Mange - Sarcoptic in Dogs What causes sarcoptic mange? Sarcoptic
mange is caused by a parasitic mite that burrows just beneath
the surface of the skin, Sarcoptes scabiei. "...is a zoonotic
disease or a disease transmissible from pets to people." The
mite feeds on material in and on the skin. It is also known as
scabies and is a zoonotic disease or a disease transmissible
from pets to people. What does it do to the dog? The presence of
the sarcoptic mite causes intense itching. The dog will chew and
scratch its skin constantly. This leads to the loss of large
amounts of hair, especially on the legs and belly. Eventually,
the skin will become thickened and will darken. Is it
contagious? Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious to other dogs
and humans. The dog's bedding should be discarded or regularly
washed in hot water diluted with bleach (one ounce per gallon).
Although sarcoptic mites are not able to complete their life
cycle on humans, they will cause severe itching until they die
in two to five days. How is