My dog has mange. Can home remedies help or should I see a vet?

Hi and thanks for your post. Demodex mite infection can be occur in younger dogs and may spontaneously resolve as their immune system becomes more mature. Demodex mange is not typically itchy but sarcoptic mange is. The area of hair loss around the eye in the picture does look suspicious of demodex mange but you will want to get this confirmed with your veterinarian first. A skin test in needed to accurately diagnosis demodex manage in dogs. If it is demodex, unfortunately, there is nothing over the counter at tractor supply you can purchase for this. You veterinarian may give you a prescription medication for the mange if necessary. Either types of manage (demodex or sarcoptic) typically is not fatal unless there is a more serious underlying condition at play. Both types are treatable.

It is hard to treat with that extent without seeing a vet. He would need a skin scraping to diagnose it. The best thing at home is a weekly bath in a shampoo that has benzoyl peroxide as the active ingredient as this flushes the hair follicle. A vet can prescribe a monthly or once every 3 month medication to help get the mange under control if that is what they see

Poor Chip! He sounds very uncomfortable :(. Unfortunately, I'm afraid there is really no way around taking him to the vet to get this problem treated - it's certainly possible that he could have mange, but he could also have allergies, fleas, or a bacterial or fungal skin infection. Some simple skin tests will be needed to diagnose the problem first, in order to know how to treat it. Skin issues this severe virtually always require prescription medication to treat effectively, so there are no home remedies that are likely to work. If costs are a concern, you can see if there is a low-cost SPCA clinic in your area that could help. You can also apply online for Care Credit, which is a payment plan accepted by most vet clinics: www.carecredit.com You can try bathing Chip in an aloe and oatmeal dog shampoo in the meantime to help soothe his skin - this will not treat the underlying problem, but may help to make him a bit more comfortable until you are able to see the vet.

There are two types of mange: Sarcoptic and Demodex, both of which have different causes 1) Sarcoptic Mange: This is a mite that can be contagious to other dogs, cats AND people. Dogs get this from direct contact with another infected dog. Dogs with this type of mange can become very itchy with lots of hair loss and red flaky skin. It can be anywhere on the body and spread throughout the body without proper treatment. Diagnosis is via a skin scrape and how well the dog responds to treatment. Treatments range from dips, injections, oral drugs, and topical medications depending on the severity of the mange. 2) Demodex Mange: This is a mite that is normally found on dog's skin but only causes an issue when there is too much of it on the skin. Most dogs with this mange are younger with immature immune systems or dogs that are sick/immunocompromised. This is NOT a contagious mite. Dogs with demodex have patches of hair loss a lot of the time around the head, eyes, ears or it can be all over. Typically the skin underneath is calm and not red. Dogs can or can not be itchy with this mange. However, in severe cases of demodex, dogs can be very itchy and have lots of hair loss. Diagnosis is also made via skin scrape. Treatment is very easy with oral medication, sometimes a dip or ointment depending on the severity. I would recommend visiting your veterinarian to determine the type of mange Toby may have. I would not use Borax or Peroxide directly on his skin as it can irritate it more and make him more itchy. Your veterinarian will be able to provide you a better treatment plan. In the mean time you may consider benadryl. Here are some articles that may be helpful to you: 1) demodex: https://www.petcoach.co/article/demodectic-mange/ 2) sarcoptic mange: https://www.petcoach.co/article/scabies-sarcoptic-mange/ 3) dosing benadryl: https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/benadryl/ Good luck!

Unfortunately not. Mange has to be diagnosed by a vet by looking for the mites under a microscope. It is then treated with prescription medication and the vet will need to ensure the infestation is all clear before discontinuing treatment. It's also best to have a vet evaluate him, because it's possible that Cinnamon could have another condition besides mange.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Birch. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian. There are actually several different types of mange caused by different mites. Each requires a different course of treatment. He will likely need skin scrapes to look for mites under the microscope. There are a variety of other skin problems that can affect young puppies as well. It is important to have him properly diagnosed and treated. I hope this information helps!

It probably is demodectic mange. I suggest you talk to your vet about putting him on Nexgard or Bravecto. Both are oral flea tablets that coincidentally also treat demodex. Easy to do and relatively inexpensive. They are prescription drugs though so you need to get them from your vet. So much easier than all the things you are doing and it works better. Hope this helps. Best wishes.