Mange in Dogs: Symptoms, Types and Treatment

Demodectic vs. Sarcoptic Mange

Sources: Merck Veterinary Manual, VCA, Cornell.^2,1,3,4,5 Read more about each type: demodectic mange in puppies and dogs and sarcoptic mange (scabies).

Signs of Mange in Dogs

• Hair loss, in patches or over large areas^1,3
• Red, scaly or crusty skin, sometimes with small bumps or sores^1,5
• Itching, which is intense with sarcoptic mange but mild or absent with demodectic mange unless there's a skin infection^2,3,5
• Thickened, darkened skin in long-standing cases^4,1
• Secondary skin infections, which can cause odor, pus and, in severe cases, lethargy, weight loss and poor appetite^2,5

Early mange often looks like a few small, thinning or hairless patches. With demodectic mange these are usually on the face or front legs; with sarcoptic mange, itching and crusting often start on the edges of the ears, the elbows and the hocks.^1,3,5

What Can Be Mistaken for Mange?

Several common skin problems look similar, which is why a vet's diagnosis matters. Sarcoptic mange is often misdiagnosed as an allergy for weeks or months.² Other look-alikes include flea allergy, ringworm, bacterial skin infection and hormone-related hair loss. See our guides to ringworm in dogs and dog skin rashes.

How Vets Diagnose Mange

• Skin scrapings: the vet gently scrapes the skin and looks for mites under the microscope. Deep scrapings are the standard test for demodectic mange.^6,2
• Hair plucks or tape tests, useful on sensitive areas such as around the eyes and feet^2,7
• A treatment trial: sarcoptic mites are often missed on scrapings, so if the signs fit, vets often treat for scabies anyway and watch the response.^2,5,8
• Tests for underlying illness in adult dogs with demodectic mange, since it's often triggered by another disease.^1,6

How Is Mange Treated?

Most dogs are now treated with prescription anti-parasite medicines, often the same chewable flea and tick products used for prevention:^2,3,4

• Isoxazoline chews, the same class of prescription medicine used for flea and tick control. In small studies, mite counts fell by more than 99% within a month, and most dogs were mite-free within two to three months.^9,10,11,12 In the US they're approved for fleas and ticks and used off-label for mange, which is now standard veterinary practice.^2,7,13
• Prescription spot-on treatments: some are FDA-approved for sarcoptic mange in dogs.^14,15,8
• Other options your vet may consider include medicated dips and other anti-parasite medicines. High-dose ivermectin can be dangerous for dogs with the MDR1 gene mutation, common in Collies and other herding breeds, and can poison any dog if overdosed, so never give horse or cattle ivermectin products yourself.^2,16,8
• Antibiotics for secondary skin infection, and medicated shampoos.^2,1

Safety note: the FDA has warned that isoxazolines can cause muscle tremors, wobbliness and seizures in some dogs, including dogs with no history of seizures. The FDA still considers them safe for most dogs, but tell your vet if your dog has ever had a seizure.^13,17

How long it takes: most dogs with sarcoptic mange are noticeably better within about 2 weeks, though full recovery can take up to 6 to 8 weeks.⁵ Widespread demodectic mange can take several months, and treatment continues until repeated skin scrapings are negative.^2,6

Can You Treat Mange at Home Without a Vet?

It's best not to. Mange is easy to confuse with other skin problems, and the most effective treatments are prescription medicines.^2,18 Home remedies can also cause harm:

• Never use motor oil, and don't use household products such as bleach, Pine-Sol or turpentine on your dog's skin. Petroleum products can irritate the skin and cause pneumonia if inhaled.^19,20,21
• Dish soap, hydrogen peroxide and vinegar aren't proven mange treatments. Bathing can also remove the crusts that help vets find mites, so mention any recent baths to your vet.²

What does help at home: keep a dog with sarcoptic mange away from other dogs until your vet says it's safe, treat every dog in the household, and wash bedding frequently (VCA suggests diluted bleach, about 1 ounce per gallon of water, for bedding only) or discard it.^5,8,4

Is Mange Contagious?

Demodectic mange is not contagious to other dogs or to people. Puppies pick up the mites from their mother in the first days of life, and almost all dogs carry them.^3,2,7

Sarcoptic mange is very contagious between dogs, mainly through direct contact, and wild foxes and coyotes can carry it.^2,8,4 People who handle an infested dog can get itchy red bumps, but the dog mites can't survive or reproduce on humans, so the rash is temporary.^22,8 See can humans get mange from dogs?

Frequently Asked Questions

What does mange look like on a dog?

Patches of hair loss with red, scaly or crusty skin. Demodectic mange often starts on the face and front legs with little itching; sarcoptic mange causes intense itching and crusting, often on the ear edges, elbows and belly.

How do you get rid of mange on a dog fast?

See your vet for a prescription treatment. Modern chewable medicines work quickly, and dogs with sarcoptic mange often feel much better within about 2 weeks, but treatment usually continues until your vet confirms the mites are gone.

Can mange go away on its own?

Mild, localized demodectic mange in puppies often clears on its own. Widespread demodectic mange and sarcoptic mange need treatment.

Can humans get mange from dogs?

Not demodectic mange. Sarcoptic mange can cause itchy bumps in people, but the dog mites can't complete their life cycle on humans, so the rash goes away once the dog is treated. See a doctor if you have an itchy rash after contact.

Will flea and tick chews treat mange?

Some prescription flea and tick chews are effective against both types of mange in studies and are widely used by vets for this. In the US they're approved for fleas and ticks, so their use for mange is off-label and should be guided by your vet.

Will Dawn soap help with mange?

There's no evidence that dish soap cures mange. Your vet can recommend a medicated shampoo to use alongside proper treatment.