose weight as well.

In long standing cases, the pet’s skin may become thickened and over pigmented with folds and wrinkles, similar to this. These are the cases with the greatest superficial lymph node enlargement, weight loss and general debility.

Do All Animals With Sarcoptic Mange Show These Signs ?

No. Some pets carry low numbers of mites without obvious symptoms. Sarcoptic mites cause antibodies to form in your pet. In some animals, these antibodies appear to keep the number of mites in check.

How Will My Veterinarian Determine If Mange Is My Pet’s Problem ?

Diagnosis of Sarcoptic mange relies on your veterinarian finding mites, or mite eggs and excrement on your pet. Sarcoptes is easiest to diagnose when crusts are still present on your pet’s skin. When these crusts are scraped from your pet and suspended in oil, mites are usually common and easy to see using a microscope.

However, once a pet has been bathed and scrubbed free of crusts, locating mites can be come difficult. It often requires several scrapings and close microscopic examination to find one. In these cases, ingested mites can sometimes be found in the pet’s fecal material. An antibody (ELISA) test has also been used to identify exposed pets.

In stubborn cases of itchy dogs, when skin scrapings have been negative ; veterinarians may send off a skin biopsy for pathological examination. The type of inflammation that pathologists observe in these samples can be suggestive of a sarcoptic mange problem.

When mites cannot be found, many veterinarians give pets medications that are known to cure mange. If the dog makes a dramatic recovery in 2-4 weeks, we know mange was the problem. The symptoms of sarcoptic mange are similar to that seen in food allergies and canine atopy (inhalant allergies). Giving an acaracide (a medication that kills mites) is a good way to help sort these causes out. It is particularly important to rule out sarcoptic mange before a pet is placed on an itch-suppressing dose of corticosteroid medication.

What Treatments Cure Mange ?

This article was written primarily for dogs. If you have a pet of another species, such as a cat, do not use any of these products other than under the supervision of your veterinarian. The toxicity of these medications varies between species. Also, certain breeds of dogs (collies, herding dogs, etc. ) are more sensitive to some of these compounds than to others. Many of these products will kill heartworm larva which can cause a reaction in heartworm-positive pets.

Be sure to read the next section on when those treatments are safe and when they are not

Luckily, a large number of medications eliminate Sarcoptic mange mites. In olden days, oily products that plugged up the mite’s respiratory system were used. Petroleum motor oil was one of them. It should never be used.


Ivermectin is routinely used to prevent heartworm disease. It is very effective in curing sarcoptic mange. Although it works rapidly, the pets will continue to itch for a while due to remaining mite debris in their skin. It is effective when given by injection or orally. Because it can be toxic in certain pets and certain situations, it should only be given in consultation with your veterinarian. When a spinosad- containing flea control product is used in your pet, the dose of ivermectin must be closely monitored or another product used. Spinosad is one of several chemicals that can make the effects of ivermectin too strong; read about others below. Ivermectin is not FDA-approved for use in eliminating mites. But it is commonly used for that purpose.

Selamectin (Revolution)

This product works well to eliminate sarcoptic mites. The dose frequency to cure an infected dog is greater that the dose suggested to prevent infection. It has been approved by the US FDA for this use. It’s primary use is as a heartworm and flea control product.

Moxidectin (Advantage Multi)

Advantage Multi appears effective in curing sarcoptic mange – although it is not US FDA approved for this use. It is sold as a heartworm and flea control product.

Amitraz (Mitaban)

This product is used as a dip. It is primarily used to treat another form of mange, demodectic mange, but it is also effective in killing sarcoptic mange mites. To be effective, the pet must first be bathed well in a pet-friendly shampoo to remove crusts, debris and skin oil. This allows the amitraz to penetrate the skin to the level where the mites reside. Another dip, lime sulfur dip, is usually reserved for cats with Notoedric mange or very young puppies. Because we now have injectable, topical and oral medications that do not need to be in direct contact with the mites, mange dips are used less frequently than they once were.

Are These Medications Safe For All Dogs With Mange ?


The majority of dogs that develop demodectic mange do just fine on these medications when they are given in the proper dose and at the proper interval.

But that is not always the case. In the case of ivermectin and similar drugs, very young dogs and old or frail dogs may not handle them well (in the standard dose). You see, ivermectin kills mites by disabling the mites nervous system. Most dogs have a gene pair that prevents ivermectin from entering the pets brain (penetrating the blood brain barrier)   and doing damage. (ref) But in some dogs, that pair of genes (MDR1 aka ABCB1 genes) are defective. And in the old, frail or the very young dog, the barrier is weak.  Ivermectin is part of a group of chemicals called avermectins. Those dogs are not only more prone to be sensitive to ivermectin; they tend to be sensitive to the entire family of avermectins which includes many of  the drugs veterinarians use to treat parasites. Certain dog breeds are known for their tendency to have these defective genes. They include the herding dogs: collies, border collies, Australian shepherds, as well as mixed breed dogs that are part those breeds. What I gave you is not a complete list of all of them.

The same sensitivity we sometimes see in those breeds also can occur in any breed or mix if the dose given is too large. As a rule of thumb, those drugs are more apt to cause a problem when they are given orally or by injection and less likely to do so when massaged in small amounts into the skin of affected areas. But that cannot be entirely relied upon. Dogs can be tested to see if they have this defective gene. (ref)

If your dog (or cat - cats are much more sensitive to these drugs!) has a bad reaction to ivermectin or its sister medications the most common signs are ataxia (a drunken gaite), confusion, general weakness, salivation, vomiting, trembling, dilated pupils, loss of vision, and, in severe cases, seizures and coma.

If the medication was applied topically to the pet's body. While wearing gloves, wash it off immediately with a warm solution of Dawn dish soap with many rinses. Later, change your clothes. Be sure the pet's head and breathing are supported and get the pet to the vet ASAP.  Dry the dog well with paper towels and keep it warm if it is chilled. (If it has had recent seizures, it may actually have a fever. Also heating pads and lamps are dangerous when a dog is too mentally confused to move away.) There is no antidote for this problem but your vet will give the pet life-sustaining support and, hopefully, it will fully recover.

Of the mite-destroying medications, Amitraz dips or spot treatments although it too can cause problems in the very young, the debilitated (weak) or when used incorrectly. (ref)

Bravecto ® (fluralaner) an oral flea and tick medication for dogs is said to have been effective in curing demodectic mange. (ref) ; but I have no experience using it to treat mange.

Although moxidectin  is in the same drug family as ivermectin, some veterinarians use it, combined with imidacloprid (Advantage Multi®) to treat mange successfully – even in dogs with the MDR1 aka ABCB1 gene mutation. I use that product on my Labrador, Maxx, monthly to prevent heartworms and fleas - but never in a specific attempt to cure mange.

In the case of the ivermectin family of medications; when a reaction is mild or minimal, sometimes just lowering the dose is sufficient to continue treatment. Certain medications the dog might be receiving concurrently (spinosad/Comfortis ®, antifungals medications like itraconazole and ketoconazole, certain antibiotics, corticosteroids, Apoquel®/oclacitinib, etc.) can make a bad reaction to the avermectins more likely You can read more on the subject of demodectic mange treatment here, here, here and here .

Are There Other Things That Might Help My Pet Recover ?


Not only are nutritionally deprived pets more susceptible to severe mite infestations, those already infected need of excellent nutrition to speed their recovery. So a premium pet food brand with additional antioxidant, trace mineral and vitamins or a supplement of those ingredients. (ref)

How Can I Prevent My Pet From Catching This Disease ?

Monthly selamectin topical drops will prevent sarcoptic mange. Some of the other topical flea and heartworm control avermectin products will probably also prevent sarcoptic mange – but they are not currently approved for that use in the United States.

Sarcoptic mange usually requires close contact to pass from one animal to another. The mites are quite restricted in their ability to move over distance and do not survive long when they are not on a host animal. So the same things you would do to avoid catching the flu will minimize the risk of your pet contracting sarcoptic mange. Avoid bringing your pet in contact with large groups of dogs, particularly younger ones and pets that are kept in group situations. When you must introduce your pet to high-risk activities, mist them off with a topical pyrethrin-based flea spray when you get home. If this happens frequently, consider using Revolution monthly.

Can Other Animals Or People Catch Sarcoptic Mange ?

There are a number of sarcoptic mites. The ones that affect dogs are slightly different from the ones that affect other non-canine animals. When a mite jumps to the wrong type of animal, it will live on that animal for a time. We used to think that these wrong-host infections die out of their own accord. However, some cases in cats appear to be due to the sarcoptic mite normally found on dogs. (ref)

If you associate with a pet that has sarcoptic mange, you may begin to itch. These human infections with dog sarcoptic mites are temporary (1-2 wks) – but they are quite itchy and unpleasant. They commonly form on the arms, neck and torso near elastic bands that give the parasite traction. So be sure to use gloves when you handle an infected pet and put all your garments in a hot wash cycle when you finish tending to your pet.

When cats become infected from infected dogs in the home, the infection is usually temporary.

When you treat your pet for sarcoptic mange, wash all washable materials in a hot water washer cycle to kill any mites that may be present in the home. Include the pet’s collar and tags or dip it in rubbing alcohol and let it dry. Things that can not be washed or sanitized, need to sit for a few days before they are used again.