Have you ever heard the phrases “mangy dog” or “mangy cat?” Even if you haven’t, they certainly don’t conjure up images of beauty and health.
Mange is a collection of skin diseases caused by tiny skin parasites called mites. It affects dogs and cats, making them feel itchy and generally miserable. Mange is treatable, but treatment can take a lot of work.
Mange in Dogs
Two types of mange affect dogs: sarcoptic and demodectic.
Sarcoptic mange is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei, a circular mite with eight legs. Also called scabies, sarcoptic mange is very contagious and spreads easily between dogs and from dogs to people. Puppies, as well as dogs who are neglected or abused, are most susceptible.
Adult female S. scabiei burrow deeply into a dog’s skin to lay eggs, which hatch and begin feeding after a few weeks. It takes only a few mites to cause intense itching, and it doesn’t take long for a dog to show signs of sarcoptic mange. The most prominent symptom of sarcoptic mange in dogs is constant chewing and scratching at the skin, mostly on the chest, belly, ears, elbows and ankles. This incessant skin irritation causes skin thickening and darkening.
Other symptoms include:
- Rashes
- Hair loss
- Thick, yellow crusts
- Bacterial and yeast infections
- Emaciation, in severe cases
Sarcoptic mange is diagnosed by visualizing S. scabiei on a thin skin scraping using a microscope. However, these mites are rarely visible because they burrow so deeply into the skin. Thus, a veterinarian will typically use the telltale signs of sarcoptic mange to make the diagnosis.
Demodectic mange, which is not contagious, is caused by the cigar-shaped, 8-legged Demodex canis. This mite is found normally on a dog’s skin and is usually harmless. In puppies, older dogs with a weak immune system and sick stray dogs, however, D. canis can be problematic. This mite stays on the skin’s surface or lives in a dog’s hair follicles or oil glands, causing mild skin irritation and itching, along with patchy hair loss that starts around the muzzle and spreads down the body.
Demodectic mange is either localized or generalized. It is diagnosed by visualizing large amounts of D. canis mites on a deep skin scraping.
Mange in Cats
Several types of mange can affect cats: demodectic, notoedric, otodectic and Cheyletiella blakei. Feline demodectic mange is caused by either D. gatoi or D. cati.
As with dogs, Demodex mites are usually harmless on a cat’s skin, unless the cat has a weak immune system. The main symptoms are localized patchy hair loss and scaly skin on the head, neck and ears. D. cati is not contagious between cats, but D. gatoi can spread easily from cat to cat.
Notoedric mange, caused by the circular Notoedres cati mite, is also called feline scabies and head mange. Like scabies in dogs, notoedric mange is highly contagious between cats and causes intense itching and scratching. Starting at the head, this type of mange works its way down a cat’s body, creating skin lesions similar to those seen with canine sarcoptic mange.
Otodectic mange is caused by the ear mite Otodectic cynotis, which is the most common feline mite. This mite prefers to live inside the ears, but can occasionally live outside the ears. Otodectic mange mainly affects kittens and is spread through contact with other cats. Symptoms include:
- Frequent head shaking
- Intense itching and scratching around the ears
- Foul-smelling, coffee ground-like substance in the ears
Cheyletiella blakei mites are affectionately known as “walking dandruff.” These mites are uncommon yet highly contagious between cats, looking like dandruff flakes walking along a cat’s back.
Mange Treatment
Treatment is relatively similar across mange types and involves eliminating the mites and healing the skin. Treatment options include medicated shampoos, dips with amitraz or lime-sulfur, medications and clipping the hair. Affected pets may need treatment for several weeks.
Weekly baths with medicated shampoo have several treatment benefits. For example, for demodectic mange, benzoyl peroxide shampoo will open up the hair follicles to “flush out” the mites. For sarcoptic mange, medicated shampoo is used to get rid of the dirt and crusty lesions. Antibacterial shampoos help to heal bacterial skin infections.
Amitraz or lime-sulfur dips will kill the mites. Your veterinarian will decide how often your pet will need dips. Be aware that amitraz can make dogs quite sick if it is used improperly, so follow your veterinarian’s instructions carefully if your pet needs an amitraz dip for mange treatment. Cats may require sedation before a bath or dip.
Several of the medications used to treat mange are flea and tick preventives. These medications are used “off-label,” meaning that they are used to treat a condition other than the condition for which they are approved. Your pet may also need antibiotics if his or her skin has a bacterial infection.
Because Demodex mites are found normally on the skin, their presence does not require treatment unless they are causing mange symptoms.
Mange Prevention
Once you successfully treat your pet for mange, you’ll need to prevent re-infection. Follow the recommendations listed below:
- Discard your pet’s bedding or wash it frequently in hot water with bleach (1 ounce bleach/1 gallon of hot water). Because canine sarcoptic mange can also make people itchy, wash your bedding in bleach and hot water if your dog has this type of mange.
- Keep your pet healthy. Good health is especially important for preventing demodectic mange because Demodex causes problems in pets with weak immune systems. Feed your pet a healthy, balanced diet and take your pet in for regular veterinary checkups.
- Keep your pet away from other pets with mange.
- Treat all pets. If you have multiple dogs or cats, and one of them has mange, your veterinarian will have you treat all of them to prevent the mites from hopping between your pets.
Mites are tiny in size, but are a big nuisance to our pets. If your pet is itchy and scratchy, take him to your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. Your pet will be forever grateful to you for getting rid of those pesky mites once and for all.