My Golden Retriever's skin rash is spreading. Could it be mange?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Golden Retriever | Male | neutered | 10 years and 6 months old
Mange on a Golden retriever? How would you treat this? We are using a sulfur spray and a shampoo with Tar in it but it seems to keep spreading to new areas on his skin. I have treated with shampoo 3 times which seem to help but new spots keep coming up.
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on November 4th, 2016
Ideally, I would want to know if your dog has been definitively diagnosed with mange and if so, what type - treatment is quite different for sarcoptic mange (scabies) vs. demodectic mange, and both types are very uncommon in adult dogs compared to other possible causes of itching and hair loss such as allergies, fleas, or a bacterial or fungal skin infection. If your dog does have mange, the most effective treatment will be to use prescription medication from your vet rather than topical dips and shampoos - so I would suggest having Rex examined by your vet as a first step unless this has already been done. Your vet can do a skin scrape to help diagnose the problem, and will prescribe appropriate medication to treat his skin depending on the underlying cause.
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Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on November 6th, 2020
It looks like it could be a mild skin infection. Ideally, a vet should check this out in case he'll need antibiotics or something else to clear it up but you can give him a bath with cool to lukewarm water and a mild, oatmeal-based pet shampoo to soothe his skin. Keep an eye on it and if it doesn't improve significantly in a few days, gets worse or he starts getting itchy all over, get him in to see your vet for an exam.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on August 28th, 2017
I am afraid I don't have any more ideas for you. You may want to talk to your vet about referral to a veterinary dermatologist. Many skin issues can be very difficult to diagnose and find the appropriate treatment. Another diagnostic that you have not yet mentioned would be skin biopsies and evaluation for histopathology. There could be an abnormality in the layers underneath the surface that could be causing the issues. There is also a possibility of allergies causing the issues. You may talk to your vet about allergy testing or trying a hypoallergenic dog food. If you have medical records, you can choose a Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach consultation where we can evaluate the tests and results, see physical exam notes, and help you make a list of things that you can discuss with your vet.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on July 25th, 2019
This looks like a bacterial infection of the skin and it is pretty significant. This could also be due to mange. I would really recommend you get him to a vet for an exam. He will likely need oral antibiotics to clear this up and other medication if they think mange is involved. In the meantime, you can use this medicated shampoo on him to see if it helps: ( https://www.chewy.com/dermabenss-shampoo-dogs-cats-horses/dp/112480 ) Lather, let it sit on his coat for 10-15 minutes and then rinse. Bathe him every 2-3 days. The contact time is VERY important so be sure to leave the shampoo on for the recommend time before rinsing. Hope this helps. Best wishes.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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