How to Identify Scabies on a Dog

Scabies can be spread from dogs to other pets in the household.

Scabies is an uncomfortable, highly contagious skin condition that can affect dogs. It is caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, scabies--also called sarcoptic mange--and can spread from your dog to other animals in your house, in addition to humans. Determining whether your dog is suffering from scabies typically requires help from a veterinarian. However, there are a few trademark scabies symptoms that can help you determine if this type of mange is affecting your pooch.

Instructions

1. Watch your dog's behavior. Dogs with scabies often, excessively, scratch themselves because of the mite. According to Marvista Vet, Sarcoptes scabiei mites burrow under the canine's skin, leaving a trail of eggs behind them. These eggs grow into adult mites and travel back to the skin's surface, where they mate and begin the process again. This type of action causes an extreme amount of itching in a dog. If your dog seems to be scratching itself uncontrollably, there is a good chance it is due to scabies.

2. Look at your dog's skin and hair. Dogs with scabies often have spots of missing hair and inflamed skin. Typically, Sarcoptes scabiei mites like to affect skin that is already lacking hair, such as the stomach, elbows or ear margins. While this isn't the case in every dog with scabies, it does happen to quite a few. Look at the outlines of your dog's ears for crusting or hair loss. In addition, check its body for red pustules or yellow crusting. If you note any hair loss or skin issues, your dog may have scabies.

3. Take your dog to a veterinarian for an examination. The doctor can perform a test called a skin scraping, in which a blade is used to scrape the skin and collect samples. The doctor will then look at the samples under a microscope to identify the mite that causes scabies. Unfortunately, this test is often misleading, as only about 20-percent of infected dogs will come up positive, states Dr. Holly Nash of Doctors Foster and Smith. However, if the doctor suspects the dog has scabies based on its symptoms, it will likely treat the dog for this type of mange.

Tips & Warnings

• Scabies is highly contagious and is spread through both direct and indirect contact. Therefore, avoid touching any animal that may have scabies and wash all bedding and fabric items in hot water and detergent to kill the mite.

References

• Marvista Vet: Sarcoptic Mange
• Doctors Foster and Smith Pet Education: Sarcoptic Mange