My Dog Has Scabies: Should She Be Rehomed?

Anguish and disgust may often be associated with having a dog diagnosed with scabies (ie, sarcoptic mange; Sarcoptes scabiei var canis). The dog is usually severely pruritic and uncomfortable,¹ and there is often concern that the mite is highly communicable among dogs and may infest humans. When faced with a scabies diagnosis, consider explaining the following to clients:

In General 

• A dog with scabies does not need to be rehomed.

• The diagnosis is actually a good thing—it provides an explanation for the dog’s discomfort, and scabies mite infestations are curable. 

• To minimize environmental sources of mites, discard bedding or wash and dry it at the highest setting, and thoroughly vacuum areas frequented by the dog(s).

Communicability 

• Transmission can occur with exposure to foxes and coyotes. 

• Cats tend to be relatively resistant to Sarcoptes scabiei var canis infestation. 

• Humans in contact with an infested dog are only sometimes affected and, when affected, are only transient hosts for the mites unless there are repeated exposures.²

• The mite may persist in the environment for 6 to 21 days, although there tends to be a lesser chance of contracting the infestation from the environment or from fomites.³

• Human lesions are self limiting and usually persist for no more than a few days after successful treatment of pet(s).

Treatment4

• Products approved for treating scabies include:

• Topical Revolution (selamectin; zoetisus.com) 

• Advantage Multi (imidacloprid–moxidectin; bayerdvm.com) 

• Effective nonlicensed avermectins include oral and injectable ivermectin and doramectin and oral moxidectin. 

• These drugs should not be used in breeds with the drug toxicity-enhancing mutant ABCB1 gene, including collies, Shetland sheepdogs, Australian shepherd dogs, German shepherd dogs, Old English sheepdogs, and related crossbreeds. 

• Other effective nonlicensed treatments include oral milbemycin, fipronil spray, 2%-4% lime sulphur or amitraz dips, and oral fluralaner. 

• Because scabies is communicable, all dogs in the household—even those with no clinical signs—should be treated. Subclinical carriers are possible. 

• Response to therapy is usually rapid, with significant improvement noted within 1 to 2 weeks and cures established in 4 to 6 weeks. 

• Affected dogs should not be allowed access to places with other dogs (eg, dog parks, dog day care centers, grooming parlors) until the condition is cured. 

• Environmental therapy (flea therapies suffice) are only occasionally warranted (ie, if there are very large numbers of mites or mites on multiple dogs).