Difference Between Mange vs. Ringworm in Dogs

Although both diseases affect the dermis of dogs, ringworm and mange are not the same. In fact, they are very different in terms of pathogenesis and type of disease. For this reason, we look at what are mange and ringworm in dogs:

• Mange: similar to scabies in humans, mange is a skin condition caused by parasitic mites which infest the animal's dermis.
• Ringworm: while its name may suggest a similar parasitic infestation, ringworm in dogs is actually a fungal infection.

As we can see from this brief overview of mange vs. ringworm in dogs, the mechanism of action is very different. Although these two types of pathogens affect the dermis of their hosts, they differ in their pathogenesis, type of lesions and symptoms they produce, as well as their diagnosis and treatment.

In the following sections we will explain in more detail the main differences between mange vs. ringworm in dogs.

The main difference between ringworm and mange in dogs is the causative agent. As we have already mentioned, ringworm is an infectious disease caused by fungi. The most common pathogenic fungal species in dogs are from the genera Microsporum and Trichophyton. Approximately 70% of canine ringworm cases are caused by Microsporum canis, 20% by Microsporum gypseum and 10% by Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

Mange is a parasitic disease caused by different types of microscopic mites. The specific type of mange will depend on the species of mite that parasitizes the animal. The following types of mange in dogs are distinguished by a specific mite species:

• Sarcoptic mange: caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis.
• Otodectic mange: caused by the species Otodectes cynotis.
• Demodectic mange (also known as demodicosis): caused by mites of the genus Demodex.
• Cheyleteliosis: caused by mites of the genus Cheyletiella.

Sometimes the mites which cause mange might be on the skin of the animal without causing any symptoms. It is only once the mites proliferate sufficiently that the mange develops into a disease.

In addition to ringworm, you can discover some other types of fungal infection in dogs with our related guide.

We already know that mange and ringworm are different diseases, but they can cause similar symptoms. These appear as skin lesions, often with accompanying redness, swelling and skin flaking. To tell mange vs. ringworm apart, we need to look at the following symptoms:

Type of lesions

• Ringworm: causes alopecia due to hair follicles falling out around the lesion. The lesion itself is round in appearance, often with a clearly defined outer ring. It is this aspect which provides the common name. Scaling and skin flaking usually occur, along with erythema (redness), papules and hyperpigmentation. If itching does occur, it is usually mild to moderate in intensity. In contrast, itching is one of the main clinical signs of mange in dogs, with the exception of demodectic mange.
• Sarcoptic mange: in addition to itching, lesions such as redness, papulocrustous eruptions, excoriations and alopecia usually appear in sarcoptic mange.
• Otodectic mange: dogs usually scratch their ears and shake their heads due to the itching. Drooping ears and the accumulation of dark brown earwax may also be observed.
• Cheyleteliosis: is characterized by producing extensive scaling which can be affected by the movement of the mites. For this reason, it is commonly known as walking dandruff in dogs.
• Demodectic mange: occurs without itching, but the lesions are accompanied by erythema, papules, alopecia, seborrhea, edema, hyperpigmentation and scabs. You can see the difference between mange vs. ringworm lesions in the photos below.

Location of lesions

• Ringworm: the most commonly affected sites are the face, ear tips, tail and legs.
• Sarcoptic mange: lesions usually begin on the ventral abdomen, head, ears and bony projections (such as the elbows and hocks).
• Otodectic mange: the ears are most affected.
• Cheyleteliosis: lesions usually occur on the dorsal side.
• Demodectic mange: lesions are usually located around the lips and eyes, as well as on the forelimbs. They may also appear in other locations.

Level of itching or pruritus

• Ringworm: the level of itching is usually mild-moderate
• Mange: the itching is usually very intense with the exception of demodectic mange, which usually does not itch.

Diagnosis

• Ringworm: can be diagnosed with a fungal culture, a Wood's lamp examination, a microscopic examination of hair or skin scales to look for fungal hyphae or with more advanced methods such as a PCR test.
• Mange: in contrast, the diagnosis of mange in dogs is usually based on the clinical history, observation of the mites under a microscope from a skin scraping or the use of more specific laboratory tests such as ELISA.

If mange in dogs hasn't spread, we may see the dog has one floppy ear while the other remains erect. Drooping may occur once the mange spreads.

As we have mentioned, mange and ringworm are caused by different pathogens. Not only are the symptoms differentiated, but the treatment is completely different. We look at how to treat mange vs. ringworm in dogs:

Ringworm in dogs treatment

In healthy and immunocompetent adult dogs, ringworm may disappear without treatment. The administration of an oral antifungal drug such as ketoconazole or itraconazole for dogs can speed recovery and reduce the spread of the fungus in the environment. This helps to reduce contagion to other animals or people.

In addition to oral treatment, topical treatment with antifungal shampoos should be performed to disinfect the hair. Infected individuals should be isolated from other pets until complete clinical recovery. For more details, you can see how ringworm is treated when a dog has a fungal infection on their paws.

Mange in dogs treatment

Since mange is a parasitic disease, antiparasitic drugs need to be used to kill the mites. These drugs include macrocyclic lactones such as selamectin, moxidectin and ivermectin for dogs or isoxazolines such as fluralaner.

In addition, it is advisable to complement this systemic treatment with a topical treatment that includes anti-seborrheic shampoos and acaricidal baths. Infected dogs should be isolated from other pets to avoid contagion. Any animal that has been in contact with the infected individual should also be treated preventively. Natural remedies for mange in dogs can help to support veterinary treatment, but they should never be used as a direct replacement.

Now that you know the differences between mange vs. ringworm in dogs, you may want to learn about other skin conditions with our article explaining the types of dermatitis in dogs.

This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to Difference Between Mange vs. Ringworm in Dogs, we recommend you visit our Infectious diseases category.