What is mange in dogs? Mange in dogs actually refers to two
separate conditions caused by small parasitic mites, which latch
onto dogs' skin and hair. A dog afflicted with mange typically
takes on a shaggy appearance and may begin to lose hair in
bunches. Demodectic mange is the most common form of mange in
dogs, and refers to mites that reside in the animal's hair
follicles. This condition is also called demodex, or "red
mange." Just about all dogs have some Demodex canis parasites in
their hair, but the animal's immune system keeps the organisms
from causing problem. Thus, demodectic mange is typically seen
in puppies whose immune systems are not yet fully developed.
Mange may also occur in dogs with defective immune systems
caused by other conditions. Mange is usually characterized by
hair loss in the places where the parasite resides. Depending on
the extent of the problem, this may be just one area of the body
(localized mange) or all over (generalized). This will
ultimately affect the veterinarian's tre