1st May 2006

Can mange be passed from dogs to cats?

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Question:

My dog has mange and is being treated with antibiotics. Can you tell me if this can be passed on to cats, as I have recently noticed my cat scratching and a few red patches appearing?

Answer:

Mange is the term given to a skin infestation with parasitic mites of which there are several different species. Mites tend to be host-specific, which means that a mite that infests one type of host such as the dog cannot go onto live and propagate on another type of host such as the cat. However, transient skin inflammation and irritation can occur if mites do gain access to the skin of another type of host, but true infection will not occur. If the scratching continues you should take your cat to the vet for further examination.