Content
- What is Scabies - Most Common Scabies Types
- demodectic mange
- sarcoptic mange
- othodectic mange
- Symptoms of mange in dogs
- Treatment of mange in dogs
- Home Remedies for Scabies
- Prevention of mange in dogs
It's normal to see a dog scratching himself several times throughout the day. However, you should be concerned and see a veterinarian when he scratches himself excessively, for long periods of time, and too often.
Scabies is a skin disease that affects many animals, is caused by various types of mites and causes immense discomfort, itching and changes in the skin. Be aware if your pet scratches itself exaggeratedly and frequently.
When there are suspicions of canine mange, the animal must be evaluated and treated as soon as possible to avoid contagion from other animals and guardians, since there are certain types of scabies that can be transmitted to humans. There is no specific home remedy to cure dog mange, but there are remedies to help. relieve symptoms like the itching and redness of the skin.
In this article by PeritoAnimal, we help you understand what mange is, how to treat it naturally and if the dog mange remedy with sulfur is a good treatment option.
What is Scabies - Most Common Scabies Types
Scabies is a disease that manifests itself by a dermatological infection caused by mites, microscopic ectoparasites, which love to attach and feed on the skin, growing at a frightening rate. Mites prefer areas of the body with little hair such as the armpits, the interdigital space, the chest, the ventral abdomen, the elbows and the ears, which can worsen, if left untreated, and spread to the whole body.
You types of scabmost common in dog are:
demodectic mange
Also known as black scab, it is caused by mite Demodex kennels. It lives naturally in the animal's skin, however when the low body immunity (whether due to illness, stress, poor hygiene or nutrition) a overgrowth of this mite, causing the disease.
Demodectic mange can be located (mainly on the head, muzzle and ears, more in puppies less than one year old and manifests with hair loss around the eyes and mouth) widespread and cause pododermatitis (Only in the paws together with secondary bacterial infections).
There are certain races like: beagle, Boxer, bulldog, Dalmatian, Doberman, sharp pei and keyboard are more likely to suffer from this type of scabies.
sarcoptic mange
Known as scabies, it is caused by the mite Sarcopts scabiei. This mite, unlike the Demodex, does not exist naturally in the skin of dogs and is highly contagious. It is transmitted through the direct contact and can affect humans (zoonosis), causing a very intense and uncomfortable itching. It is important to diagnose as soon as possible to avoid contagion between animals and/or humans.
othodectic mange
It is produced by the mite otodectes cynotis, affecting the ears and ears of dogs and especially cats and causing the animal to scratch a lot in this region and tilt its head.
When present, these mites are visible to the naked eye inside the pinna and resemble little white dots moving.
Symptoms of mange in dogs
You dog mange symptoms most common are:
- Intense itching, which may even scratch and rub on the floor or walls;
- Redness and inflammation of the skin;
- Loss of appetite and, consequently, of weight;
- Hair weakening;
- Partial or complete, localized, multifocal, or generalized hair loss (alopecia);
- Seborrhea (desquamation and oiliness of the skin);
- papules, scabs, blisters, pustules and nodules;
- Skin bad smell;
- Secondary infections;
- Lymph nodes may become enlarged and painful;
- Fever.
These symptoms are very similar to allergies or atopy, so it is very important to draw up a list of differential diagnoses to rule them out.
Unlike allergies, scabies is not seasonal and appears at any time of the year, and can affect any dog of any breed and age. Also, cats, humans and other animals like sheep are also affected by scabies. If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, you should immediately visit your veterinarian and explain the animal's full history.
Treatment of mange in dogs
Despite causing a lot of discomfort to the animal, don't be scared, the mange is curable and, with proper treatment, the animal can return to normal, as long as you follow the veterinarian's recommendations. The treatment of scabies depends on the type of scabies, the animal's general health status and its age and breed.
Generally, the veterinarian uses Soothing baths with soap or shampoo and acaricides, which have neutral pH, antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Apply the recommended acaricide with warm water and massage well, leaving it to act for a few minutes. Don't forget to handle your dog with gloves, as some scabies are transmitted to humans.
In more severe cases, the use of acaricides in oral or injectable form is recommended, with ivermectin, milbemycin, moxidectin and selamectin being the most used. Along with acaricides, the doctor may also prescribe antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and/or fungicides.
It is essential that you take the treatment to the end however long it may seem (minimum 4 weeks). It is very common for scabies relapses due to the interruption of the treatment ahead of time by the tutors. This happens because many tutors believe that, by not observing clinical signs, the dog is totally cured.
Home Remedies for Scabies
Coming to the main subject of the article: home remedies. If you are wondering if there are truly home remedies to cure scabies, you should know right away that home remedies exist. don't cure the condition, but help relieve scabies symptoms such as itchiness and skin irritation.
Before applying these home remedies, it is imperative that you consult with your veterinarian, as some animals may not react very well to certain substances.
Sulfur was widely used in the past as a component of shampoos, soaps and/or homemade recipes for the treatment of sarcoptic mange. Nowadays, it is argued that sulfur home remedies are too risky, as a higher sulfur concentration can be toxic, even by simple inhalation.
Therefore, we present alternatives to this compound below, but don't forget that these home remedies are just a treatment complement of the scab:
- aloe vera (juice): widely used for skin healing, it also has soothing properties, reducing burning and itching. Apply 3 times a week.
- Chamomile: Disinfects and soothes irritated scabies skin, moisten a cotton swab and wipe the lesions 3 times a week.
- Oils: Olive oil, lavender oil and sweet almond oil can be applied in drops after a dog's bath to hydrate the skin and prevent the mites from attaching. Do not use other oils.
- Garlic: natural antiseptic and healing properties, can be crushed and mixed together with the oil to apply to the skin. It is important that you do not leave animals and that you are always aware of the skin's reaction to this remedy, if you notice any changes, remove the product immediately.
Prevention of mange in dogs
The best home remedy for dog mange is prevention. Check out some essential measures to avoid contagion or the appearance of mange in dogs:
- Follow the treatment as instructed by the veterinarian. Never interrupt a treatment even if the dog appears cured. Scabies take a long time to disappear,
- Maintain good dog hygiene, through bathing, regular brushing and ear cleaning;
- Good disinfection of the environment (blankets, beds, collars, rugs, etc.) to prevent the agents from remaining in the environment and reinfection from occurring;
- In case of suspicion, isolate the puppy from other animals or avoid contact with infected puppies;
- Respect vaccination and deworming protocols;
- A balanced and complete diet, so that the animal can have a good immune system and good defenses against mites and other agents;
- Eliminate possible sources of stress, as it is one of the causes of low immunity and the emergence of opportunistic disease-causing organisms.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Home remedy for dog mange with sulfur, we recommend that you enter our Skin Problems section.