My dog has Demodectic Mange! How can I get rid of it?
What is Demodectic Mange?
Demodectic Mange is a skin disease caused by a mite called Demodex dog. The Demodex mite lives in dog hair follicles in the skin of the dog.
Demodectic Mange may occur in dogs of all ages. However, it is most common in puppies 3 months to one year of age.
When demodectic mange is diagnosed in older and more mature dogs that are likely to be a health problem underlying weakened immune system of the dog let the dog susceptible to demodectic mange.
What are the symptoms of demodectic mange in dogs?
There are two forms of demodectic Firm:
- Localized demodectic mange
- Generalized demodectic mange
Localized demodectic mange cause small circular areas of hair loss. There can be only one area or may have several bald patches on the skin of the dog. These areas of hair loss is usually itching, the dog with demodectic mange affected unless they have been infected by bacteria.
Generalized demodectic mange is a skin disease more common, often with lesions covering most of the body. Usually, a secondary bacterial infection is also present, resulting in a dog that is very itchy and uncomfortable. An infected dog with generalized demodectic mange may have a flow that contains blood or pus from infected skin areas. The skin layer is generally crisp, dry and full of scabs and crusts. It is also often a strong smell of the skin of these dogs.
“I’ve got a dog who is about 6 years old and my vet says she has mange! She gave us medicine and pills, and they don’t seem to be helping! Please help me!
It can take awhile to get rid of demodectic mange, because it’s caused by a mite that’s commonly on the dog’s skin anyway. It only turns into demodectic mange because of a weak immune system, or is inherited from the dog’s parents.
There are some things you can do to help: Use an anti itch shampoo or one with soothing oatmeal. Feed the dog a high quality pet store brand dog food, such as Nutro Natural Choice, or Wellness brand. It might help to add immune supporting supplements to the dog’s diet.
If you are not happy with the treatment supplied by your vet, there’s nothing wrong with seeking another vet’s opinion. When my dog had sarcoptic mange, the first vet’s treatment didn’t work, but the second vet’s treatment worked wonderfully.
Hope this helps!”
Mange Treatment In Dogs :
- After the pad is applied with a clean, warm and thoroughly wash the eye once again that the stye does not extend to other areas. Another basic method for treating a stye dogs is to use a wet finger. This can be uncomfortable for the dog, and dangerous because of the possibility of scratching the eye, but if done correctly, it will work.
- In severe cases, dogs may also have difficulty opening the eyes. There are several ways to treat eye infections in dogs, starting with cleaning the eyes with saline. If no improvement after a day or two, an ophthalmic ointment or drops are needed and a visit to the vet.
My dog has demodectic (red) mange. Can someone tell me what this means, treatment wise and long term?
I would prefer to hear from first hand experiences, not internet reseach. I have read a lot in the last hour about it already.
If it is generalized mange (all over) it’s likely this will be a long struggle. All dogs (and people too) have some demodex mites living in their hair follicles. The fact that your dog is reacting to them indicates an immune system weakness. The mites will always be there, because they are normally there. Your dog will not stop reacting to them, but you can sooth his skin and get rid of some of the pain and itchiness, as well as the majority of the mites.
One commonly used treatment is Lyme dips. The dip is a bucket of foul-smelling solution that you would soak a rag in, and then squeeze it out over the dog. It’s like a gentle shower with this chemical concoction. It shouldn’t be painful, but it can take some time and patience. It’s important to get in-between the toes and in the armpits and leg pits, as these areas are particularly succeptible to demodex.
Then the doggy should be patted dry a bit (so he or she isn’t dripping all over) and then air dry.
It may take several weeks of this routine (a dip once a week), but the swelling and redness will go down, and the dog will become more comfortable.
Long-term, living in a clean environment, with regularly-laundered blankets to lay on or no blankets at all, will keep the mites away. When your dog comes inside, their feet should be wiped off, so there is less moisture between the toes. This should help keep the irritation down.
Anti-inflammatory drugs may be beneficial as well.
It’s also important to care for your dog’s general health, because of the immune weakness that the mange implies. Make sure to keep up to date on vaccinations, and use a tick and flea preventative.
I’m sure your vet can help you more, and help you decide on a treatment plan for your dog.
Best of luck to both of you!
Need some advice on fighting Demodectic Mange?
I adopted a rescue puppy and she’s about 5 months old now. The poor creature is suffering from a mange breakout. Does anyone have any advice on curing this itchy and unsightly condition?
the vet should give you mitaban dip which you should do regularly. also,please get her spayed if she is not because it is a genetic thing.be prepared to spend alot of money on vet bills.thank you for taking in a special needs pet. good luck!
Are there pills for mange?
A while back we took in a stray puppy and found it a good home. The puppy was with us for about 3 weeks, and we found out at the vet that she had mange. We treated her and my 2 dogs and found her a good home. Now, I am STILL battling the mange on my dogs. We have been dipping them once a week in a lime sulfur solution the vet prescribed. It smells horrible, and worse, it doesn’t seem to be working. It helps for a while, but soon they’re itching again. One of the dogs, Harry, is a St. Bernard mix, and I think part of the problem is that we were having a hard time penetrating his coat, so we clipped him. Now I just have an itching, scratching, hairless St. Bernard.
I’m worn out with this. My dogs are miserable, my house stinks, Harry is humiliated and bald, and I’m sick of going through this process every week. Is there an easier way to handle the mange? I’m going back to the vet again this week, and I’m wondering if there IS an easier way to handle it, why he didn’t mention it in the first place. He tries to start with the least expensive treatment, so that may be why, but at this point I would pay more to have this over with!
What kind of mange is it? For both sarcoptes and demodex, a product called ivermectin can be used. It isn’t a pill but a liquid. Ivermectin must be carefully used in any herding breed like collies, shelties, aussies, etc. or neurological problems can result. Lime-sulfur really doesn’t have any insecticidal properties although it works well for secondary bacterial and fungal diseases. Mites are killed by using an insecticidal product. Anymore most vets use an ivermectin product unless it’s a collie, sheltie, aussie, etc. So talk to your vet.
Find Mange Cure here.
Is Canine Frontline Combo effective in treating sarcoptic mange?
I am not sure if my Bernese mountain dog, STARDUST, has fleas or sarcoptic mange. So I was going to treat her sudden constant scratching at her elbows, ears and neck with FRONTLINE COMBO. But I can’t find any information on pack about whether it is any good for the treatment of sarcoptic mange. Anyone out there know if it is? Of course I will go to the vet but just wanted to try to immediately ease her obvious itching. Any help gratefully received. Love Robbie and itchy Stardust x x
take your dog to the vet to get a proper diagnosis and proper treatment
sarcoptic mange mites?
My friends dog has sarcoptic mange Mites but he can’t afford a vet. The dog looks bad. I can’t afford one either… Is there something I can use to help this dog? We know its mange mites we have been looking at all the systems online. There are allot of products out there but what one will work… Motor oil didn’t. Help me help this dog please?!!!
Yes I was told that Motor oil will kill them… I can’t shave the hair off because she doesn’t have any. Mange mites lay eggs under the skin anyways. Shaving her would do no good. I have asked a vet and they want to charge me to come in for testing other wise they do not want to help. Local store do not carry anything for mange mites.
I think I will try more vets and see if there is a payment plan… I can’t see this dog in anymore pain. Thank you all for your help!
Topical treatments DO NOT work for mange mites as the mites live right down in the hair follicles. Some of the spot on treatments (that are absorbed through the skin) such as Revolution will help with scabies.
Ivermectin also is a recognised treatment but shouldn’t be used on collie breeds.
The dog really needs to see a vet as skin scrapings should be done to check whether it is sarcoptic or demodectic mange mites that are on the dog.
Learn more about Sarcoptic Mange and Treatment.
our new puppy has saracoptic mange-he has been dipped once with paramite dip-should we use revolution instead?
we cannot bring him home because we have other dogs…will revolution make him not contagious in 24 hours?
Revoluation is not for mange. Its for heartworm and fleas
Will my dogs hair grow back after treatment for mange?
My dog has a few bald spots on his body. He is going to get treatment for mange but I was wondering if he will have those bald spots permanently.
This is our first dog and he has always scratched from day one. We have been giving him flea medication also from day one. He started with 2 small bald spots on his leg and we thought he might have scraped himself while playing in the yard. However, more spots started to appear and we finally took him to the vet.
My understanding is that his hair will grow back with time and healing. I’ve heard of some really bad cases where pets have lost 50% or more of their hair, and have had a full recovery, but it will take time… sometimes weeks or months depending on how bad the loss is.
I’d like to ask you a question in return, if you dont mind…
What was the very first sign you noticed, that your dog had mange?
I’m actually researching this very issue, as my little chihuahua has had a horrible case of the ‘itchies’ for over a week now, but NO other signs. No hair loss, no sores, no rash. But definitely intense itching. So much so, that she’s waking me up at night. I’m so sad for her, and I’ve already treated her with Revolution, but no relief. She just keeps scratching and biting at her hind-quarters. Thank goodness… not so bad to make herself bleed.
Learn more about Mange.
Should demodectic mange be treated immediately?
Thank you PekeGirl!
I suspect that my dog may have it since he’s been scratching heavily around one eye to the point where it’s scabby and hairless. I made an appointment with the vet and will be heading there tmrw, but I’ve been reading about how most cases of localized demodectic mange clear up on their own. I’ve also been reading about how the irritation could also be due to a food allergy. Anyone have any experience with this particular symptom (scabs around eye)?
he’s almost two and a shepherd mix…
i work at a shelter and I see tons of dogs that come in with demodex. localized mange does seems to clear up easily but when it starts to scab, it does need to be treated. there is actually a flea medicine that your vet can give you that is also used for this type of mange. It’s called promeris. ask your vet about it, because it is a great product. we use it on every cat and dog we get in. hope that helps!
is there a homeopathic treatment for scarcoptic mange?
RACENTLY AQUIRED TWO 6 WEEK OLD PUPPIES .ARRIVING HOME FROM MISS. I NOTICED REDNESS ,RASH(BUMPS LIKE FLEA OR BUG BITES )TOOK THEM TO THE VET AND THEY WERE DIAGNOSED WITH SCARCOPTIC MANGE AND NOW I HAVE ON MY LEFT ARM ,ARMPIT AREA ANDUPPER TORSO FROM HOLDING THEM
Go to a human doctor, NOW. Mange is not something you want to screw around with.
Mange is caused by burrowing mites, which are essentially microscopic spiders that live in your skin. Their movements and their droppings cause an immune response, making the skin swell and itch. As they multiply, the affected areas spread.
According to Wikipedia, twice weekly “sulfurated lime rinses” are an effective treatment. There are also a few effective topical and internal drugs like Ivermectin.
Mange is itchy and painful, and it spreads, as you’re probably finding out right now. It won’t go away on its own. Get effective treatment for you and your dogs. If you find a homeopathic remedy that works, great, but it’s not fair to the dogs to make them endure the mites when working drugs are available.
Get more facts on sarcoptic mange and home treatment.
