Homemade Treatments for Demodectic Mange

Demodectic mange is a serious skin disease caused by microscopic demodex mites. Dogs and other mammals with compromised immune systems are most susceptible to demodectic mange. While a veterinarian will likely prescribe various medications to eradicate demodectic mange, certain home remedies may also help your dog as well. Keep in mind that your veterinarian should be your first line of defense; always ask your vet before trying any home remedy. Also, as these are home remedies, there is no substantive research to back them up.

Things You'll Need

  • All-natural organic dog food
  • Canine vitamin supplements
  • Flax seed oil
  • Sesame oil
  • Cod liver oil
  • Bee pollen
  • Nutritional yeast
  • Lethicin granules
  • Olive leaf extract
  • Astragulus
  • Grapefruit seed extract
  • Kyolic garlic
  • Cat's claw
  • Neem oil shampoo
  • 1 percent hydrogen peroxide
  • Borax
  • Dog shampoo
  • Comb
  • Cooking oil
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Honey
  • Lemon
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Instructions

  1. Treatments

    • 1

      Feed your dog only the highest-quality, all-natural organic foods. Demodectic mange often targets dogs with compromised immune systems, and feeding your dog an all-natural, highly nutritious diet will nourish and pump up its immune system. You can feed your dog mercury-free cooked fish, rice, kelp, cruciferous and leafy vegetables, barley and oats. Avoid corn, wheat and eggs, which can trigger allergic reactions and set the stage for the mite infestation to multiply further.

    • 2

      Add immuno-boosting vitamins and oils to your dog's diet. These include flax seed oil, sesame oil, cod liver oil, bee pollen, nutritional yeast, lethicin granules and high-quality canine multivitamin supplements. Follow the dosing instructions on the product packaging.

    • 3

      Add immuno-boosting herbs to your dog's diet. These include olive leaf extract, astragulus, grapefruit seed extract, kyolic garlic and cat's claw. Follow the dosing instructions on the product packaging.

    • 4

      Skip the vaccines, at least for now. While it is important that your dog be current on its vaccines to ensure that its immune system is strong, if your dog is due to get vaccinations and suffering from demodectic mange, you may want to wait. Vaccines can be hard on its immune system.

    • 5

      Bathe your dog at least three times a week with neem oil shampoo. Neem oil is said to kill demodex mites, and contains zero chemicals or pesticides. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.

    • 6

      Bathe your dog in hydrogen peroxide mixed with borax. Mix 500 cc of 1 percent hydrogen peroxide with 1 or 2 tbsp. of borax, until the borax is dissolved. Depending upon the size of your dog, you may need to double or triple this recipe. Completely soak your dog's skin and fur in this solution, paying special attention to areas that are affected the most. Do not rinse out. In three or four days, give your dog a bath with regular dog shampoo, rinse well, and comb its hair out. Reapply the peroxide/borax solution; do not rinse out. Repeat every three or four days for up to one month.

    Other Ideas Worth a Try

    • 7

      Rub a drop or two of cooking oil on your dog's affected areas. Cooking oil is said to sooth the skin while killing mites.

    • 8

      Pour a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar onto your dog's food each day.

    • 9

      Apply a few drops of local honey to your dog's mange spots.

    • 10

      Bring a pot of water to boil on the stove. Remove from heat. Slice a lemon, leaving the skin on, and drop the slices into the water. Let it steep and cool over night. In the morning, bathe your dog with the liquid. Do not rinse.