Puppy itching, hair loss, red flaky skin: Is it ringworm or mange?

Question

Our puppy is itching in a small specific spot, there's a lack of hair there. You can see small flakes of skin coming off and it's slightly red. is this more likely to be ring worm of mange? And if mange, what type? (We're taking him to the vet tomorrow but I'd like to know what to expect)

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

Without seeing it in person, I can't say if it's mange or ringworm for sure. Ringworm is typically a circular lesion that is red in color. Mange can be demodex or sarcoptic, but again without seeing him in person, I don't know which type it is. At the vet, they will likely use a Wood's lamp to see if the spot is ringworm, as infected hairs can fluoresce under the ultraviolet light. Not all cases of ringworm will do this, so a fungal culture may be needed. To diagnose mange, the vet takes skin scrapings, and looks at the sample under a microscope. The demodex mite is typically easily seen with a skin scraping, while it can take several skin scrapings to find the sarcoptic mite. Once the cause is found, the vet can discuss treatment with you. Good luck at the vet's tomorrow!

Puppy itching, hair loss, red flaky skin: Is it ringworm or mange?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

Why is my mouse's eye swollen, cloudy, and has pus?

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

My pet is breathing hard, not eating, and lethargic. What's wrong?

My pet has red spots all over. What's causing them and what to do?

My pet keeps scratching its ear. What's causing this problem?

My small pet is limping and can't bear weight. Should I see a vet?

Related Brands and Products

Share