Home Cure for Mange in Dogs

Mange is caused by a small parasite called a mite. It is important to take your dog to a vet as soon as possible if you notice excessive scratching and bald patches. Your dog will need a medication like Ivermectin to kill all the mites and their eggs. Home remedies won't kill mites, but they can provide temporary relief.

  1. Cooking Oil

    • Cooking oil is good for smothering the hatched mites. It can also soften the skin and soothe itching and irritation from where the mites have bitten and tunneled through your dog's skin. Apply a few drops to the affected areas and rub it in lightly. Wear a glove to protect yourself from the mites.

    Hygiene

    • Give your dog regular baths. The warm, soapy water will kill some of the adult mites and provide temporary relief from itching. Soap can also disinfect the wounds and help contain the mange infection to its current spot. Also wash the dog's bedding regularly, along with the surrounding area. Steam-clean your carpets, if possible, because the type of mite that causes dog mange will also bite humans. Humans aren't an ideal host, so the mites generally can't reproduce in your body, but their bites will make you itch.

    Herbs

    • Add olive leaf extract, astragulus, echinacea and cat's claw to your dog's diet to help combat the mites. The herbs strengthen the immune system and give your dog a less enticing odor. It won't kill all the mites or their unhatched eggs, but these herbs can help reduce the number of parasites inhabiting your dog.

    Essential Oils

    • Lavender oil, almond oil, neem oil and tea tree oil can all help with mange. Dab a few drops onto the affected area to soothe the skin, ease itching and kill some of the adult mites. Dilute tea tree oil in a spray bottle and spray down the dog's bedding and living areas to help repel mites. Tea tree oil is also good as a preventative, because mites hate the scent. Once your dog is cured from mites, consider adding a few drops of tea tree oil to its shampoo when you bathe the dog. If you also have cats in the household, make sure they don't get any tea tree oil, because even minute quantities can prove fatal for a feline.