How to Wash a Dog with Mange
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Introduction
Mange is caused by mites, which are tiny arachnoid parasites. There are two types of mange found in dogs: demodectic, which is not contagious to humans and causes less severe symptoms, and sarcoptic, which is contagious to humans and causes more intense itching and hair loss. Mange occurs when these parasitic mites burrow into your dog's skin and take up residence in skin pores and hair follicles.
Once embedded, they secrete a substance that forms a barrier protecting them inside your dog's skin. Topical medications to treat mites will only work if the medication can come in contact with the mites. Bathing your dog with medicated shampoo to open up the pores and expose the mites, so you can treat them with topical medications and dips, is required to get rid of these nasty little bugs. Bathing may also provide some relief from the symptoms of mange by removing the scaliness and greasiness that accompanies mite infestation and soothing irritated skin.
Dog's Perspective
Mange is itchy and irritating to your dog's skin. Not only will your dog's skin be uncomfortable, but where bald patches have occurred, it will be especially sensitive, and even downright painful, especially if secondary infections have occurred. Be gentle when applying shampoos and handling your dog so as not to cause further discomfort. Giving out bribes is always appreciated by food motivated canines as a treat for tolerating bathing itchy skin.
Treat your dog to a premium grooming service once they're all better. Book a Grooming service with a Pet Caregiver near you!
The Demodectic Mange Remedies Method
The Medicated Bathing Method
Caution & Considerations
- If your dog has mange, make sure you know what type you are treating. Sarcoptic mange is more serious, requires medication, and can be contagious to humans. Get a skin scraping from a veterinarian to diagnose mange.
- You can use soothing shampoos on irritated skin, but be careful not to wash off medications. Make sure you bathe your dog before applying medications or wait a suitable time after using topical medication.
- Be sure to identify and treat secondary skin infections, which may need veterinary care.
- When washing a dog with mange, be sure to protect their eyes, mouth, and ears from medications. You will, however, need to treat the face area in many cases, so apply with a cloth and be careful when shampooing and rinsing.
- Wear protective clothing when washing a dog with sarcoptic mange.
Conclusion
Mange is unpleasant for your dog, and besides being irritating, creates sores that can secrete messy substances and form crusts and scabs. To successfully treat mange you need to be able to apply medications to the infecting parasites, which can be a challenge if they are burrowed in the skin. Aggressive washing with very warm water, medicated shampoos, and a little elbow grease are necessary to bring debris and mites to the surface of the skin, where they can be treated and washed away.
There are several commercial shampoos and medications available for successful treatment of mange, containing benzoyl peroxide. Some home remedies can also help with combating these pests. Remember, some mange can be contagious to humans; be sure you know what you are dealing with and take precautions.
After your dog has recovered from mange, they deserve to be pampered (and you a break). Don't hesitate to book a Grooming service with a Pet Caregiver near you!
Success Stories and Grooming Questions
Grooming Questions & Answers
Finn
Have been washing with flea and tick shampoo by Hartz. What is a good rinse to help ease discomfort, but still help kill the critters, I can probably make any mixtures if you know of a diy kind. Haven't seen any rinse at pet store.
I did find a spray on solution for hot spots. Is that good for this purpose?
How often should I wash and reapply the rinse or spray.I want to help him heal, but not sure how often to do this without making him irritated.
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Hi Djanae! A major concern with mange is the risk of secondary infection. Additionally, some types of mange can be contagious (even to you)! Because of this, I would see a veterinarian to get a definitive diagnosis for Finn. The vet will be able to prescribe the right treatment that will not only eliminate the mange but provide relief for the discomfort that you are rightly concerned about. The vet can also tell you what to use to clean your house to guard against reinfection. This should put you on the right track to Finn's recovery. Good luck!
Sweetie has a really awful case of mange, her skin is thick and raw and even her paws are thick and hairless and inflamed. She has had this mange for years. The Vet has said she has mange but has not done a scraping, however Sweetie shares her home with three other dogs and also people and none of the dogs or people are having any mite or mange problems other than Sweetie. I think this means she has the demodectic mange, would this assumption be correct?. Can I treat this with just medicated shampoo or do I also need to use a dip? I really want to help this girl, she has been suffering for a long time. Please any other advice for specific products would help as well. Thank you.
My puppy is being treated for demodectic mange. Skin is dry now and very flaky. Can I bathe her in baby oatmeal shampoo?
I'm afraid my dogs have mange. I cannot afford to take them to the vet at this time. They have sores all over them and it's getting worse by the day. I cry myself to sleep every night because I cant help them. I have started giving them a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in can food daily and coating their spots with coconut oil every night. They lick alot of it off though. Please help me. I love my babies and this is killing me.
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Thank you for the question. I am sorry to hear that your dogs may have mange. The fact that it is getting worse by the day means it could lead to a secondary infection. Mange is contagious and without a vet's prescription and instructions on how to eradicate the parasites from your home, the situation may perpetuate. Mange sores can become painful for Butter and Codee. Call your vet and explain your finances. Vets are there to help and may be able to offer a discount and a payment plan so that your dogs can be relieved of the parasite. Good luck and I hope this gets resolved quickly.
@Naturally R.
I absolutely LOVE your entire comment, personality, empathy, sympathy, and LOVE for others, you are me...literally, I wish there were more bright lights in the world, especially in these dsrk, uncertain times! I love you fellow citizen of the world, don't ever change! God bless you😇
How awesome thank you so much for sharing allll of that information. I have been suffering with my dog for a while even took him to the vet that I couldn't afford and still got no answers. What you said at the end, I just want to high five you. They could not be more right if you know the answer then tell it. That really says something about a person if they withhold info that should be shared because humans and animals are suffering in pain and why didn't they help if they could have? SMH. What you wrote is beautifully put and made my heart jump. I wish everyone was this wise but unfortunately we live in the land of dumb and dumber. Personally that's how I feel. Thank you again
How awesome thank you so much for sharing allll of that information. I have been suffering with my dog for a while even took him to the vet that I couldn't afford and still got no answers. What you said at the end, I just want to high five you. They could not be more right if you know the answer then tell it. That really says something about a person if they withhold info that should be shared because humans and animals are suffering in pain and why didn't they help if they could have? SMH. What you wrote is beautifully put and made my heart jump. I wish everyone was this wise but unfortunately we live in the land of dumb and dumber. Personally that's how I feel. Thank you again
@Naturally R.
You light and energy and HUMANITY are all beautiful and a breath of fresh air. In a world full of people that would rather step on their neighbors, family, friends, communities to get an inch farther ahead, YOU are truly a beacon. Thank you for being who you are and helpful. THAT is how, I believe, people were intended to be...helping our neighbors. Without expecting anything in return! Non-judgemental!!
Thank you. You've made my heart smile today!!
@Naturally R.
You light and energy and HUMANITY are all beautiful and a breath of fresh air. In a world full of people that would rather step on their neighbors, family, friends, communities to get an inch farther ahead, YOU are truly a beacon. Thank you for being who you are and helpful. THAT is how, I believe, people were intended to be...helping our neighbors. Without expecting anything in return! Non-judgemental!!
Thank you. You've made my heart smile today!!
Is this the mang an what is safe to use on the babies
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Hello Tiffany, your pictures did not work but either way, you cannot try to treat a skin condition of any kind by yourself, without a vet's intervention, when dealing with 2 week old puppies. The products used for skin conditions can be very strong and using them on puppies can be harmful and dangerous. Consult your vet - they can do what is best for the little pups. I hope all goes well!
Solo got out of our yard last Friday (05/17/2019) and thankfully returned last night but we noticed these patches above his neck. Is this mange? If so can you tell what kind?
We unfortunately can't afford the tests at this time but want to act quickly.
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Hi Crystal, It is hard to form a diagnosis from a photo and being a groomer as opposed to vet, I would not want to say without having the knowledge. I do know that mange can spread quickly and the expense of clearing it up at a later stage would be more expensive than it would be at the start of the infection. I think seeing the vet is important, especially since you don't know what Solo was up to while missing. Good luck!
I brought my puppy home to find out a couple weeks later he has sarcoptic mange, poor guy itches like crazy. The vet ordered medicine but in the mean time when waiting for it to be delivered what can I do to help him? Also can I brush out the flaky stuff in his fur?
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Thank you for your question. I am sorry to hear that Scruff has sarcoptic mange. Not being a vet, I do not know what you can use to stop the itch. I would call the vet and ask the same question - they will recommend a product to use until the medicine arrives. Sarcoptic mange is very contagious to other animals and humans so be careful to not spread the flakes around the house. As well, when you talk to the vet, get advice on how to sanitize the house as you work to get rid of the mange. I hope this helps and I wish you and Scruff the best, and a speedy recovery.
Scarp mange, treatment done, will groomer groom to help clean, manage and sooth?
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Hello. Thank you for the question. Whether Blue can go to the grooming salon will depend on the individual groomer, but because mange is contagious, the groomer may require a clean bill of health from the veterinarian. You can also ask your vet for a suggestion of how to soothe the skin. A prescribed medicine will be most effective and safe if the skin is irritated at all. Good luck to Blue!
I know it is best said to take to a vet, however SOMETIMES some simply can NOT! Knowing there is STILL ways to help and not saying doesn't feel right to me. here are some ways to help a dog with mange in both types.... bath in a peroxide and borax mix with a coconut based shampoo. keep your home vacuumed daily and the dogs bedding washed in hot borax. mix water and apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle and spray them twice a day. do this for a few weeks until they are better then go to biweekly then bimonthly then once a month always. another you can try is to go to a fed store and buy lime sulfur dip it smells like a horrible fart! though it goes away within a day wash dog with a perioxide shampoo followed by this dip. do not let them lick it until they drip dry. hence do not towel dry. wear gloves or your hands will need to be bleached it stains yellow so let them dry outside. the staining though does eventually wash away. use the dip 2 to three times a week for one week follow up next week by either one time or fully repeat depends on how your dog is. then I say once a month. and lastly and I know it works for sure in red mange ( on a boxer ) is the cattle liquid ivermectin for cows! google will give dose. we use it by 1cc per 100lbs or 1/10th cc for every 10 lbs this is for product ivomec 1% cattle it's in a brown and white box labeled for cattle injection. you do NoT injected just use a syringe with no needle and give orally the syringe type is measured in CC's you can get at a pharmacy used by diabetics too if feed store won't sell you one. I wouldn't tell them it's for my dog some get funny as it's use is off label for dogs. google mange in dogs the treatment dose using cattle and swine ivomec 1% it's daily where you work upto to their full dose by weight and then you ween off and then use once a month. it WORKS but educate yourself first. I learned from a farm vet. Sometimes people simply can't afford to take their loved pet to a vet. I get it unfortunately I am one myself. Doesn't mean you can't heal your pet! When their is a will, there IS a way and it's called for the love of all communicate and share with those what you hold. The choice then is for one own self to make. Do not judge for right and wrong depend on the other just to be they are none the less equal in their value your OPINION of which is good and therefore right for YOU may not be the best for me. in fact it may be the exact opposite! it's just the facts one should simply Accept! focus on center! life in true form is RaW I didn't create it but the balance is perfect when once lives by the facts and focus on the center that bridges the gaps and check it out it's the letter A in RAW right Accompanies Wrong ALways life isn't about you nor you and I it's simply about ALL when you remove your self out out the way and think in the proper order in perspective as it is given we are given the way to what's left "I" "m" removed which blocks the way to what is given in where all things are truly made to be possible! life isn't a competition a race nor is it to be judged you can't judge unique! our tool is free it's called communication. it's not religion it's our freedom of choice and the way is building a personal bond my friend! wise but none the wiser listen learn ask and receive. an understanding is what one needs to feed their own seed. Life is given to one and each of us are looking for our own way to survive. To deny and be greedy makes hell on earth when all we have to do is share and accept the facts that's how we gain peace which is Heaven and we all could be living that way right now here on earth! Time gives our ability to change but the change is only giving the ability to the one self which is simply you. I hope before my time ends I too can live with all in Heaven on earth. Time will tell it always does I'm willing to accept and use my time wisely to change are you?