Understanding Sarcoptic Mange in Dogs

If you notice that your beloved pet has bald and itchy patches along the ears, stomach, elbows, and other areas of the body, it is time to take him to the veterinarian. He may have sarcoptic mange or scabies. You should do this mostly for your pet’s sake, because it’s very uncomfortable for him and for yours too, because the parasite that causes this kind of mange, the Sarcoptes Scabei (a microscopic parasite that is closely related to the spider), can live in humans, as well.

As the name implies, the mites dig down into the skin of the host’s body, preferably the parts without hair, and causes a reaction that is a lot like allergies. If you look closely at your pet’s infected areas, you can see small, red bumps where the mites have begun their infestation. If left untreated, these mites will multiply, and the infestation, once started, will not go away unless you get the pet treated for it.

Sarcoptic mange is a very contagious infestation and if you have more than one furry pet (cats included) in your house, you need to isolate the one that has the mites as soon as you can, and get to cleaning all the places that the pet has been, and wash the beddings that the pet has used.

Drying them out in the sun helps get rid of the mites, and washing down the areas with bleach will get rid of most of the mites around the house that the pet has frequented. These types of mites usually spend their time on your dog, but they can survive for a few days at a time in their surroundings, and pass on to other pets or to you. Get rid of as many of these “free-range” mites as you can, as soon as possible.

As far as treatment goes, there are a number of medications that are effective in eliminating a Sarcoptic mange infestation. However, with the life cycle of the mange in consideration, these treatments do take quite a bit of time, and expect at least 4 weeks of “mange baths” that you and your dog will have to endure.

There are also “opportunistic” infections that can set when your dog has scabies, mostly from microorganisms like yeasts and bacteria that will thrive if the body’s immune system is low, and you have to get your pet treated for them, too.