The Sarcoptes mite is responsible for sarcoptic mange, a skin disease that affects dogs and causes severe itching, crusting and hair loss. The highly contagious nature of sarcoptic mange makes it vital to treat all animals in the household at the same time. The environment should also be treated, as mange mites can be passed to humans as well.
Things You'll Need
- Heartworm preventative or topical treatment
- Paramite, Amitraz, Mitaban or Lymdip (optional)
- Sponge
- Soft bristle brush
- Permethrin-based insecticide spray
Instructions
Medication/Topical Treatment
Consult your veterinarian for treatment options. Some vets use four weekly injections of ivermectin to treat sarcoptic mange but some dogs cannot tolerate it due to chronic conditions or breed predisposition.
Ask if your heartworm preventative can be used as treatment. Revolution, Advantage Multi and Interceptor can sometimes be used twice monthly to treat sarcoptic mange. Topical treatments such as Frontline Plus, Top Spot and Spray may also be used to control sarcoptic mange.
Follow the prescribed directions exactly, as mites can be very difficult to eradicate. Be sure to get enough medication or topical treatment to treat all of the animals in the household.
Dips
If advised to use a dip, obtain a bottle of Paramite, Amitraz, Mitaban or Lymdip from your veterinarian and prepare it as directed. Some dips should be diluted in water, while other are used straight from the bottle. The bottle's label will include complete mixing directions.
Shave the dog if he has long hair. It is important for the dip to have maximum contact with the skin. Apply a thin strip of Artificial Tears ointment to the dog's eyes to protect them from the dip.
Saturate the dog with the dip solution, working from the tail forward. Make sure that the dip is penetrating all the way down to the skin. Be thorough and don't forget about the belly, armpits, ears and feet. Use a small sponge to apply dip to the face. Work slowly, and cover the dog's eyes with your hand when working in that area. Even with the ointment, the dip can be very irritating to sensitive tissues.
Go over the dog again, making sure there are no dry spots left. Any spot not saturated with dip provides a haven for the mites, so be sure the entire dog is covered.
Allow the dip to air dry on the dog. If the hair dries stiff and crunchy, brush through with a bristle brush, avoiding contact with irritated skin.
Treat the Environment
Use a permethrin-based insecticide spray to treat all bedding, toys and collars belonging to the dog.
Treat all rooms in the house where the dog is allowed access. Spray the carpet, furniture, drapes and any other fabric surface.
Continue treatment as often as recommended on the label for at least four weeks.