Home Remedies for Mange in Dogs & Puppies
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Overview
Canine mange is caused by mange mites (e.g. Sarcoptes scabei, Demodex canis).
Mange usually occurs in dogs with weakened immune systems, and can cause a lot of discomfort to dogs, such as intense itching, skin lesions, and hair loss.
Conventional treatment for this dog skin infection is usually the use of some strong chemicals, which very often will weaken our dog's immune system further.
Using natural home remedies for mange, on the other hand, can enhance our dog's immune system, so that the body can fight off the mange mite infection by itself. At the same time, natural remedies such as nutritious foods, herbs and other supplements can be used to treat the skin problem topically.
Diet and Supplements for Dogs with Mange
A Healthy Diet
The first and best thing to do to enhance a dog's immune system is to feed him a natural, well-balanced, nutritious diet.
If you haven't already done so, now is the time to change your dog's diet to a raw food diet, or a home-cooked diet, or an ultra premium dog food with human-grade ingredients and without artificial colorings, flavors, and preservatives.
Vitamins and Supplements
Treating mange in dogs naturally also includes dietary supplements that are beneficial to a dog's skin. These supplements can help relieve your dog's itch and improve his skin conditions.
Here are some essential supplements that you should give your dog:
- Vitamin E (5-10 mg/lb daily)
- Vitamin C (10 mg/lb, 2-3 times a day)
- Salmon oil (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoonful per 10 pounds, 1-2 times daily). Fish oil such as salmon oil provides Omega-3 fatty acids and can be very effective in soothing itchy skin.
An Excellent Supplement for Dog Skin Health
This supplement contains a good combination of borage oil, flaxseed oil, fish oil, and Vitamin E. It is effective in strengthening and maintaining skin health in dogs. You will be surprised at the fast improvement in your's dog coat condition after using this supplement.
Topical Herbal Remedies for Mange
Herbs that have natural antibacterial, antiseptic, and wound-healing properties can be used to help dogs with mange.
Use a natural doggie shampoo that contains tea tree oil to wash your dog.
Tea tree oil is a potent essential oil that is highly antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal, and is excellent in eliminating bacteria and other microorganisms (such as mange mites) that can cause skin problems to your dog.
(A word of caution: Some dogs, especially small dogs, may develop adverse reactions towards Tea Tree oil. Watch your dog carefully when using any products with Tea Tree oil in it for the first time.)
In addition to shampooing, use some of these herbal remedies topically on the skin lesions and itchy spots caused by mange:
Garlic
Garlic contains sulphur compounds which mites dislike. Diluted garlic oil can therefore be used topically to the affected areas.
Since garlic is antibacterial as well, applying garlic oil to the affected areas will have the added benefit of minimizing bacterial infection.
Note that some dogs are sensitive to garlic, and if your dog is one of them, use the herb licorice instead.
Neem and Lavender
One natural treatment for mange in dogs is the use of neem and lavender. Together these two oils can make an effective skin oil blend against mange.
Neem oil has long been used for its ability to repel pests such as fleas, ticks, mites, and so on. Neem oil also has skin healing properties that are good for skin infections.
Lavender essential oil is antiseptic, antibacterial and antiviral, and is mild enough to use even on small dogs.
To make a skin oil blend for mange, you need:
- 3 drops Lavender essential oil
- 3 drops Neem oil
- 30 ml (1 oz) Sweet Almond oil
Use this oil blend to apply to affected areas once or twice daily.
Yarrow
Yarrow is excellent in wound healing. It stops the bleeding from oozing wounds. Yarrow oil, salve, or ointment can be applied to the affected areas.
Other herbs
Other herbs that are effective against mange include
- Echinacea, which is an immune-booster and has antibacterial properties;
- Calendula, which is an excellent wound healer;
- Aloe Vera, which is antibacterial and has a soothing effect on itchy and irritated skin.
Internal Herbal Remedies for Dogs with Mange
While we can use home remedies topically to heal the skin lesions and infections brought on by mange, we should also at the same time support the dog's immune system as well as vital systems of detoxification (e.g. the liver, the skin).
Here is an excellent herbal immune-booster and detox tonic that can be used to enhance your dog's immune and detoxification systems:
This herbal supplement contains a lot of useful herbs, such as:
- Burdock root: This herb is a blood cleanser and detoxifier. It is also good for dry, flaky, scaly skin.
- Nettle: This herb is well known for its properties as a blood tonic. It supports the skin, the lungs, and the urinary tract.
- Red Clover: Red clover is another blood purifier and immune-enhancer.
- Blessed Thistle: This herb has cleansing and detoxification properties. It is also an antioxidant and supports cell regeneration.
- Slippery Elm: This herb is also an antioxidant and can soothe the digestive tract and absorb toxins.
- Sheep Sorrel: This herb is high in vitamin C and minerals, and can support the immune system and digestive tract. It also has detoxification function.
All in all, this is an excellent herbal supplement that can greatly help dogs to detox as well as those whose immune systems are weakened or compromised.
A Homeopathic Remedy for Mange
If your dog's mange is causing a lot of itching and discomfort, use this homeopathic remedy to quickly reduce the skin irritations:
This remedy is to be given orally, and it helps to relieve itching and pain caused by skin issues, such as mange, hives, eczema, and other skin eruptions.
References
C.J. Puotinen, Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats (Keats Publishing, 1999).
M.L. Wulff-Tilford and G.L. Tilford, Herbs for Pets (Bowtie Press, 1999).
R.H. Pitcairn, The Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (Rodale, 2005).
