Parasitic mites that cause mange in mammals embed themselves in either skin or hair follicles in the animal, depending upon their genus.

The human analog of burrowing mite infection, due to a closely related species, is called scabies (the "seven-year itch").

They dig into and through the skin, causing intense itching from an allergic reaction to the mite's feces, and crusting that can quickly become infected.

A common and simple way of determining if a dog has mange is if it displays what is called a "pedal-pinna reflex", which is when the dog moves one of its hind legs in a scratching motion as the ear is being manipulated and scratched gently by the examiner; because the mites proliferate on the ear margins in nearly all cases at some point, this method works over 95% of the time.

Sulfurated lime (a mixture of calcium polysulfides) rinses applied weekly or biweekly are effective (the concentrated form for use on plants as a fungicide must be diluted 1:16 or 1:32 for use on animal skin).

Selamectin is licensed for treatment in dogs by veterinary prescription in several countries; it is applied as a dose directly to the skin, once per month (the drug does not wash off).

A related and older drug ivermectin is also effective and can be given by mouth for two to four weekly treatments or until two negative skin scrapings are achieved.

Oral ivermectin is not safe to use on some collie-like herding dogs, however, due to possible homozygous MDR1 (P-glycoprotein) mutations that increase its toxicity by allowing it into the brain.

[citation needed] Nevertheless, topical ivermectin has not been well enough tested to be approved for this use in dogs, and is theoretically much more dangerous in zones where the animal can potentially lick the treated area.

Free-ranging wombats are commonly treated topically with moxidectin by wildlife carers in Australia,[12] because it poses a low risk.