Demodex mites cause demodectic mange in dogs. There are three varieties of Demodex mites, and all dogs have mites because they are transferred from the mother dog to the puppies during the first few days of life. Most dogs never suffer any ill effects from the mites and are oblivious to their existence. However, if a dog's immune system becomes suppressed, it allows the Demodex mites to flourish and cause serious skin problems. The mites live inside the hair follicles, and can show up as scaly, bald patches; all over the dog's skin; or just on the paws. Killing these mites is possible with a few simple steps.
Things You'll Need
- Ivermectin
- Clippers
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Warm water
- Rubber gloves
- Mitaban dip
- Sponge
Instructions
Visit your veterinarian to get a thorough diagnosis. If your dog has a mild case of demodectic mange, he may prescribe an over-the-counter mite killer. These may be powders, solutions or ointments that you can apply daily to the affected area on your dog. Do this after washing your dog thoroughly.
Supply a daily dose of Ivermectin to your dog to kill demodectic mites. Ivermectin given orally has shown to be extremely effective in killing the demodectic mites and controlling the mange. Ask your veterinarian for the dosage of Ivermectin based on your dog's weight.
Clip your dog's fur if it is medium-length or long fur. This is necessary for moderate to severe cases of demodectic mange because the dog will need to be dipped in a medicated solution. Cutting the dog's fur will allow the skin to come into contact with the dip better.
Bathe your dog using a benzoyl peroxide shampoo and warm water. Benzoyl peroxide will help open up the hair follicles so you can apply a medicated dip to kill the demodectic mites. Benzoyl peroxide also helps to relieve any skin infections caused by the demodectic mites. Allow benzoyl peroxide to sit on the dog's skin for 10 minutes before rinsing off.
Put on rubber gloves and apply mitaban dip solution to the dog using a sponge. Thoroughly saturate the sponge and rub all over the dog's fur and skin. Allow the dip to completely dry on the dog. Do not rinse it off, and do not let the dog get wet in between dip treatments. Reapply every two weeks. Many veterinarians suggest applying mitaban dip every week for severe infestations.