Dogs and puppies
Puppy mange, also known as demodectic mange, is caused by a skin parasite called Demodex. Demodex is a type of mite.
Shedding, unkempt hair, and hair loss in pets are extremely common complaints among owners. In many cases, shedding is normal and harmless for the pet. However, hair loss leading to baldness, or hair loss accompanied by itchy, red, scabby, moist, or malodorous skin usually is linked to a medical problem.
More common causes are listed first. Less common causes are listed later.
Dogs
Acral lick is a syndrome in which dogs excessively groom the skin at the junction of the leg and the foot. This can result in trauma and irritation to the skin, known as dermatitis. As the process continues, a fleshy pink mass known as a granuloma may develop at the site.
Scratching and licking the skin generally have similar causes. Excessively licking the skin is a way of scratching the skin. Skin irritation leading to itching is responsible for most instances of excessive licking and scratching.
A certain level of scratching or licking is considered normal in all animals. Also, both cats and dogs groom themselves with their tongues. Therefore, it is important to determine whether your pet is scratching or licking excessively, or whether he or she is engaging in normal behavior.