Sarcoptic mange mites are microscopic parasites, passing from certain animals--most commonly dogs--by burrowing and depositing their eggs into the top layer of the skin. Symptoms include hair loss and itching around certain body parts, particularly the elbows, stomach and ears. According to Holly Nash, D.V.M., M.S., the mites can survive for two to six days without living on the host animal in a room-temperature environment, so even when a dog does not come into contact with another infected pet, it can still become infected. It is especially important to kill the mites before they have a chance to infect you or your family.
Things You'll Need
- Bleach or insecticide
- Veterinarian
- Sponge or scrubbing tool
Instructions
Treat your dog, and isolate him from other pets around the house. You should visit a veterinarian who can prescribe medicines specifically designed to kill sarcoptic mites, such as Ivermectin. Lime sulfur dips have also proven successful in most dogs. Treat the dog repeatedly for a period of four weeks, so as to prevent mite eggs that you might have missed from hatching and continuing the cycle.
Clean or get rid of your animal's bedding materials. You can use an insecticide like permethrin, as recommended by Holly Nash of PetEducation.com, or you can try using bleach with hot water to kill the mites in the bedding.
Scrub certain areas your pet frequents with a bleach solution to kill the mites. Make sure to use a color-safe bleach on surfaces like carpet if you don't want to create unwanted stains. Keep cleaning these areas for at least a month.
Visit a veterinarian to make sure the dog's mites are gone. A veterinarian can do a simple skin test that involves a skin scraping to see if any mites survived treatment. If your dog still has mites, repeat the above steps.
Keep your dog away from any areas that are known to harbor oft-infected animals like foxes, according to Holly Nash. By preventing the dog from entering a forest nearby, for instance, you can keep the mites away from your home.