If your dog or cat is experiencing severe scratching, accompanied by hair loss and skin irritation, it may have mange. Mange is a condition caused by a mite that burrows into the skin of an animal, causing severe discomfort. Demodectic mange caused by the Demodex canis or Demodex injai mites, and sarcoptic mange -- also called scabies -- caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, affects dogs. The mites Demodex cati and D. gatoi cause demodectic mange in cats, while notoedris cati causes notoedric mange -- or scabies -- in cats. Your veterinarian can prescribe treatment to kill the mites that cause mange, giving both you and your animal relief.
Instructions
Demodectic Mange Mite
Apply rotenone ointment or benzoyl peroxide gel to your dog or cat, if its demodectic mange is localized. Mange is considered localized when there are fewer than five lesions on the animal. Applying the medication directly to the lesions will kill the mange mite that is inhabiting those areas.
Place amitraz solution on your pet if it is suffering from demodectic mange. Amitraz is a dip that is used in two-week intervals, requiring anywhere from four to 14 treatments, depending on the animal's condition. Cats require a diluted version of the medication.
Administer oral ivermectin to the dog or cat if the topical medications aren't effective. While many vets find ivermectin effective in the treatment of mange, it is an off-label use of the product.
Scabies Mite
Treat a cat by first shaving its hair and then bathe it with a cleansing shampoo. Apply a two- to three-percent lime sulfur dip to the entire surface of the cat. Repeat the dip every seven days for six to eight weeks, depending upon the cat's condition.
Administer milbemycin oxime or selamectin to your dog for treatment of scabies. Not only will these medications kill the mites that cause mange, but they also provide prevention against other pests, including fleas, ticks and heartworms.
Give oral ivermectin to your dog or cat to kill the mite that causes scabies. This use of ivermectin is off-label and the medicine should be administered very carefully, especially in cats, as they are much more sensitive to the medication than dogs.