Free Cures for Mange

Mange is a skin condition that occurs in many animals, most commonly dogs and cats; it is caused by mites. There are three types of mange: sarcoptic, demodectic, and ear.

The female mite that causes sarcoptic mange burrows under the skin to lay eggs. The symptoms include red spots, scabs, thickening and wrinkling of skin, and hair loss.

Demodectic mange mites live in the animal's hair follicles. Symptoms include bald spots, severe itching, and an an extremely bad odor.

Ear mange mites live in the ear canal of affected animals and feed on skin cells. This can lead to the development of a dark waxy substance, a strong odor, severe itching and irritation.

  1. Prevention

    • The most cost effective fix for mange is prevention. Do not expose your animal to infected animals. Keep your pet healthy and clean with regular feedings of good quality food, by maintaining adequate supplies of water, de-worming it regularly, and keeping it groomed.

      Prevent an ear mite infection by regularly cleaning your dog's or cat's ears with a warm, damp cloth. If your dog grows hair in its ears, you may need to periodically pull out the hair according to a groomer's directions.

    Ear Mange

    • While there are over the counter treatments and prescription treatments for ear mites and mange, a very simple and cost effective treatment involves placing several drops of mineral oil into your pet's affected ear daily. Then massage the affected ear for about 30 seconds. Do not reach deep into the ear with the dropper. On alternating days, wipe out the resulting matter with a damp cloth. Repeat until symptoms abate.

    Sarcoptic and Demodectic Mange

    • In a bucket, combine 2 cups hydrogen peroxide (3 percent) with four cups of water. Add 8 tbsp. of borax. Stir until dissolved. Wash and rinse your pet with your shampoo of choice. While the coat is still wet, sponge on the peroxide/borax mix. Let your pet air dry. Watch your animal carefully to prevent it from licking off this solution. Repeat this procedure every several days until the condition clears.

      To eliminate mites in areas where they might breed, wash your floors with a mild borax solution. As a note of caution, be careful not to confuse boric acid with borax; only use borax.