What is the Difference Between Sarcoptic and Demodectic Mange

The key difference between sarcoptic and demodectic mange is that sarcoptic mange is contagious to humans and other dogs, while demodectic mange is not contagious to other dogs, cats, or humans.

Mange is a skin disease particularly seen in dogs. It is caused by microscopic mites within the skin layers and hair follicles. There are two main types of mange: sarcoptic and demodectic mange. Sarcoptic mange is caused particularly by a parasitic mite known as Sarcoptes scabiei, while demodectic mange is caused particularly by a parasitic mite known as Demodex canis.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Sarcoptic Mange
3. What is Demodectic Mange
4. Similarities – Sarcoptic and Demodectic Mange
5. Sarcoptic vs Demodectic Mange in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Sarcoptic vs Demodectic Mange

What is Sarcoptic Mange?

Sarcoptic mange is a skin disease in dogs particularly caused by a parasitic mite known as Sarcoptes scabiei. It is a zoonotic disease and is transmissible from pets to people. Sarcoptic mange is very contagious to humans and other dogs. This means humans and all other dogs can get this disease by physically contacting the infected dog. The number of sarcoptic mites in the dog may be very low, and it may be very hard to find them.

The clinical symptoms observed in dogs with this disease include severe itching, alopecia, excoriation, raised bumps in the chest or over the body, crusted lesions due to secondary infection, depression, decreased appetite, lethargy, and enlarged lymph nodes. Moreover, Sarcoptic mange can be diagnosed through physical examination, signs, age, skin scraping and cytology, fecal flotation or fecal testing, PCR test, and skin biopsy. Furthermore, the treatment options may include isolating the dogs from other dogs, prescribed medications such as selamectin, ivermectin, milbemycin, moxidectin, imidacloprid, lime sulphur dips, doramectin, amitrz, fipronil, fluralaner, afoxolaner, sarolaner, antibiotics and anti-medications, and environmental disinfection.

What is Demodectic Mange?

Demodectic mange is a skin disease in dogs caused particularly by a parasitic mite known as Demodex canis. It is also known as demodicosis or red mange. It is caused by sensitivity to and overproduction of Demodex spp. Demodectic mange is not a zoonotic disease. It is not contagious to other dogs, cats, or humans. Demodectic mites are usually found in larger numbers in dogs, and it’s easy to find them. The clinical symptoms of demodectic mange include alopecia, skin scaling, bumps on the skin (papules), pigmentation of the skin, thickening of the skin, itchiness, pain, lethargy, fever, draining wounds, and skin swelling.

Moreover, demodectic mange is diagnosed through physical examination, skin scraping or hair plucking, cytology, fecal testing, PCR testing, and skin biopsy. Furthermore, the treatment options include moxidectin, imidacloprid, miticidal treatment include ivermectin, milbemycin, doramectin, amitraz, fluralaner, afoxolaner, sarolaner, lotilaner, shampoos containing benzoyl peroxide, and antibiotic therapy.

What are the Similarities Between Sarcoptic and Demodectic Mange?

• Sarcoptic and demodectic mange are two skin diseases predominately found in dogs.
• Both diseases are caused by mites.
• They cause skin lesions.
• Both types are diagnosed through physical examination, skin scraping, and skin biopsy.
• They are treated with specific medications and antibiotic therapy.

What is the Difference Between Sarcoptic and Demodectic Mange?

Sarcoptic mange is a skin disease in dogs caused particularly by a parasitic mite known as Sarcoptes scabiei, while demodectic mange is a skin disease in dogs caused particularly by a parasitic mite known as Demodex canis. Thus, this is the key difference between sarcoptic and demodectic mange. Furthermore, sarcoptic mange is very contagious to other dogs, cats, and humans, while demodectic mange is not contagious to other dogs, cats, or humans.

The below infographic presents the differences between sarcoptic and demodectic mange in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Sarcoptic vs Demodectic Mange

Mange is a skin disorder predominantly seen in dogs. Mange is caused by microscopic mites within the skin layers and hair follicles. It is mainly divided into two types: sarcoptic and demodectic mange. Sarcoptic mange is caused by a parasitic mite known as Sarcoptes scabiei. Demodectic mange is caused by a parasitic mite known as Demodex canis. Moreover, sarcoptic mange is very contagious to other dogs, cats, and humans, while demodectic mange is not contagious. So, this summarizes the difference between sarcoptic and demodectic mange.

Reference:

1. “Sarcoptic Mange in Dogs.” PetMD.
2. “Demodectic Mange in Dogs: VCA Animal Hospital.” Vca.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Sarcoptic-mites-in-skin” By Alan R Walker – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Demodectic mange 2” By Julie Knicely – Submitted to ticket (CC BY 1.0) via Commons Wikimedia