11/15/2018 / By Mary Miller
Imagine a “mangy dog.” The words may conjure images of flea-bitten and disease-ridden canines with filthy, disheveled coats of fur. These dogs may look like they haven’t had a good bath in months. They may look sickly and unhealthy, and in fact, they most probably are. Mange is a common skin problem for dogs. It also affects cats, birds and other animals. Fortunately, there are many inexpensive, natural remedies out there that can help eliminate dog mange.
Knowing what type of mange your dog has is helpful in knowing how to best treat it. Mange is caused by parasites and typically comes in two forms. Sarcoptic mange is also known as canine scabies and is caused by the microscopic Sarcoptes scabiei mite. Be careful when attempting to treat this as mange spreads by skin contact, and this form is contagious to both humans and dogs. It is characterized by excessive scratching, skin rashes, crust formation and hair loss.
The other form of mange is demodectic mange. It is also known as demodicosis or red mange, and it is not contagious to humans. It is caused by the Demodex canis mite, which is so small that it is practically invisible without a microscope. On their own, the Demodex mites are harmless, even expected, as they are actually a normal part of the microfauna in your dog’s skin. However, if your dog’s immune system is compromised, or if they grow in number and irritate the skin of the affected area, this is when demodectic mange develops. Symptoms of this condition include skin lesions, hair loss, and redness of the skin.
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Both forms of mange can cause great discomfort and affect your dog’s overall health so it is best to treat it immediately. (Related: How to treat canine mange naturally.)
Remedies applied directly to the affected area or skin of the dog are more aimed at treating sarcoptic mange, whereas remedies involving a change in diet are directed more at boost your dog’s immune system and treating demodectic mange. That said, your dog may respond differently to each treatment. You may experiment and use your best judgment to see what works and what doesn’t. Here are some possible treatments to get you started:
If you want to learn more about dogs and how to take proper care of them, you can read more articles on PetHealth.news.
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