Demodectic mange, also know as "red mange," is caused by Demodex mites. All dogs have demodectic mites on their skin, however in some dogs the mites proliferate and cause a serious skin disease for the dogs. This condition is inherited and any dog with demodectic mange should not be allowed to reproduce. There are three forms of demodectic mange; these are localized, generalized, and demodectic pododermatitis. The last form occurs only on the dog's paws. Demodectic mange is generally diagnosed by taking a skin scraping, a process that should only be done by a licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician.
Things You'll Need
- Scalpel blade
- Microscope
- Slide
Instructions
Gently scrape the surface of the skin with a scalpel blade. This process provides hair, skin, dander and -- hopefully -- mites, if the dog is infected.
Transfer the scraped material to a slide.
Place the slide under a microscope and analyze the scraping -- looking for mites, mite eggs or evidence of a fungal infection.