Parasites

Sarcoptes are 8 legged mange mites, and they spend their whole lifecycle on the host

In animals, sarcoptes infection is known as mange, and scabies in humans.

Sarcoptic mange mites are very contagious, and are contracted through direct contact with an infected animal. If there is close contact, the mites can also transfer from dogs to humans and burrow into the skin.

Sarcoptic mange mites can affect the ear margin, abdomen, groin, elbows and hocks, with infection spreading outwards from these areas. The mites can cause severe irritation, inflammation and skin disease, also leading to bacterial infections.
The first visible signs of the infection may be scaling and wrinkling of the skin.