The most common areas of irritation for allergic dogs are around the back and tail, the abdomen, and the legs and paws.

Your dog will be moderately irritated by these mites. Puppies may experience a more severe infestation due to an immature immune system. [2] X Research source

Dogs can catch sarcoptic mange very easily and it is highly infectious to the species. While these mites will bite people, they don’t usually cause major problems.

Demodectic mange is not very contagious and people cannot contract it. It is generally passed on to nursing puppies by the mother. This mange is most noticeable around the eyes and mouth when the young puppy’s immune system does not keep the mite in check. [6] X Research source A predisposition for this skin problem may be inherited. It is not uncommon for the puppies to have Demodex if their parents also had Demodex at some point in their lives. [7] X Research source

Your vet will determine what kind of mites are plaguing your dog. Effective treatment differs depending on the mite involved, so diagnosis of the mite type is critical.

An alternative is to use clear sticky tape to collect dander samples direct from the coat for microscope examination. This is the most common method of diagnosis for cheyletiella. To the naked eye, it looks like flakes of dandruff. It is also a slow moving mite, and can be trapped on sticky tape. Other methods are needed for the other two mite types. [8] X Research source How to detect common skin mites through skin scrapings. Smith. Vet Med 83, 165-170 Sarcoptes is another mite that lives on the skin surface, and it can sometimes be picked up on coat brushings or skin scrapes. However, it is fast-moving and microscopic in size, so it can easily evade these tests.

The scrapings are looked at under the microscope to identify the typical “cigar” shape of these mites. [9] X Research source How to detect common skin mites through skin scrapings. Smith. Vet Med 83, 165-170

The recommended treatment is three treatments, two weeks apart with a spray containing Fipronil. Please note that this product is not licensed for this use, but widely acknowledged to be both safe and effective. It is widely recommended by specialist veterinary dermatologists. Alternatives include selenium sulphide shampoo used weekly for 3 to 4 treatments. This is also a safe treatment. A higher risk alternative is ivermectin. This treatment is given by injection at weekly intervals for 3 treatments. This can cause coma in breeds that are sensitive to ivermectin, such as collie breeds. It is best avoided unless there is a compelling reason to use it. [10] X Research source Ivermectin toxicity in 17 collies. Hopper. JVIM 16 (1), 89-94

Initially, this treatment is applied every 2 weeks for 3 treatments, and then monthly to prevent reinfection. Oral products can also be effective. These will contain milbemycin (Milbemax), which is given as a weekly tablet for six treatments. Older treatments such as Amitraz are also effective. This is an insecticidal dip that can damage the environment when disposed of improperly. It is toxic to fish if it gets into the water. Choose safer products over this treatment.

Cats and other animals do not need to be treated.

A localized, self-limiting infection in puppies and dogs under 12 months of age. The skin does contain the odd demodex mite, but this doesn’t cause a problem unless the dog’s immune system is compromised. Because they have developing immune systems, puppies sometimes have small bald areas which are smooth and pink. But these do not bother the dog and they do not require treatment. As the pup’s immune system strengthens, the body fights the infection and brings it under control. A generalized infection, often occurring in dogs over 12 months of age. If the areas enlarge or the patches became sticky and itchy, showing signs of secondary infection, then treatment should be started.

This type of shampoo is available at pet stores. Talk with your veterinarian for recommendations.

Do not rinse off the product. Allow it to air dry. Treatment is weekly and continued until 2 or 3 negative skin scrapes are obtained. Treatment can last anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the response Please note amitraz is toxic to fish, birds, and reptiles. It can also aggravate asthma. The bath must always be done in a well ventilated place, preferably outdoors and the operator must wear protective waterproof clothing such as rubber gloves and a plastic apron. People with a history of asthma should not use amitraz.

Milbemycin (milbemax): This is an oral wormer. It is administered at the label dose daily for 30 days beyond 2-3 negative skin scrapes taken at least 7 days apart. The drawback with this is cost. Milbemycin is expensive and the cost of 60 day course of treatment for a large dog can be prohibitive. Also, it is not always effective, in which case the dose needs to be doubled, leading to further expense. Ivermectin. This oral medication is administered with a low dose initially. Your veterinarian will carefully increase the dose. Daily treatment is often necessary for 3-8 months. Ivermectin can have catastrophic side effects in some dogs because the ivermectin is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and get into the brain. It can cause breathing problems, extreme incoordination and even coma. Collie breeds are known to be especially sensitive and vulnerable to these side effects. It is arguable that ivermectin should not be used on these breeds at all. [11] X Research source Ivermectin toxicity in 17 collies. Hopper. JVIM 16 (1), 89-94

Puppies can become infected from their mother during the birthing process. The mites can be present in the skin for years, waiting for an opportunity to breed.

Sometimes, a short course of an oral steroid is advisable to reduce the itching while drugs treat the underlying cause. The exception to steroid use is demodex, where its immunosuppressive effect could inhibit the body’s ability to fight and eliminate the mites.

These products won’t completely eliminate the risk of your dog getting mange. But they do eliminate the risk for certain types, depending on the product used. [13] X Research source Zoetis product data sheet for Revolution (selamectin)

Vacuum regularly (daily if possible), and use an insecticidal flea collar in the vacuum bag to kill parasites that get vacuumed up. Try a flea collar with pyrethrin on it. Spray soft furnishings and carpet with an insecticidal spray designed to kill flea eggs and larvae. These products are very strong and likely to kill parasites such as cheyletiella and sarcoptes off the host (demodex live in the skin, so this is not relevant in this case). This reduces the risk of the dog reinfecting himself by being in contact with contaminated bedding. Your veterinarian can advise you of an appropriate spray. Some recommended ones might include Indorex, RIP Fleas, and Nuvan Staykill. These sprays should not be used near birds, fish or reptiles. Be sure to ventilate the room well for a couple of hours after the initial spray. Parasitic activity can persist for 7 months, so it’s important to address possible infestations. [14] X Research source Virbac product safety sheet for Indorex