Archive for February, 2012

How can I get rid of my dogs red mange with out costing a lot,home type medications.Thanks?

What is mange?

demodectic mangeMange is a rather common disease in household pets.
Dogs are primarily susceptible to two forms of mange, Demodectic mange (red mange) and Sarcoptic mange. Demodectic mange is generally seen in dogs less than two years of age. These mange mites are passed to puppy’s skin from their mothers. Demodectic mange mites live in the hair and oil (sebaceous) follicles of the skin. The first signs of this disease are patchy areas of hair loss about the head and forelegs, which do not itch and do not appear inflamed. These areas may spontaneously resolve or become larger until a large area of the pet’s skin is involved. It is considerably rarer in cats. A few of these parasites are present in the skin of many or all normal dogs. However dogs which develop disease have a defect in their immune system (T-cell defect) and can not keep the number of mites under control. The only product approved for use on Demodectic mange in the United States is amitraz (Mitaban). This concentrated liquid is diluted to a dip and the entire animal is immersed and scrubbed in the solution every two weeks until no living parasites can be seen under a microscope. A compound named benzyl benzoate cream was once used to treat small areas of infection. It is no longer believed to be effective. I will sometimes mix a 10% solution of Amitraz in propylene glycol and have the owner first cleanse and then massage this solution into isolated lesions. I have had good success in curing small areas of Demodectic mange in this way.

The effectiveness of treatment is hard to evaluate because small lesions often go away by themselves. Shar Pei dogs are notorious for their susceptibility to Demodectic mange. When amitraz (Mitaban) dips fail to halt the infection, I have had good success in placing these dogs on daily oral ivermectin. This product is sold as Ivomec 1% and the dose I use is 1ml (cc or approximately 15-20 drops) per110 lbs body weight. This comes out to 200 mcg/kg of body weight. Ivermectin may take up to a year to completely cure the dog. In severe cases, secondary bacterial skin infection is severe and subcutaneous lymph nodes enlarge with mites present in these nodes.

The second common form of mange in dogs, other pets (and wild animals) is Sarcoptic mange. This microscopic spider-like mite burrows through the layers of the skin causing an intense itch and streaks of reddened skin. After a month or so the skin becomes very crusty. It is spread from one mature dog to another by contact or by contact with objects the infected dog has touched. Humans in contact with these pets will often begin to itch too. This disease in man was once called the seven year itch. It is the disease that back-woods folk and farmers used to cure by rubbing the dog with burnt motor oil. Do not attempt this! The gentlest way of curing this disease (but the smelliest way) in all species of animals is with lime sulfur dips. Oral or injectable ivermectin cures the disease very well too. However, Ivermectin can be toxic in cats. Besides dogs, I see this disease in cats, hedgehog’s raccoons and squirrels.

A third form of mange, psoroptic mange, I see most often in rabbit ears and the area surrounding the ears. All ear-mite medicines cure this disease but the ears often need a soothing antibiotic corticosteroids cream for a week or two to heal.

Forms of Mange

A form of mange that I see in budgerigars (parakeets) and canaries is knemidocoptic mange. It affects their legs, the base of the beak and their vents. The skin in these areas is thickened and flaky. It mange in dogs - sarcoptic mangeresponds very well to ivermectin or oily topical products containing rotenone (derris root & cube resin) such as Goodwinol. Goodwinol is difficult to obtain these days, but the active ingredient, rotenone, can be purchased as an organic rose and vegetable insecticide and mixed with margarine.

The reason most mange can be treated with any non-toxic oily product is that mange mites, being arachnids, breathe through openings (sphericals) along their body. Any substance which plugs up these pores kills the mites. The exception is Demodectic mites which live so deeply within hair follicles that oily substances do not seem to affect them.

Best Mange Treatment

Pets’BestRx Sarcoptic Mange Treatment Spray targets and eliminates Sarcoptic mange, while Sulfinex Cream provides additional protection to nourish and heal the skin. The colloid-based Sarcoptic Mange Treatment Spray solution penetrates deeply into your pet’s skin to attack Sarcoptic mange-affected skin. This provides your pet with soothing relief; great even for Sarcoptic mange in smaller animals such as birds, rodents, and reptiles. Give your pet a double dose of protection!

-How can I get rid of my dogs red mange with out costing a lot,home type medications.Thanks?-


my puppy has sarcoptic mange. how long before I can let her play with me and my daughter and other dog?

She is on an oral dose every week for four weeks. Right now she is in her crate, and not a very happy puppy. I dont want to get it or my daughter or other dog. So I will keep her in there. But how often do we have to wash bedding, etc.???
She is on the iv (Sp? oral dosage). I dont let her on my daughter’s bed or mine. I washed her bedding in her crate tonight and wondered if i needed to do that every day? Also, my other dog was checked today and he didnt show signs of it, but they put him on meds to be safe. The poor baby looks at me so sad wondering why we cant play…. she goes back in 4 weeks for a recheck. She hasnt lost any hair yet. They found it in scabs on the tip of her ears.

We dont Treat Oraly at our Shelter…Hmmmmm.I imagine They are treating with Ivomec.We generly Dip or use Revolution..In those cases I feel Safe letting them be with other dogs and taking off my gloves after a week.If You and your Kid get this Its Scabies in people..I got it once from a Mangy Dog and it is Hell!How many doses has she had? The Bedding I would Wash as Needed as the Mites dont really spread as much as you think That way.I’m Talking about the Dogs Bedding..If she has been on ya’lls Beds Wash Them All and Dont let her on until theMites are Dead…A For Sure Sign The Mites are Dead are when Hair starts growing back in the places she lost it.At that point She can be treated as Normal!
Good Luck