How do I tell the difference between dry skin and mange on dogs?

Answer by  boxers3 (550)

Mange is often revealed with a skin scraping done by your vet. Mange is caused by a poor immune system and mites.

Answer by  PrncsPrple (237)

Sorry, but there is absolutely no way for anyone to tell by just looking, even for a vet. You need to take your dog into the vet and they will examine the pet & then do a skin scrape in which they scrape a few different spots on the dog & then examine under the microscope.

Answer by  raun08 (1839)

Dry skin is flaky and whitish in appearance, like dandruff. Mange is crusty, with scabbed spots and pus around the edges.

Answer by  withluck (1745)

Dogs with dry skin typically will have skin flaking off when you brush them, while mange is more severe, caused by parasites, and the dog will have hair loss, redness on the area, and itching. Mange can go away on its own, but a medicated shampoo can be used to make sure you rid the animal of the parasites.