Condition guide
Parasites & Mange
Three kinds of mite cause the skin condition most owners call ‘mange’ — but they differ sharply in how they behave, whether they're contagious, and what makes them worse. Here's how to tell them apart.
Know your mite
Three parasites, three different pictures
Grouping them all as ‘mange’ hides the fact that each needs a different approach and carries different risks.
Sarcoptic mange (scabies)
Highly contagious mites that burrow beneath the skin. Extreme itch, thinning coat, crusts and scabs. Often misdiagnosed as allergic dermatitis — with the wrong treatment making it worse.
- Contagious?
- Yes — dog-to-dog and dog-to-human
- Diagnosis
- Often missed on skin scrapings; the mites burrow deep
- Where on the body
- Ears, elbows, abdomen, hocks — areas with little hair
- Steroid response
- Steroids mask the itch and let mites and secondary infection spread
Demodectic mange (Demodex)
Mites that live in the hair follicles of most healthy dogs in small numbers. Under stress or with a weakened immune system, they proliferate. Not contagious.
- Contagious?
- No — opportunistic on stressed or immune-compromised dogs
- Diagnosis
- Visible on a skin scraping under a microscope
- Where on the body
- Localised patches or, in serious cases, generalised over the body
- Treatment
- Needs vet oversight — topical care supports skin healing alongside
Cheyletiella (walking dandruff)
Larger mites that look like tiny spiders on the skin. Named 'walking dandruff' because at first glance the flakes seem to move around. Mildly contagious.
- Contagious?
- Yes — to other dogs, cats and humans (transient)
- Diagnosis
- Visible to the naked eye or with a magnifier
- Where on the body
- Back and neck most commonly
- Treatment
- Weekly bathing and topical care through the treatment cycle
What owners should know
Three points worth carrying to the exam room
Mites are often mistaken for allergies
Sarcoptic mange in particular presents very similarly to allergic dermatitis — intense itching, redness, hair thinning. Vets who don't suspect mites can spend weeks treating a phantom allergy while the mite population expands.
Steroids can make it worse
Cortisone or prednisone prescribed for what looks like an allergy suppresses the immune response — which is precisely what the mites need to proliferate unchecked. If a dog on steroids is getting worse, mange is worth ruling out.
Secondary infection follows fast
The chew-and-scratch response opens the skin, and bacterial and yeast infections settle into the damaged tissue. Managing the mite alone rarely produces a full recovery — the secondary infection needs treating in parallel.
Topical support
Where Dermagic fits in a mange recovery
The mite itself is a veterinary treatment problem. What Dermagic products do is manage the skin and secondary infection that come with it — so the coat comes back faster once the mite is under control.
Skin Rescue Lotion and Hot Spot Salve target the yeast and bacterial infections that follow scratching, biting and open skin. Their botanical antifungal and antibacterial ingredients — sulfur, neem, tea tree — work at the surface without suppressing the immune response your dog needs to recover.
For post-mite skin repair once the parasite is gone, Cell Restoration Crème supports new coat growth in the cleared areas.
When to see the vet
Any suspected mange needs a veterinary diagnosis. Sarcoptic mange is contagious to humans and other pets — self-managing it isn't a good idea. Demodex in a young or immune- compromised dog can be serious. This page is educational, not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis and treatment.
Supporting the recovery
Once your vet has the mange itself under treatment, the skin still needs care. Skin Rescue Lotion, Hot Spot Salve and Cell Restoration Crème are the products we'd reach for.