Sarcoptic mange in dogs – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Book a vet visit

Book a vet appointment if you think your dog has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. Sarcoptic mange is a skin condition caused by tiny Sarcoptes mites that burrow under the skin.

What to do now

What you can do now

  1. Contact your vet
  2. Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see
  3. Take a photo or short video to show the vet
  4. Let your dog rest somewhere calm

Don't

  • Do not give any human medicine
  • Do not wait if it gets worse

What it is

Sarcoptic mange is a skin condition caused by Sarcoptes mites.[1] It can cause intense itching, crusty skin and hair loss, and symptoms are often severe and get worse over time.[1]

Signs

  • Very itchy skin, especially on the ears and legs
  • Crusty, red, thickened skin
  • Hair loss
  • Low energy

Causes and risk factors

  • Sarcoptes mites

How vets treat it

  • A vet may prescribe treatment to kill the mange mites
  • Treatment may be available as a spot-on, tablet or shampoo
  • Antibiotics
  • Anti-inflammatories

What the experts say

“Overview. Mange is a skin condition caused by the 'sarcoptes' mite. Sarcoptes mites are tiny skin parasites that burrow under the skin, cause an intense itch, crusty skin, and hair loss. Symptoms of mange are often severe and get worse over time.”

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

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Common questions

What are the signs of sarcoptic mange in dogs?

Signs can include very itchy skin, especially on the ears and legs, crusty red or thickened skin, hair loss and low energy.[1]

Can sarcoptic mange get worse?

Symptoms of mange are often severe and get worse over time.[1]

How may a vet treat sarcoptic mange?

A vet may prescribe treatment to kill the mange mites, often as a spot-on, tablet or shampoo.[1]

Sources

  1. PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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