Home Methods to Cure Mange

Mange can occur in dogs, cats and other pets and is caused by parasitic mites that burrow into the skin. This inflames the animals' hair follicles, leading to excessive itching, redness, irritation and hair loss. Mange falls into three categories: the two infectious types are sarcoptic and notoedric. Demodectic, the only non-infectious mange, is typically seen in dogs and occasionally in cats. Early signs of mange include hair loss around the eyes and ears, the front of the legs and tops of the feet. Many treatments exist; however, a veterinarian may need to take a skin scraping to determine the type of mange an animal has. This leads to the most appropriate treatment.

  1. Neem, Almond Oil and Lavender Rinse

    • For an all-natural mange treatment, you can rinse your dog using a fragrant botanical mixture. Use 1 part lavender oil, 10 parts almond oil and 1 part neem oil, which is derived from a tropical tree in the mahogany family. Apply this rinse to the affected skin areas twice a day to help fight the mange mites effectively. You can also apply the rinse immediately after bathing the dog. These products can typically be found in any homeopathic or health foods store, or on the Internet.

    Hydrogen Peroxide and Borax

    • Mixing a 1 percent hydrogen peroxide solution with water and borax (sodium borate) can also be an effective treatment for mange. Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of borax with every 500 cubic centimeters of hydrogen peroxide. Apply the mixture to the dog's affected areas, being sure not to wipe it off.

    Garlic

    • Garlic contains sulfur, which mange mites do not like. Apply diluted garlic topically to the affected areas. Garlic also works as an antibacterial and will help to fight against any skin infection that may be caused by the mites' burrowing or the dog's excessive scratching. Use licorice if your dog is extra sensitive to garlic.

    Cooking Oil

    • Cooking oil helps to soften the waxy buildup left behind by the mange mites while killing the parasitic nuisances at the same time. Apply a few drops of cooking oil directly to the affected areas to give the animal some soothing relief. Olive oil is particularly gentle; it also has skin-nourishing properties.

    Warm Soapy Water

    • Applying a few drops of lukewarm soapy water can help wash away the mites from the dog's skin, while also disinfecting the area so that the mites do not spread to other areas of the body.

    Hygiene

    • While treating the animal for mange, you should also be sure to clean the dog's living area and bedding on a regular basis. Although this does not treat the mites directly, it can prevent them from spreading and re-infesting the animal. Infectious mites can also spread to humans, so use extra caution when handling the animal's bedding.