One of the tough things about some types of mange is that the symptoms look like, act like, smell like and feel like allergies. Ok, so maybe you can’t feel it in the same way your pet can, but it sure does look like allergies. If you’re like most people, you can’t tell the difference between an allergic reaction and mange. Red bumps are red bumps. Itching is itching. And odd behavior is odd behavior.

What do you do?

Pack ‘em up and drive off to the vet.
It’s an easy answer. If your pet has a condition—any condition—that is out of the ordinary, take him to the veterinarian. Allergic reactions and mange are both potentially serious conditions, and it is not safe to simply see if it will pass. No. Just take your pet to the vet. The vet will most likely take a skin scraping to see whether or not he can find mites. If he finds mites, presto! You’ve got a mange diagnosis. If he doesn’t, well, what then?

Administer the Pedal-Pinna Reflex Test
The pedal-pinna reflex test is just a fancy name for scratching your dog’s ear to see if she has mange. In the event that a skin scraping doesn’t turn up mites (and if often doesn’t), you can still perform a simple test to see if your pet has mange. Using your fingers, give your dog a good scrape on the outer ear. If he lifts his hind leg to scratch the ear, your dog probably has mites.

Monitor the Condition Closely
Even the pedal-pinna reflex test has its limitations. In this case, you’ll want to see if the condition remains. Generally speaking, allergic reactions are short-lived. After 36 hours, any signs of the reaction should have cleared up. As long as you’ve taken practical measures to remove the potential allergen, your pet will return to normal—if it was merely an allergic reaction. If the condition persists, you likely have a case of mange on your hands. Go ahead and treat the condition as diligently and safely as you can.