Canine mange, part 1: causes and diagnosis

‘Mange’, defined as the parasitic infestation of the skin of humans and animals with mites, is an ancient disease, the name of which finds its origins in Middle English ‘manjewe’. Despite our long medical and veterinary relationship with mites, these microscopic creatures continue to be responsible for a lot of human and animal suffering globally, as they frequently evade detection and, until relatively recently, have been difficult, laborious and unpleasant to treat. This review of canine mange will be divided into two parts, with part 1 devoted to causes and diagnosis and part 2 looking at treatment and management.