Causes of mange in dogs and cats
Mange is a
general term for several skin ailments caused by
tiny mites that infest skin or hair follicles of
dogs, cats and other mammals. The symptoms of
infestation are intense itching, hair
loss and often a foul odor. Most
commonly the term is used to describe the condition
caused by the sarcoptic mange mite (near photo,
right), Sarcoptes scabei. This is the same
mite that causes scabies in humans (see What Is Scabies?).
The other
common "mange" is caused by the follicle mite
Demodex sp. (far right). Normally this tiny
mite lives in hair follicles and causes no symptoms.
Occasionally, however, populations explode causing
hair loss and itching. Demodectic mange
(demodextic mange) is often associated with stress,
or other illness, which predisposes the animal to an
outbreak.
Mange is a
very serious condition and should be treated
aggressively. The stress brought on by the intense
itching and the secondary bacterial infections
caused by wounds opened by scratching can even be
fatal.
other common names: itch mite, red
mange, demodectic mange, dog mange
