photo: 23am.com
Note from Kimberly: I wanted to add an image of a dog with mange, but it was just too sad. If you’d like to learn more about the symptoms of mange and curing mange in dogs, read this article at PetMD. Please discuss the following treatments with your veterinarian before administering.
Keep the Tail Wagging cannot diagnose. I am only sharing information – please take that information and discuss your options with your veterinarian.
As a dog owner we should always take care of our dogs. And it also means you should take care of their skin and coat as always. One of the biggest issues concerning the health of the skin of your dog is mange. Mange is one of the most contagious diseases of the skin. It causes a lot of pain and burden to your dog and it includes skin itching, inflammation of skin, hair loss, dehydration, and loss of appetite among other problems. It is caused by the presence of a certain parasite called a mite which goes down into the skin of the dog and sucks blood. A mite is similar to an 8 legged spider except that they are very small. In fact, most mites cannot be seen without the aid of a magnifying glass or microscope. There are differing types of mange, but most varieties occur on puppies while some can affect older dogs as well.
The irritated skin will cause your dog to incessantly bite and scratch themselves thus worsening the damage they do to their skin. That is why it is key to act immediately to avoid the problem from spreading further. If you suspect that your dog might have mites, please do take immediate action. Here are some effective home remedies for mange on dogs.
Borax and Hydrogen – This is considered as one of the most effective home remedies for mange on dogs. All you need to do is add two tablespoons of borax to one percent hydrogen peroxide to water. Allow the borax and hydrogen peroxide to mix well with the water and use it to wash your dog with when taking a bath. But do not wipe your dog after giving them a bath – it is more effective when you leave it to dry on the skin. And also, do not mistake borax from boric acid: these are two entirely different things.
Update by Kimberly Gauthier: in doing more research, I found that many feel that borax is toxic. I wouldn’t recommend the above option without getting approval from your veterinarian.Wash-Rub Method – This is perhaps the simplest way to get rid of the infection that mites do to the skin of your dog. Simply wash your dog thoroughly. In addition, you also need to wash and clean the area where your dog usually stays or sleeps so that you will not further the infection. Just do not overdo it because it is going to hurt the skin of your dog. If your dog has already done considerable damage to their skin you will have to be careful.
Diet – The immune system of your dog plays an important role in protecting your dog against the infection that mites cause on your dog’s skin. When your dog has a weak immune system, they can get a mange infection easier. You always have to ensure that their immune system will be strong. And how can you make sure of that? Simply make their diet a healthy one. You can give your dog some good-quality vitamin supplements for dogs, healthy dog foods, and even fruits like banana and apple. Adding apple cider or apple vinegar to your dog’s meal can also contribute a lot to the immune system of your dog as well cleaning their insides. A healthy diet will also help to prevent many more types of diseases that are common to dogs so preventative medicine is always the best way to go.
Lemon – Lemon is always used for its antibacterial properties, therefore you can use it by simply rubbing some lemon slices gently on the affected area. Or you can simply put some lemon slices in hot water overnight and then apply some mixture over the affected parts. The only problem with this method is while it can be effective it can also be painful if you use it on an area that is really raw and sore.
Update by Kimberly Gauthier: A simple mixture of lemon water can be used to treat the affected area. Thinly slice one whole lemon and add it to one pint of boiling water and allow the mixture to steep overnight. Apply to mange-affected areas of your dog’s skin once a day.The acid in the lemons will kill tiny mites without causing your pet any pain or discomfort.
Read more: Home Remedy for Mange Using Lemon | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5585075_home-remedy-mange-using-lemon.html#ixzz1xdvxjkMj
These are some of the effective home remedies for mange on dogs. Hopefully this helps a lot if you think your dog might have mange (hopefully not). Of course, if the problem persists further, than a trip to the vet is necessary. Most times though, if you catch the mange before it gets too bad, these home remedies will work just fine. The faster you catch it the faster your dog will get relief and you will too.
Written by Alex Fields for Bling Bling Puppy the internet dog store where you can find all sorts of dog beds, toys and other stuff for your dog. Alex has owned many different dogs all of his life and loves to write about them. His current dog is a 7 year old Bichon Frise named Samson.
June 12, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Oh, thank you for your post. That was very informative and useful too. I have seen my Roger(pet dog) usually scratch his body. And this would leave bruises. And when I took his to the doctor they prescribed him some medicines and a cream. Now he feels better. But this home remedy seems to be very cool. Can I mix lemon extract in the water I use for bathing him regularly?
June 12, 2012 at 8:57 pm
I wish I knew Felicia – this was a guest post. I’ll contact the contributor with your question.
Kimberly
Twitter: thefurmom