Scabies in Dogs

What is the nature of scabies in dogs? Scabies is a skin disease in dogs caused by infection with scabies mites. These mites are called Sarcoptes Scabie, which are microscopic mites that tunnel into the dog’s skin leaving a trail of eggs behind. The burrows made by scabies in dogs are visible as scaly, narrow lines on the dog’s skin.

The disease causes intense rashes and itching because of an allergic reaction to the Scabies mites. Scabies mites frequent the dog’s ears, chest, abdomen, legs but can affect any part of the skin. Scabies mites are spread through direct contact between host to host. But they are active only for 36 hours. Infection on humans disappears on their own as the mites are not able to complete their life cycle on the incorrect host.

Scabies in dogs is a contagious infection that leads to superficial burrows on the skin and intense itching. Other variants and names of the condition are Mange, mite, itch mite, Norwegian scabies, crusted scabies, The Seven Year Itch or the Sarcoptes Scabei.

If your dog is well fed, well maintained and cleaned regularly it will get rid of unwanted pests naturally. However if dogs are uncared for, the scabies mites can become a serious condition. Itching is not the only sign of scabies in dogs. When eyelashes start thinning or the skin of the earlobe, the soles of the feet start flaking and itching, scabies must be suspected. But you should consult the vet and he is the only person who can confirm the disease.

There are two types of mites related to dogs:
•    Follicle mites: they tend to congregate around the hairs near the eyes and nose. This kind of scabies follows a very slow course, seldom bite and cause mild diseases but it is hard to relieve of.
•    Mange mites: can cause serious, scabies like eczemas which are extended over a large area and cause intense itching. Additional diseases complicate this condition.

There are two kinds of Dog Mange as well.

Scabies Mange:

Only a few scabs on the dog’s skin are visible. It looks more like a scratch induced scab. There may be some hairless patches. But your dogs experiences severely itching skin. This kind of scabies mange is rare in developed countries. Scabies mites do not thrive in clean places. They grow in garbage dumps and other such places. Hence, Scabies in dogs is present mostly in poor third world countries.

Demodectic Mange:

Caused by deficiency of the immune system. The skin turns pink or black, with rashes or pimples with hair loss all over the body but there is no itching.

How to Detect Scabies

As scabies is a skin disorder causing severe itching, you can observe the dog scratching the affected areas. Scabies triggers dog allergies that result in itching and skin rashes. Symptoms are skin rashes and red blisters and crusting of skin where scratched resulting in hair loss.

Scabies can be easily identified by the intense itching. A complete diagnosis will however require a detailed study of the dog’s conditions. For example a study of the top layer of the skin of the affected area is needed. The outer layer of the affected skin is scraped and put under microscope whereby the mites and their eggs are identified.

Once scabies is detected, appropriate medical and home treatment can be started. Scabies in dogs is a painful condition but with proper identification, diagnosis and treatment, the dog can redeem its health.