Are There any Home Remedies for Mange?
The mange can be a pretty serious affliction for your dog caused by mites. Presenting with such symptoms as severe itching, hair loss, a severe skin rash or scabies, raised grayish-white or skin color tracks, or even bumps on the surface of the skin. The latter is caused by the female mange mites burrowing into the skin.
This can be extremely uncomfortable for any animal that that is affected. Not only is mange serious for your dog but it can be transferred to humans or other pets! So you definitely want to get the situation resolved as soon as possible. There are a few different medications that your veterinarian can give you and even some over-the-counter ones that you might try. However, if you’re like most of us then you may want to try one of the home remedies for mange first.
There are two types of mange that can affect your dog. Sarcoptic mange (scabies) and demodectic mange (puppy mange).
There have been a few home remedies for mange that people have claimed success with. Being cheaper and more convenient because you can do it from the comfort of your home.
Mange remedy #1 The Borax Solution
For a small dog, mix one cup hydrogen peroxide with two cups water. Add 3 tbsp. of borax, and let dissolve. For large dogs or to make in bulk, fill a five-gallon bucket with warm water and add a 200 ml bottle of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Add one cup of borax to the bucket until dissolved. Keep adding small amounts of borax until it no longer dissolves. This means it is fully saturated and ready to use. We recommend buying a slightly larger quantity of the hydrogen peroxide in order to have enough for multiple treatments, especially for bigger dogs.
Instructions
Wash your dog with tea tree oil shampoo or baby shampoo. Rinse out the shampoo and sponge or spray the borax solution, completely saturating your dog’s fur and skin. Do not rinse the borax solution and do not towel dry. After the hair has been allowed to air dry, apply lavender oil with a cotton ball to areas that your dog scratches most. Repeat this treatment at least three to four times per week. This treatment works best if done daily. Continue the procedure until there are no signs of mange and for no longer than four weeks.
Prevent Re-infestation
Mange-causing mites live on everything. To prevent re-infestation, it is vital to treat all cloth and fiber surfaces, dog-grooming tools and carpets in the home. Fill a spray bottle with the borax solution to use on your dog’s grooming tools. Cover furniture with plastic and seal with duct tape. Sprinkle borax powder on carpets, leave for 24 hours, then vacuum. Bag your bedding and your dog’s bedding in plastic bags and tie shut. Everything must remain covered and bagged until your dog shows no signs of mange.
Home remedy #1 Borax
If this is the case, then one of the home remedies that is recommended is apple cider vinegar mixed with Borax. Borax is a natural mineral also known as sodium borate. Borax is common in households as it is a great laundry detergent. There are various Borax based home remedies for mange. Please note Borax and boric acid are not the same product!
Before you apply the Borax solution, first give your dog a bath and rinse it out really well, let him shake off the excess water.
Recipe 1
- Mix 1/2 cup of Borax and Vinegar with about 1/2 a gallon (2L) of lukewarm water
- Stir the solution till completely dissolved before you apply it to your pet.
- Use a sponge to rub it into their coat and onto the skin.
Do not dry your dog off, just let him shake and dry naturally. You want to keep as much of the solution on his skin.
Recipe 2
Mix a bottle (200ml) of hydrogen peroxide 3%, with 1 1/2 cups of Borax in a 5 (20L) gallon bucket of water. Make sure it is completely dissolved. Saturate your dog’s coat and skin, avoid getting the solution in their eyes. Once soaked let your dog dry out, do not rinse or towel dry the solution.
Typically costing about $25 a month for all the different elements. The downfall is you have to continue to treat your animal often and make sure that no areas are missed or else the mange will get worse, not better.
Home remedy #2 Lime Sulfur Dip
Please note that this home remedy is sulfur based and although relatively safe to use you want to take some precautions. Lime sulfur dip must be used diluted! Which makes this a fairly inexpensive home remedy that might be worth a try. Especially if your furry friend does not mind frequent baths.
The smell of the sulfur is VERY potent and not an enjoyable one. Make sure you do this in a well-ventilated area or even better, outside!
Since sulfur has the potential to stain fabrics, walls, and doors (who wouldn’t want a yellow spotted bathroom or a nice yellow streak over a light gray carpet!).
Even though sulfur is safe for animals as a topical treatment You want to watch that your dog does not lick himself while his coat is still wet, once he is dry there are no issues.
Last but not least, avoid getting any of the Lime Sulfur dip in your dog’s eyes. It can be corrosive to skins and eyes, which in severe cases might cause blindness.
In Conclusion
If you do notice that your dog is scratching a lot or any of the symptoms mentioned above, then definitely get them to the vet. They can do a skin scraping and confirm whether or not your dog is affected by mites. This is a quick test, and if it comes back as Demodex mange in an older dog, please follow your veterinarian’s advice. As they can recommend some medicated washes, oral medication or suggest if one of the listed home remedies for mange would work for your dog.
Make sure to do a little research and read people’s experiences before attempting something like this. Once you have done the treatment leave some feedback or suggestions and so that the next person will know a little more about the treatment.
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