This is most often seen in puppies, although it can develop in an older dog. It is caused by a particular mite, called the Demodex mite. When this almost microscopic pest invades your Pug, it will affect the skin which then leads to
fur loss. Patches of the coat may fall out, this can happen in just one particular location or several across the body.
As the hairs fall out and areas become thinner, you will often notice that the skin underneath is pink. There may also be an odd (not pleasant) odor. What makes this difficult for both dog and owner is that many times a secondary bacterial infection will set in…And it is this 2nd issue that causes quite a bit of itchiness. As this progresses, the skin will dry out even more and spots will become red.
If this is suspected, the veterinarian should do a deep skin scraping that takes a sample that can then be observed under strong microscopes
If it is found to be this type of mange, it can be treated with prescription medication. Luckily, there is no proof that it is contagious. However, it can run in the dog’s bloodline and any Pug that has or has had this should not be used for breeding.