Most of these lesions will self heal as the puppies become older and develop their own immunity . Persistent lesions will need treatment that will be described later. The skin along the head, side, and back will be crusty and often times inflamed. It will often crack and ooze a clear fluid. Hair will be scant, but the skin itself will often be oily to the touch.
Some animals can become quite ill and develop a fever, lose their appetite and become lethargic.
Patients with generalized demodectic mange need immediate vigorous treatment. Once Demodectic mange is suspected it can usually be confirmed by a skin scraping or biopsy in which the mites can be seen with the aid of a microscope. They are too small to be seen with the naked eye. The adults appear as tiny alligator-like mites. Remember that these mites are present in every dog so by themselves they do not constitute a diagnosis of mange.