Mange is an irritation of the skin, primarily including hair loss but might also include itching and inflammation, all caused by microscopic mites. Mange is most commonly associated with dogs and other canines, but can occur in other domestic and wild animals and, occasionally, in humans. Hair is the filamentous outgrowth of the epidermis found in mammals. ... An itch (Latin: pruritus) is a sensation felt on an area of skin that makes a person or animal want to scratch it. ... Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation and may be referred to as the innate cascade. ... Families Tetranychidae - Spider mites Eriophyidae - Gall mites Sarcoptidae - Sarcoptic Mange mites The mites and ticks, order Acarina or Acari, belong to the Arachnida and are among the most diverse and successful of all the invertebrate groups, although some way behind the insects. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog is a canine carnivorous mammal that has been domesticated for thousands of years. ... Genera Alopex Atelocynus Canis Cerdocyon Chrysocyon Cuon Dusicyon Fennecus Lycalopex Lycaon Nyctereutes Otocyon Pseudalopex Speothos Urocyon Vulpes Canidae is the family of carnivorous and omnivorous mammals commonly known as canines. ...

The mites embed themselves in the hair follicles or skin, depending on the type, making both detection and treatment difficult. It can be treated with parasiticidal shampoo, topical or oral medication, or injections, but it takes time and patience for repeated applications and almost always requires veterinary care. A hair follicle is part of the skin that grows hair by packing old cells together. ... Model of the layers of human skin In zootomy and dermatology, skin is an organ of the integumentary system; which is composed of a layer of tissues that protect underlying muscles and organs. ... A shampoo is a traditional Indian and Persian body massage given after pouring warm water over the body and rubbing it with extracts from herbs. ... In medicine, an injection is a method of putting liquid into the body with a hollow needle and a syringe. ... In American and Canadian English, a veterinarian (from Latin veterinae, draught animals) is an animal doctor, a practitioner of veterinary medicine. ...

Two types of mites produce canine mange, and each has similar but somewhat different symptoms.

Demodectic mange

Also called demodicosis, demodectic mange is caused by an overpopulation of Demodex canis, a mite that occurs naturally in the hair follicles of most dogs. In most dogs, these mites never cause problems. However, in certain situations, such as an impaired immune system, intense stress, or malnutrition, the mites can reproduce too rapidly, causing anything from mild irritation and hair loss on a tiny patch of skin to severe inflammation, infection, and--in rare cases--a life-threatening medical condition. Small patches of demodicosis often correct themselves over time, although treatment is usually recommended. Binomial names Demodex folliculorum hominis, Demodex brevis, Demodex canis The demodex mite is a tiny parasitic mite which lives around human hair follicles, particularly those of the eyelashes and eyebrows (Demodex folliculorum hominis) or in sebaceous glands connected to hair follicles (Demodex brevis). ... The immune system is the collection of organs and tissues involved in the adaptive defense of a body against foreign biological material. ... Stress (roughly the opposite of relaxation) is a medical term for a wide range of strong external stimuli, both physiological and psychological, which can cause a physiological response called the general adaptation syndrome, first described in 1936 by Hans Selye in the journal Nature. ... Malnutrition is a general term for the medical condition in a person or animal caused by an unbalanced diet—either too little or too much food, or a diet missing one or more important nutrients. ...

Minor cases of demodectic mange usually do not cause much itching but might cause pustules on the dog's skin, redness, scaling, hair loss, or any combination. It most commonly appears first on the face, around the eyes or at the corners of the mouth, and on the forelimbs.

In the more severe form, which usually develops in dogs who have suffered minor cases previously, hair loss can occur in patches all over the body and might be accompanied by crusting, pain, enlarged lymph nodes, and skin infections.

This variety of mange is not generally contagious; these mites thrive only on very specific hosts (dogs) and transmission usually occurs only from the mother to nursing puppies during the first few days after birth.

Some breeds appear to have an increased risk of mild cases as young dogs, including the Afghan Hound, American Staffordshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Chihuahua, Shar Pei, Collies, Dalmatian, Doberman Pinscher, English Bulldog, German Shepherd Dog, Great Dane, Old English Sheepdog, American Pit Bull Terrier, and Pug. There is strong evidence that a predeliction for juvenile demodectic mange is inherited. Country of origin Afghanistan Classification Breed standards (external links) FCI, AKC, ANKC, CKC KC(UK), NZKC, UKC The Afghan Hound is a very old sighthound dog breed. ... Breed standards (external links) FCI, AKC, ANKC, CKC, NZKC The American Staffordshire Terrier is a breed of dog. ... Breed standards (external links) FCI, AKC, ANKC KC(UK), NZKC, UKC The Boston Terrier is a breed of dog. ... Country of origin Germany Classification Breed standards (external links) FCI, AKC, ANKC, CKC KC(UK), NZKC, UKC Boxers are a breed of stocky, medium-sized, short-haired dog with a smooth fawn or brindled coat and square-jawed muzzle. ... Breed standards (external links) The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog and is named for the Chihuahua region in Mexico. ... Shar Pei Categories: Dog stubs | Dog breeds ... This article is about the type of dog. ... Common nicknames Dal Country of origin Croatia Classification Breed standards (external links) FCI, AKC, ANKC, CKC KC(UK), NZKC, UKC A Dalmatian is a breed of dog, noted for its white coat with (usually) black spots. ... Country of origin Germany Common nicknames Dobie Classification Breed standards (external links) FCI, AKC, ANKC, CKC KC(UK), NZKC, UKC The Dobermann or Doberman Pinscher (also, more colloquially, Dobie) is a breed of domestic dog. ... Country of origin United Kingdom Classification Breed standards (external links) FCI, AKC, ANKC KC(UK), NZKC, UKC The English Bulldog, often called simply the Bulldog, is a medium-sized dog breed, originally used for bullbaiting, in which trained bulldogs attacked and killed tied-up bulls for sport during the 17th... Country of origin Germany Classification Breed standards (external links) FCI, AKC, ANKC, CKC KC(UK), NZKC, UKC The German Shepherd Dog (known also as the Alsatian or Schäfer(hund)) is an intelligent breed of dog. ... Country of origin Germany Classification Breed standards (external links) FCI, AKC, ANKC, CKC KC(UK), NZKC, UKC The Great Dane is a breed of dog known for its large size (giant) and gentle personality. ... Country of origin United Kingdom Classification and breed standards An Old English Sheepdog is a breed of dog formerly used for herding livestock, and now primarily kept as a pet. ... The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is a breed of dog in the terrier group, one of several breeds loosely classified as pit bulls. ... Country of origin China Classification and breed standards The Pug is a small but robust toy dog breed with a compressed, wrinkly face. ...

Sarcoptic mange

Also known as canine scabies, sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious infestation of Sarcoptes scabei canis, a burrowing mite. The canine sarcoptic mite can also infest humans and cats, although usually not severely, as its natural host is dogs.

This mites dig into and through the skin, causing intense itching and crusting that can quickly become infected. Hair loss and crusting frequently appears first on elbows and ears. Skin damage can occur from the dog's intense scratching and biting.

Affected dogs need to be isolated from other dogs and their bedding and places they have occupied must be thoroughly cleaned. Shaving is sometimes warranted.

For more information, see Scabies.

Diagnosis

Veterinarians usually attempt diagnosis with a skin scraping, which is then examined under a microscope for mites. Because they are burrowing creatures, they are not always present on or near the surface of the skin when the scraping takes place. As a result, diagnosis is often based on symptoms rather than actual confirmation of the presence of mites. This also means that mange is occasionally misdiagnosed as other medical conditions, and vice versa.

References

• UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Book of Dogs, Ed.: Mordecai Siegal
• The Complete Dog Owner's Manual, Amy Marder, V.M.D
• ASPCA Complete Guide to Pet Care, David L. Carroll