The 5 Ways to Treat, And Get Rid of Mange in Dog’s

If you’ve just been told that your dog has mange, you likely have questions about what lies ahead. Mange in dogs can cause serious fur loss and skin irritation. It can even affect the other pets and people in your home. With the potential to impact the whole family, it’s important to act on your dog’s mange as quickly as possible. We want you to have all the tools needed to treat mange in your dog. We discuss the five most effective ways to treat mange below. Let’s get started!

What Is Mange in Dogs?

Before we dive into the nitty gritty, we should first discuss the details of mange. The term mange refers to a skin disease in dogs that is caused by some form of mite. These mites often destroy the hair follicles and irritate the skin, often leading to an array of irritating skin symptoms. Mange can be caused by many different types of skin mites. However, there are two main forms of mange that impact dogs.

Are There Different Types of Mange in Dogs?

As we mentioned above, there are two main forms of mange that we often see in our canine friends. Let’s break down each type of mange below.

Sarcoptic Mange: Sarcoptic mange, commonly known as scabies, is a highly contagious form of mange. A tiny mite named Sarcoptes scabiei is responsible for this irritation skin condition. Unfortunately, it can easily pass from dog to dog. Once it finds a canine host, the mite will burrow into skin and lay eggs. This will cause a cycle of hair loss, itching, crusting, and infections. Sarcoptic mange can also spread to humans, but it does not thrive well on people.

Demodex Mange: Demodex mange is caused by a tiny skin mite named Demodex canis. Unlike sarcoptic mange, the Demodex mite is a normal part of the skin’s flora. When it exists in small amounts on the skin, there are no complications. However, if the dog has a compromised immune system, the Demodex mite can multiply, leading to a case of Demodex mange. Because it is a mite that always exists on the dog’s skin, it is not contagious to humans.

Common Signs & Symptoms of Mange in Dogs

You can only seek proper care for your dog if you know an issue is present. For this reason, you should have an idea of the symptoms to be on the lookout for! Let’s break down the most common signs of mange in dogs:

Sarcoptic Mange

• Severe itchiness
• Skin redness
• Crusting of the skin
• Wounds on the skin
• Fur loss
• Thickening of the skin
• Bacterial or yeast infections on the skin
• Lymph node swelling

Demodex Mange:

• Patches of fur loss
• Skin redness
• Dry skin and flaking
• Skin inflammation

If you notice any of the above symptoms, we suggest having your pup assessed by your vet. It is possible that he could be suffering from a case of mange.

How Do I Know If My Dog Has Mange?

If you think your dog could have a case of mange, then it’s time to take your pup to the vet for a skin scraping. A skin scraping involves scraping small portions of your dog’s skin and plucking pieces of fur, allowing your vet team to look at these samples under the microscope for the presence of skin mites. Skin mites are not visible with the naked eye, so the only way to spot them is with the use of a microscope.

Not only will your veterinarian need to spot their skin mites on the microscope, but they will also need to determine which form of mange your dog has. This is not only important for their treatment moving forward, but it is essential in letting you know if your canine friend is contagious to other dogs or people in your home.

5 Ways to Treat Mange in Dogs

Now that you understand the details of the different types of mange, it’s time to dive into the most effective treatment methods. Ranging from oral meds to diligent cleaning, let’s discuss it all.

Bravecto: One of the most common ways to treat mange is through the use of an oral flea and tick prevention called Bravecto. It was created to combat itchy fleas and ticks. However, it has also proven to be effective in treating both Sarcoptic and Demodex mange in dogs. As long as you give it to your pooch once every three months, mange control is often successful. However, it can take up to six weeks for pet parents to see a noticeable improvement of their fur loss. Just keep in mind that you can only get Bravecto with a veterinary prescription.

Topical treatments: If your dog has a localized case of mange (only a small part of their body is affected), then some vets will prescribe topical ointments that contain mange fighting ingredients. These medications often include ingredients like selamectin or imidacloprid-moxidectin, and they are effective when tackling localized cases of mange.

Medicated Baths & Dips: With how effective oral and topical medications prove to be, not many vets rely on the use of medicated baths and dips for mange in dogs. However, in some severe cases, your vet will still suggest exploring this treatment method. Generally, owners will have to give their dog a bath once weekly in a medicated shampoo. Some vets will insist on bathing your dog in their clinic because the ingredients of the shampoo can be toxic if not handled appropriately.

Treat Any Secondary Skin Infections: If your dog has developed any secondary skin infections due to mange, then your vet will need to treat their skin infections with antibiotics. Most pups respond quickly to the use of oral antibiotics in this case. If their skin inflammation is severe, your vet may also prescribe steroids.

Clean The Environment: If your dog has mange, then you will need to be diligent about cleaning their bedding throughout their treatment. Cleaning their bedding and any commonly used blankets with hot water will help to prevent them from reinfecting themselves with any Sarcoptic mites that still exist on the material.

Can Mange Come Back in Dogs?

If you are currently treating your dog for mange, then you may wonder if there is any chance of their skin mites coming back. We want your pup to stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible, so let’s list a few tips that can help to banish these itchy critters for good.

• Maintain the use of Bravecto every three months or keep your dog on an approved flea and tick prevention (as long as your vet approves).
• Limit any stress in your dog’s life, as stress can compromise their immune system.
• Be diligent with cleaning their bedding so they do not reinfect themselves at any point.
• Keep them away from any unfamiliar pups, especially those with unknown skin conditions.

Most dogs will make a full recovery with mange treatment, but be sure to ask your vet if there are any extra precautions they think you should take.

Final Thoughts

Nobody wants to learn that their canine friend has mange. But thankfully, it is easy to treat these mites. Be sure to review the information we discussed above about treating mange in dogs, and you can have the tools needed to get your pup through this rough patch!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/adogslifephoto