Mange is a highly contagious skin disease caused by mites that affects dogs, cats, and other domesticated animals. The most common mange mites that affect dogs are sarcoptic mange mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) and demodectic mange mites (Demodex canis). Mange causes severe itching, hair loss, inflammation, and thickening of the skin. So can mange go away on its own without treatment in dogs?
Quick answer: No, mange will not go away on its own in dogs. Mange is caused by mites burrowing into the skin which will continue to spread if left untreated. While mild cases of demodectic mange in dogs may resolve with a healthy immune system, sarcoptic mange requires medications to kill the mites. Treating mange is important to relieve discomfort, allow hair regrowth, prevent infections, and stop the spread to other animals.
Understanding Mange in Dogs
To understand why mange won’t go away without treatment, it helps to first understand what causes mange in dogs:
Sarcoptic Mange
– Caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite
– Highly contagious to other dogs and humans
– Mites burrow into skin and lay eggs causing intense itchiness
– Spread by close contact with infected dogs or indirectly via bedding or grooming tools
– Affects skin all over body but often starts on elbows, ears, and face
– Severe itching, hair loss, reddened skin, crusting, and sores may develop
– Requires medications to kill the mites
Demodectic Mange
– Caused by the Demodex canis mite
– Usually not contagious to other dogs or people
– Mites transmitted from mother dog to puppies in first days of life
– Mites live in hair follicles and sebaceous glands without causing issues for dogs with healthy immune systems
– Dogs with weakened immunity may develop a proliferation of mites
– Usually affects localized areas like the face, legs, and trunk
– May lead to hair loss, reddening of the skin, scaling, and itching
– Mild cases in dogs may resolve as their immune system strengthens
– More severe cases require medications to kill the mites
Since mange is caused by mites that spread quickly and live within the skin, the condition will not improve without treatment. The mite infestations tend to worsen over time as the mites multiply and further penetrate the skin. Leaving mange untreated allows the irritating mites to continue breeding and the infection spreading across the body.
Why Mange Requires Treatment
There are several important reasons why mange in dogs requires veterinary treatment and will not clear up on its own:
1. Discomfort for Dogs
The most pressing reason to treat mange is to relieve your dog’s discomfort. Both sarcoptic and demodectic mange result in severe itching and irritation for dogs. Some dogs may even develop skin infections from constant scratching and digging at their skin. Dogs will experience significant relief once mange is properly treated and controlled.
2. Hair Regrowth
Until the mites are fully killed, dogs with mange will continue to experience hair loss and bald patches. Treating the mites allows the skin to heal and hair to regrow in affected areas. Your dog will regrow a healthy, full coat once mange has resolved.
3. Prevent Skin Infections
The intense itching, scratching, and skin damage caused by mange can leave dogs prone to developing secondary skin infections. Bacteria can take hold in compromised areas of skin and lead to infections. Treating mange helps resolve skin issues and prevent painful infections requiring additional treatment.
4. Stop Spread to Other Dogs
Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious to other dogs. Not treating infected dogs allows the sarcoptic mange mites to spread rapidly to other dogs through direct contact. Treating all infected dogs is imperative to stop the mites from spreading further and infecting more dogs.
5. Prevent Zoonotic Spread
Sarcoptic mange can also spread to humans, especially those with frequent contact with infected dogs. People may develop an itchy rash if mites transfer from dogs onto human skin. Treating dogs with sarcoptic mange helps prevent zoonotic spread.
6. Improve Quality of Life
Dogs with severe mange often suffer a reduced quality of life from feeling unwell. They may isolate themselves, seem depressed, and be reluctant to play or go for walks. Successfully treating mange can improve your dog’s mood and restore their enjoyment of normal activities. A healthy, happy dog depends on effectively treating mange.
When Mange Resolves Without Treatment
While most cases of both sarcoptic and demodectic mange require veterinary treatment, there are some exceptions where mange may resolve without treatment:
Mild Juvenile Demodectic Mange
Puppies with a mild case of localized demodectic mange involving just a few small patches of hair loss may recover without treatment. This occurs if their immature immune system strengthens over time on its own. However, the majority of puppies with demodectic mange will require medications.
Strong Immune Response in Adult Dogs
An adult dog with a minor case of localized demodectic mange and an otherwise healthy immune system can occasionally self-resolve. This is because their bodies may be able to mount a strong enough immune response to control the mites without medications. However, treatment is still recommended to ensure complete control of the mites.
Superficial Sarcoptic Infections
There is a small possibility for a very mild, limited case of sarcoptic mange to resolve without treatment. This would require a dog to have only a few mites confined to a small area of superficial skin that their immune system could overcome. However, it is not wise to take this risk since sarcoptic mange is highly contagious.
In most situations, waiting to see if mange resolves without treatment is ill-advised and likely to worsen your dog’s condition. The exceptions where natural resolution may occur are very uncommon. Veterinary assessment and treatment provide the fastest and most reliable means of controlling mange.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Mange in Dogs
Since allowing mange to clear up without treatment is not recommended, it is important to bring your dog to the vet at the first signs of skin irritation, hair loss, or itching. Here is an overview of the diagnosis and treatment process:
Diagnostic Steps
To diagnose mange, your vet will:
– Take your dog’s history and examine their skin
– Look for signs of mange including hair loss, inflammation, thickening, and itching
– Perform skin scrapings to collect skin cells and look for mites under the microscope
– Conduct fungal cultures or biopsies if secondary infections are present
Treatment Options
Based on your dog’s diagnosis, your vet may prescribe:
– Antiparasitic dips – used weekly to kill sarcoptic mange mites
– Ivermectin tablets – kills sarcoptic and demodectic mange by paralyzing and starving mites
– Milbemycin – another oral medication effective against mange mites
– Mitaban baths – used every 2 weeks to treat demodectic mange
– Lime sulfur dips – can help kill mange mites and secondary skin infections
– Antibiotics – if skin or systemic infections are present
– Medicated shampoos – used between dips to reduce itching and inflammation
– Immunosuppressants – may be needed temporarily for dogs with recurrent bouts of demodectic mange and underlying immune issues
Most cases of mange clear up within 1-3 months with appropriate veterinary treatment tailored to your dog’s specific type of mange mite infestation. Your vet will advise on the most effective treatment regimen and ensure your dog’s mange is fully cured.
Home Care While Treating Mange
In addition to veterinary treatment, the following home care measures can help your dog recover from mange:
– Weekly baths with medicated shampoos to reduce itching and kill any residual mites. Your vet can recommend anti-mite and soothing shampoos.
– Try oatmeal shampoos to help hydrate and calm inflamed skin.
– Apply topical saline compresses to irritated areas a few times a day.
– Keep your dog from licking, scratching, or biting at their skin to prevent worsening irritation and infections.
– Trim your dog’s nails to minimize skin damage from scratching.
– Use an Elizabethan collar to prevent scratching if your dog is very irritable.
– Vacuum carpets and wash bedding regularly to remove mites from your home as you treat your dog.
– Give prescribed antibiotics or anti-itch medications as directed by your vet.
– Ensure your dog eats a healthy diet and gets proper nutrition to support skin healing.
– Avoid steroids or other immunosuppressants unless prescribed by your vet.
– Isolate dogs with sarcoptic mange from other dogs during treatment to avoid spread.
– Follow up with your vet until your dog’s skin is fully healed.
With veterinary oversight and attentive home care, your dog can make a full recovery from mange.
Preventing Mange in Dogs
Since allowing a case of mange to go untreated can have detrimental effects on your dog’s health and comfort, it is ideal to prevent mange from developing in the first place. Here are some key mange prevention strategies:
– Adopt dogs and puppies from reputable sources that screen for mange.
– Avoid contact with stray or neglected dogs of unknown health status.
– Promptly treat any dogs with suspected mange to avoid spread.
– Keep your dog’s immune system strong with proper nutrition, exercise, low stress, and routine vet care.
– Maintain a healthy skin and coat with grooming and daily inspections for signs of mange.
– Use flea, tick, and heartworm prevention medications as directed by your vet.
– Clean bedding and living spaces regularly to prevent accumulation of mites.
– Restrict your dog’s contact with any outside dogs exhibiting skin disease.
– Follow your vet’s vaccine and wellness visit recommendations for your dog.
Proactive prevention helps keep mange mites from ever gaining a foothold. But if your dog does develop this contagious skin condition, prompt veterinary care is essential for their comfort and health.
Conclusion
Mange is a parasitic skin disease in dogs caused by sarcoptic or demodectic mites. These mites tunnel within the skin and cause severe itching, hair loss, and skin damage. Mange requires veterinary treatment and will not resolve on its own in most cases. Allowing mange to go untreated results in unnecessary suffering for dogs and contributes to contagious spread. Effective medications are available to kill mange mites, relieve discomfort, allow regrowth of healthy skin and coat, and cure mange in dogs. With a combination of veterinary treatment and home care, dogs can make a full recovery from mange. Being vigilant about mange prevention is also important to help keep this contagious skin condition from impacting your dog’s wellbeing.
