Sarcoptes scabiei in dogs is a highly contagious disease which is known to be a problem all over the world.  While the mites which cause this disease are fairly host-specific (they prefer dogs), virtually any animal or human who is exposed to direct contact with an infected canine can become infected themselves.  This disease, if left untreated, can compromise the health of the host, with death being a possibility.

Sarcoptes Scabiei (scientific name Sarcoptes Scabiei var canis) is a highly contagious mite infestation which has the ability to be picked up by other animals and humans as well.

While each of the various species of mites can infect any host (animal or human), each species seems to have its own preference of host and sarcoptes scabiei really likes dogs.  Here are some symptoms likely to be seen on the host:

Types 

Sarcoptes scabiei, also known as mange or scabies, has various varieties in the mite family, each of which has their own “favored” host:

While these variants of the mite have the above noted host preferences, they are not above infecting other animals or humans who come into direct contact with their host of choice.  Sarcoptes scabiei is rarely known to infect cats, their mite nemesis is Notoedres cati.

Basically, these mites live their entire life on dogs.  While that may not sound that bad, the “cohabitation” between species isn’t always the best option for one of the species, and, in this case, the dog gets the “sharp end of the stick” so to speak.  This is how the infestation occurs:

When it comes to the diagnosing process, your input will be very important.  Your veterinary professional will need some history, such as the onset of the severe itching (was it sudden or gradual), how long the severe itching has persisted, what types of environment was the afflicted animal exposed to and was the afflicted canine around other animals or people?  The diagnostic process of sarcoptes scabiei in dogs can be challenging for your veterinary professional. He will do a physical examination during which he will get scrapings of tissue from the affected areas on the skin of your pet.  

Because evidence of the presence of this mite can be hard to get, it may take several scraping attempts to get the eggs, mites or feces required to confirm the diagnosis.  A well-placed note here: a negative scraping doesn’t necessarily mean there are no mites.  The definitive diagnosis will come down to the history and the condition’s response to treatment for mange (scabies).

Treatment options for sarcoptes scabiei in dogs have several levels and, sometimes, all of them need to be utilized for effective eradication of the scabies (mites). Your pet’s veterinarian will discuss the safest and most effective option.

It is important to remember that any treatment option recommended and initiated will be subject to change if the patient doesn’t respond appropriately.  It is also important to remember that a single treatment application (whether dip, bath, topical solution or oral medication) will not be sufficient to adequately rid the animal of the mite infestation.  This is true because of the high degree of contagiousness, the prolific reproduction of the mite and the short life cycle of this species of mite.  

To rid your doggy family member of this malady, it will be necessary to continue the cleaning and other treatment options for a minimum of 4 weeks to have a greater chance of success.  Of course, it goes without saying that your afflicted doggy family member should be isolated during the initial stages of treatment to avoid passing the the mite along to other canines and people in your household or kennel.  Your vet will provide more information about this step based upon the degree of infestation and the condition of the patient.