Dog Mange: Types, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention Guide 2026

Mange is a skin disease in dogs caused by microscopic mites that burrow into or live on the skin and hair follicles. It causes intense itching, hair loss, and skin thickening — and while it looks alarming, most cases are treatable with the right veterinary care.

This guide is for informational purposes. Mange requires veterinary diagnosis and treatment — do not attempt home treatment of suspected mange without professional guidance.

Types of Mange in Dogs

There are two main types of mange that affect dogs, caused by different mite species with different transmission patterns and severity:

Sarcoptic Mange (Canine Scabies)

Caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis, a mite that burrows into the top layer of skin. Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious — it spreads rapidly between dogs and can temporarily infect humans (causing an itchy rash that resolves without treatment once separated from the dog). This is the more serious form in terms of contagion and can spread through brief contact, shared bedding, or infected environments.

Classic signs: Intense, uncontrollable itching (much worse than normal scratching), hair loss starting at the ear margins, elbows, and belly, reddened crusted skin, and skin thickening over time. Severely affected dogs may lose significant body condition from the constant distress.

Demodectic Mange (Demodex)

Caused by Demodex canis, a mite that naturally lives in small numbers in dog hair follicles. Under normal circumstances these mites cause no problems. When a dog’s immune system is compromised — due to stress, illness, poor nutrition, or genetic predisposition — the mite population explodes, causing hair loss and skin inflammation.

Demodectic mange is NOT contagious to other dogs or humans. It most commonly affects puppies (whose immune systems are still developing), dogs on immunosuppressive medications, or dogs with underlying health conditions.

Two forms exist: localized (patchy hair loss on the face or legs — often self-resolving in young dogs) and generalized (widespread involvement — requires treatment).

Source: Merck Veterinary Manual, VCA Animal Hospitals, 2025

Symptoms and What Mange Looks Like

Early mange can be difficult to distinguish from other skin conditions like allergies, ringworm, or dry skin. Key distinguishing features:

• Hair loss (alopecia): Patchy, often starting at specific body parts (ear tips and elbows for sarcoptic; face and legs for early demodex)
• Intense scratching: Particularly characteristic of sarcoptic mange — the itching is described as relentless and unresponsive to antihistamines
• Skin changes: Redness, crusting, thickening, and greyish, wrinkled skin in chronic cases
• Crusty ear edges: A classic early sign of sarcoptic mange specifically
• Secondary infections: Bacterial and yeast skin infections frequently develop on top of mange-damaged skin
• Body condition decline: Severe mange causes significant stress; affected dogs may lose weight and condition

How Mange Is Diagnosed

A definitive diagnosis requires veterinary evaluation. Your vet will typically perform a skin scraping — using a scalpel blade to collect skin cells and debris from the affected area — and examine it under a microscope to identify mites or eggs.

Note that sarcoptic mites are notoriously difficult to find on skin scrapings (negative scraping doesn’t rule it out). Vets often make a presumptive diagnosis based on clinical signs and response to treatment. PCR testing is more sensitive when available.

Treatment Options for Dog Mange

Modern Oral / Topical Treatments (First Line)

Isoxazoline-class medications (fluralaner, sarolaner, lotilaner, afoxolaner) — the same class as popular flea and tick preventatives like Bravecto, Simparica, and NexGard — are now the most effective and convenient treatments for both sarcoptic and demodectic mange. Administered orally or as topical spot-ons, they have high cure rates and minimal side effects in most dogs. Always obtain these from a veterinarian.

Ivermectin

An older antiparasitic given orally or by injection. Highly effective but requires caution — ivermectin is toxic to certain breeds carrying the MDR1/ABCB1 gene mutation, including Collies, Shelties, and Australian Shepherds. Dogs should be tested before ivermectin treatment.

Lime Sulfur Dips

A topical treatment applied weekly over several weeks. Unpleasant in smell but effective, especially for sarcoptic mange. Rarely the first choice today due to the convenience of oral options.

Treating Secondary Infections

Mange almost always causes secondary bacterial or yeast skin infections. Your vet will likely prescribe antibiotics and/or antifungal treatment alongside mite treatment. Medicated shampoos can help manage secondary skin infections during treatment. See our guide on dog paw yeast infections for related information.

Prevention and Aftercare

• Regular parasite prevention: Many modern flea/tick preventatives (isoxazolines) also prevent sarcoptic mange — an excellent reason to keep your dog on year-round prevention
• Avoid contact with unknown dogs: Especially strays, which have a higher rate of sarcoptic mange
• Wash bedding and contact surfaces: Sarcoptic mites can survive off the host for several days; wash all bedding, toys, and grooming tools in hot water when treating
• Treat all dogs in the household: For sarcoptic mange, all dogs in contact should be treated simultaneously even if asymptomatic
• Support immune health: For demodectic mange, maintaining good nutrition, managing stress, and treating underlying illnesses helps prevent recurrence