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My dog has sarcoptic mange. When will mites be gone and skin heal?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 5 years and 2 months old | 42 lbs

My dog was diagnosed with sarcoptic mange. He was given a dose of Nexguard on Friday. He seems to be a little better, but is still itching and looks awful. When will the mites be totally gone? Should I bring him for a bath to get rid of the flaky and dead skin?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Laura Bailey, DVM

Answered By Laura Bailey, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 5th, 2018

A good bath followed by a sulfur lyme dip once a week should help speed things up. Sometimes dogs that have scabies also have a secondary bacterial and/or fungal infection. Systemic antibiotic and/or antifungal therapy is necessary to treat the skin if a secondary infection is present. Once treated appropriately, It usually takes 4-8 wks for all of the hair to grow back/mites gone. I would have a veterinarian look at his skin and prescribe you the appropriate treatment. Most veterinary clinics have the sulfur lyme dip as well. Hope this has helped. Good luck and thanks for using pet coach.
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on February 2nd, 2017

    Poor pups. If they have been seen by a vet within the last 3-6 months, then their best option is to call that vet clinic and request either Bravecto or Nexgard flea/tick preventative. These preventatives can also treat for demodexx mites (not scabies) if given once every 1 (Nexgard) or 2 months (Bravecto). If you are unsure if your pets have demodexx versus scabies, then it is best to take them to a low cost clinic to at the very least get tested.
    Then a topical shampoo can be used to treat for any secondary bacterial infections and reduce the more numbers on the skin. The SynergyLabs Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic & Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo for Dogs can be tried. Best of luck!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Vet Q & A
My dog has mange. How can I tell if they are healing and recovering?
The absolute best way to know is if you see resolution of skin lesions and also when there are no mites detected on a skin scrape/cytology. Mites can still be present on the skin, even when the skin looks great on the outside. This will cause people to stop treating presumptively, and this results in treatment failure as the mites will come back quickly. You must have 2 negative skin scrapes done 2 weeks apart, plus resolution of skin lesions, to determine if a pet can come off medication. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My dog has mites. How long for Simparica to work & be mite-free?
Thanks for using PetCoacb! Simparica can be taken longterm. Usually a dog with sarcoptic mange is retested after 2 treatments and considered mite free after testing negative 2 months in a row though this protocol may vary depending on the veterinarian. Medications such as prednisone can be used to decrease the itch in the meantime. Good luck and have a great day!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My dog's Demodex is gone. Why is his skin dark and flaky now?
You didn't mentioned how long ago you started the treatment and how bad was the infection, Demodex can take between a few weeks to several months to clear up completly, it is important to renew the treatment as long as the skin seems to be affected. eventually the skin will recover but it will take some time, i usually recommend Bravecto for treatment.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Dog's neck still has scabs after mange treatment. Is it normal?
Hello. The best way to determine if there are issues are to re-scrape the skin in the area. This is an excellent way to see if there are any mites still alive or if everything is dead. If no live mites are seen, then it is just a matter of time for the skin to heal & all the hair to grow back in. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
Why is my dog's demodex mange worse after treatment? Secondary infection?
They can get a secondary infection from demodex and it usually gets worse before it gets better. The mites live in the hair follicle, so as the treatment works and the mites due, more hair falls out. Around week four after treatment is stated is usually as bad as it gets then things start to improve from there. A good bath in a shampoo with benzoyl peroxide helps flush the mites out but can be drying if done more than once a week. If there are scabs with a discharge it is best to get rechecked
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Will my kitten's hair regrow after scabies treatment, and how long?
If your veterinarian is correct about the diagnosis and you follow the direction, the hair should start regrowing in 6-8 weeks once all the mites are dead. Sometimes the hair can grow earlier. If it's past 8 weeks, have Pista examined again. Please feel free to post any additional questions.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My puppy has demodectic mange. When will his fur grow back?
It can take a few months to finally get the mite infection under control. Once the mites are gone, it can take a few more months for the hair to grow back. Bravecto is an off-label medication used for demodectic mange. When I have prescribed it, I use it monthly for 3 months. I usually see a positive response around 60 days. Be patient! Brody is on the path to getting back to normal!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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