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DictionarymangeAnimal skin disease
noun

mange

MAYNJ/meɪndʒ/

A skin disease in animals caused by mites.

The dog scratches at hairless patches of skin caused by mange.

A dog scratches conspicuous crusted, hairless skin patches; a small connected magnification inset reveals rounded, eight-legged mange mites burrowing in the affected skin.
Etymology
mangeOld Frenchto eat

From 'to eat' came an Old French noun meaning both 'the eating' and 'the itch.' Its itch sense survives in the name of the animal skin disease.

In context

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age4:16
Mange is a massive problem. And yeah, they just don't seem to have the same kind of immune systems or skin defences that other animals have so it really does affect them badly.
A day in the life of an Aussie wildlife vet

More examples

  • The veterinarian treats the puppy for mange.
  • Mange can make a fox lose much of its fur.
  • Tests confirm that the cat has mange rather than an allergy.

Forms

mange

mangy adjective — Affected by mange, often with patchy fur.

Similar words

scabies
A particular mite infestation that also occurs in humans.