The Best Course of Action For Mange? Visit Your Vet
The best thing to do if you suspect your dog is sufferingfrom mange is to pick up your pooch and head over to the vet’s office.
For starters, your vet may be able to verify that the problem is, in fact, mange (several other skin ailments can cause very similar symptoms). In some cases, a physical examination may be all that’s required for your vet to be confident in a diagnosis of mange, but skin scrapings or hair plucks (in the case of demodex mites) can also be collected to provide further evidence.
Then, assuming that mange is the problem, your vet can prescribe medications that will quickly and easily eliminate the problem.
In fact, several medications can be used to eliminate mange. Some of the most common include:
If none of those prove effective, your vet may recommend ivermectin injections or an ivermectin-based flea treatment (although ivermectin isn’t safe for use in collies and some other herding breeds).
Milbemycin may also be prescribed in some cases, although this represents “off-label” use.
In addition to providing you with the best availabletreatments for mange, your vet can treat any bacterial or fungal infectionsthat result from the mite infestation.
If you are unable to obtain a mange medication or shampoo from your vet, you may want to consider purchasing an over-the-counter mange treatment for your pet.
Most such products contain ingredients like coal tar or sulfur, which often help to kill the mites living on your dog’s skin and resolve the problem.
There are basically three different types ofover-the-counter mange treatments available. We’ll discuss each type below.
We’ve discussed the best shampoos for dog mange before, so give it a read to learn how mange shampoos work.
However, if you just want to cut to the chase, we think that SynergyLabs Antiparasitic & Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo is the best dog shampoo available for mange and recommend it strongly.
SynergyLabs Medicated Shampoo contains coal tar and sulfur to kill the mites, as well as things like salicylic acid and oatmeal to help exfoliate and moisturize your dog’s skin.
It’s also gentle and unlikely to irritate your dog’s skin like some other medicated shampoos, as it is made without any parabens, dyes, or soaps.
There are a few over-the-counter mange medications available that you may want to consider.
Most OTC mange medications are made with various plant oils and are unlikely to help treat your dog’s mange. However, at least one product – Happy Jack Sarcoptic Mange Medicine – contains sulfur and appears to be effective in many cases.
You’ll need to be careful using Happy Jack Mange Medicine and avoid getting it in your pet’s eyes. It is also wise to try this medication out on a very small area of your dog’s skin before treating his entire body, to be sure that it won’t irritate his skin.
A few prescription flea treatments are effective at killing mange mites, but one over-the-counter flea treatment — Frontline Plus – is also worth considering for additional mange-fighting properties.
Frontline Plus is a fipronil-based topical medication that is primarily intended as a flea and tick treatment, but it may help to control mite infestations too.
Note that Frontline Plus doesn’t claim to treat mange, but other fipronil-based treatments(specifically, spray-on varieties of fipronil) have been shown to be effectivein eliminating sarcoptic mites. So, you probably should view Frontline Plus asone component of a comprehensive mange-treatment strategy.
Besides, your dog needs an effective flea and tick treatmentanyway, so there’s little to be lost by trying Frontline Plus.
If veterinary care isn’t immediately available, and none of the over-the-counter treatments listed above seem appropriate for your pet, you may want to try a popular home remedy.
We’ll discuss some of the most commonly recommended homeremedies below, but it is important tounderstand that many are unlikely to help. Some may even present health risks for your pet.
Accordingly, it is imperative that you use great care whenemploying any of these strategies.
Some owners have had success in treating very mild cases of localized mange with olive oil. Just apply a thin layer of the oil to the affected areas of your dog’s skin. The oil may smother any mites present, and it’ll also help to re-moisturize your dog’s skin and quell your dog’s non-stop itchiness.
But while this treatment may provide some value for very minor cases of localized mange, it won’t provide any help for dogs who are battling body-wide infections (plus, coating your dog’s entire body in olive oil would not only be expensive, it would create an enormous mess all over your home).
Whether it ends up being effective or not, olive oil is probably one of the best home remedies to try, as it is completely harmless (although dogs who consume a significant amount may experience some intestinal issues), and it is readily available.
The biggest problem you’ll have is preventing your dog from simply licking it off.
Some dog owners have used extracts from the Aloe vera plant to treat mange. Aloe vera extract helps to soothe the skin, reducing the itchiness and irritation that mange mites cause. It also exhibits some mild antibacterial qualities, which may help prevent infections from setting in.
Some sources claim that Aloevera extracts also kill ectoparasites, but we’ve been unable to find anyreputable source that verifies this claim. However, just about any thickliquid, gel, or paste, may suffocate mites living on your dog’s skin, so it isplausible.
Aloe vera extracts are generally applied to the infected areas a few times a week until the mange clears up. Consequently, like the olive oil treatment, this is a home remedy that is only suitable for localized mange infections.
It’s also important to note that Aloe vera extracts are toxic to dogs, so you’ll need to prevent your pet from ingesting the substance – this is obviously easier said than done. You may have to fit your dog with an e-collar during this time.
Typically, dogs who eat Aloevera suffer from vomiting or diarrhea, but in some cases, depression andmuscle tremors may also occur.
Yogurt is another popular home remedy for mange. Most owners who use it to treat mange just slather it on the affected area (obviously, this isn’t a good idea for pups suffering from systemic mange).
Like olive oil, plain, unsweetened yogurt is safe for dogs; in fact, it is actually full of naturally occurring probiotics, so it’s no big deal if your dog licks the yogurt off his skin.
If yogurt proves effective, it’ll likely be because itsmothers most of the mites on your dog’s skin. It probably helps moisturize theskin a little, and the probiotics it contains may help eliminate fungi living on your dog’s skin, but this hasyet to be empirically demonstrated.
Accordingly, there’s no reason you can’t try yogurt on dogssuffering from mild, localized cases of mange. It may not work, but itshouldn’t cause many serious problems.
Various lemon juice and water mixtures are sometimes recommended for treating mange in dogs. They’re usually applied topically to the affected area.
Different sources recommend using different amounts of lemon juice, but you’re usually looking at a whole lemon or two in a liter or two of water. Sometimes, these mixtures are infused with garlic.
Ostensibly, the acidity of the resulting mixture will kill the mites living on your dog’s skin. It may also help to eliminate some of the bacteria or fungi present – many citrus fruits are known to have antiseptic properties.
However, there’s a big difference in the way lemon juice works in a petri dish and how it’ll work on your dog’s skin, so it may or may not have the intended effect.
While lemon juice isn’t toxic, and your dog isn’t likely to ingest very much, it may irritate your dog’s skin. It could even exacerbate skin problems, as it’ll likely kill off many of the beneficial bacteria living on your dog’s skin.
We’d generally discourage owners from trying this particular home remedy.
Honey is another common home remedy for mange. Like many ofthe other substances used in these home remedies, honey is pretty safe, and itis even included in some dog foods.
Honey has a number of antifungal and antibacterial properties, so it may help combat infections, and the thick nature of the liquid will likely smother the mites living on your dog’s skin (at least in small areas).
From a health and safety perspective, it’s probably one of the safest home remedies for mange that dog owners employ.
But that doesn’t mean covering your dog’s skin in honey is agreat idea. For one thing, your dog will probably twist himself in knots tryingto lick it off, as most dogs find honey pretty tasty. Also, it’ll likely makeyour dog stickier than duct tape, which will cause dust and debris to adhere tohis skin.
Some owners try to treat mange by applying apple cidervinegar to their dog’s skin or by adding it to their water bowl.
The mechanism by which this purportedly kills mange mites is rarely discussed, but the acidity of the solution is likely responsible for any positive results observed.
Pour some vinegar on a petri dish full of mange mites and it’ll probably kill the bugs, but once again, there’s a big difference between a petri dish and your dog’s skin. Besides, you could probably just drown mites in a petri dish with water, but this won’t work on your dog’s body.
Frankly, administering apple cider vinegar orally is reallyunlikely to help your dog’s mange in any way. Topical application may providesome value, but it is unlikely to help as much as proper mange medications.
Apple cider vinegar is often regarded as a “miracle” cure for everything from bacterial infections to acid reflux, but there just isn’t a lot of empirical data that backs these assertions.
It probably is helpful for treating some problems – particularly skin problems brought on by high pH levels – but it is highly unlikely to be the miracle cure it’s often described as.
In small quantities, apple cider vinegar probably won’tsicken your dog, but it may irritate his skin, especially if applied innon-diluted form.
Cost of Natural Mange Remedies in Dogs
Treating mange from home isn’t costly. You could spend under $25 for a month’s supply of natural ingredients for a mange sponge bath. Upkeep with laundering bedding and weekly baths, shouldnt be more than $25 a month. If your veterinarian recommends antibiotics or a medicated shampoo, you may spend a bit more, but not much more than a routine trip to the vet and $50-100 on medication and shampoo. To keep that cost down you can opt for the antibiotic from your veterinarian if it is necessary and make the bathing solution at home. Be sure to discuss this with your veterinarian, as they will be able to let you know if this at home treatment will be successful.
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Mange is treatable, but it can also vary in degrees of comfort and pain. If a skin infection is present, see your veterinarian for advice and treatment. You may be able to treat mange at home with baths and natural food additives while still treating an infection medically. Keeping a close eye on your dog’s skin and reactions to these natural remedies gives you control over how often you need to treat and which remedy is working best for your dog’s condition.
What Is The Best Home Remedy For Dog Mange?
If you think your dog has mange, schedule an appointment with your vet to get an official diagnosis. The last thing you want is to assume that your dog has one illness when really, it’s something else.
Once you get a confirmed diagnosis, talk to your vet about possible home remedies, such as:
Keep in mind that the home remedies listed above target only mange mites that are on the skin’s surface. Your vet can help you decide which home remedy, if any, may be appropriate for your dog.
Mild cases of mange could be effectively managed with home remedies. However, if the mange is severe, your vet will advise you to skip a home remedy and instead recommend a prescription or other course of treatment.
How to Get Rid of Dog Scabies
Ever seen a “statue” dog? Their skin is so rough, patchy, and crusty they look like they might turn to stone, with blistering red sores and oozing wounds all over. This unsightly look isn’t due to dirt or a lack of hygiene—this condition is called dog mange. This article will explore dog mange treatments and home remedies.
There’s no better cure than prevention, and knowledge about your pet’s condition can make a world of difference!
Mange is a type of skin disease acquired by dogs, especially those that are neglected or left on the streets. However, it can still happen to our beloved pet canines at home. The condition is highly infectious due to the mites that cause it. These pests can jump or transfer from one dog to another.
Mange causes intense itching on the skin. The irritation can result in hair loss and open wounds, making the skin crusty or flaky. When you look at a mage-infected dog infected, you may think it’s gross and hopeless because of its appearance. But, even the most severe stage of this disease can be cured.
If you have a kid, you probably know what scabies are. Sarcoptic mange is the equivalent of scabies for dogs. That is why it’s also known as canine scabies. This type of mange is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei, eight-legged circular mites that burrow into the skin. The feces and eggs left behind in their tunnels cause an allergic reaction that makes the skin very itchy. Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious.
Demodectic mange, more commonly known as Demodex, is caused by mites called Demodex canis. These parasites have an elongated shape, resembling a cigarette with spiky legs on the side. Demodex mites actually live on all dogs; they naturally inhabit the skin and hair follicles and usually don’t cause any issues with their hos as long as their numbers are in check.
When their population grows out of control, that’s when they can wreak havoc on your dog’s skin. These mites are not transmittable to other species, so Demodectic mange is not contagious.
A non-burrowing mite called Cheyletiella mites causes Cheyletiellosis mange. They live on the surface of your canine’s skin. They are large enough to be visible to the naked eye and have been described as walking dandruff. Imagine dried skin flakes coming to life and crawling on your dog’s skin. These mites have this appearance because they carry your dog’s skin scales on their back.
Cheyletiella mites are characterized by their prominent palps, which have a strong hook structure. Their body has a waist. Cheyletiellosis mange is contagious and can be transmitted easily from one host to another.
Mite infestation is the cause of mange in dogs. Depending on what kind of mite they were exposed to, they could either get Sarcoptic or Cheyletiellosis mange, which are both highly infectious. These conditions are passed on easily from an infected animal to your pet. Demodectic mites, however, usually are harmless in a healthy dog. Still, they can cause harm to a weakened canine.