What can I bathe my dog in to get rid of mites?

Things You'll Need

• 1 bottle hypoallergenic baby shampoo or tea tree oil shampoo

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  • Things You'll Need
  • Plant-based Dog Mite Prevention Tips

• 1 16-oz. bottle 1% hydrogen peroxide

• 2 cups Borax Detergent (available in the laundry aisle)

• Clean bucket

• Clean, warm water

• Vitamins A, C and E drops

Demodectic mange is an itchy skin disease in dogs caused by an infestation of Demodex mites. The mites are often passed from a mother with no symptoms, to her newborn pups. It can also be transmitted between unrelated dogs living in close quarters. There are several forms of the disease, but treatment is the same for all of them: kill the mites and their eggs. Pharmaceutical treatment typically involves expensive, toxic and possibly painful dips, oral medications and antibiotics. However, there is an alternative home remedy which many pet owners have found effective.

Bathe your dog with baby shampoo or tea tree oil shampoo. Rinse and dry gently but thoroughly.

Mix hydrogen peroxide into a bucket of warm water. Add at least 2 cups of Borax--enough so that the Borax no longer dissolves.

Gently sponge the mixture over the affected areas. Do not rinse or wipe off. Let the mixture dry and remain on your dog. Wash your dog's bedding with Borax to kill any eggs that could cause reinfection.

Change your dog's diet to a home-cooked or raw diet of organic meat and ground-up bones. Eliminate all grains as Demodex mites feed on yeast and carbohydrates. Add a few drops of Vitamins A, C and E to your dog's food to boost its immune system. You can also add chelated zinc, selenium and fish oil for the same purpose.

Repeat the Borax and peroxide treatment weekly until symptoms clear up. You should begin to see healing within a day or two; however, with severe cases you may have to continue the treatment for a couple of months.

Tips

• Demodex mites affect young dogs with immature immune systems or adult dogs with compromised immune systems.

Warnings

• Do not confuse Borax detergent with boric acid which can make your dog sicker.

Mite infestations are a treatable condition with a variety of solutions. After diagnosing a mite infestation, a traditional veterinarian will most likely prescribe either a topical treatment like a dip, shampoo, or cream , or a oral medication. In some cases, the vet will prescribe an antibiotic or antifungal medication to address a secondary infection. Dips that aren't free of toxins can have harmful side effects like vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Insecticides may kill the mites, but they aren’t exactly ideal for your pet’s health. A holistic vet will not only provide a solution for the symptoms, but also consider how your dog’s diet and lifestyle may be affecting their immune system. A dog with a well-rounded, nutritional, and natural diet will have a healthier immune system that’s able to control mite populations before they get out of hand. Whatever treatment route you and your vet choose, it’s important to thoroughly clean and disinfect your dog’s bed and other belongings. Wash any sheets, plush toys, rugs, collars, leashes, or cushion covers your dog may have used while affected by the mites. Separate the infected dog from other household pets in a comfortable and safe area. Wash your hands and change your clothes after handling or providing care to a dog with mites. It can take up to six weeks for the symptoms to fully resolve, so give your chosen treatment time to do its work. Too many vet visits could stress out your pup and also put it at risk of re-contracting mites due to the contact with other dogs in public places. Even if your dog’s symptoms start to clear up immediately, be sure to complete the course of treatment, following product or vet instructions. It’s a good idea to follow up with your veterinarian if you’re not sure whether the condition has cleared after six weeks. They can perform a skin scrape to see if mites are still present. Unfortunately, some cases of mange are more chronic due to a suppressed or weak immune system. Cases like this will need long-term treatment and the advice of a holistic veterinarian. You may be able to improve your dog’s immune system with holistic treatment, which will help fight off mites and resulting infections. Refrain from breeding a dog that suffers from chronic mite infestations, as their immune system deficiencies may be hereditary.

Plant-based Dog Mite Prevention Tips

Since treatment is usually fairly straightforward, it may be tempting to only address mange or ear mites when they’re a problem. But you can get ahead of these issues and ward them off by taking everyday precautions that will help keep your pooch happy and healthy.

• Use plant-based pet shampoo to keep your pet clean. When you bathe your dog, be careful not to get water in the ears, as the moisture can lead to ear infections. Bathing a large dog can be difficult if they happen to be uncooperative, so you may want to take the activity outdoors rather than trying to convince a wary dog to jump in the tub.

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• To relieve your pup from itchy skin, apply this Skin Tonic spray. The spray contains a powerful, yet soothing neem oil that supports skin health. You can also use skin tonic oil for any localized patches or open wounds.

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• Ask questions about potential boarding or daycare facilities to make sure they meet sanitary standards that will help prevent mites from spreading.


• Make sure your dog has access to plenty of fresh water at all times.


• Select a grain-free, dairy-free organic food that will help maintain your dog’s overall health and strengthen their immune system.


• Incorporate immune-boosting supplements. Neem Bark Powder can help offer digestive and immune support.


• Clean your dog’s ears with Ear Wash once per month.

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• When you adopt or rescue a stray dog, thoroughly examine it for signs of mites and mange. If the mange is advanced and there is hair loss or redness, visit a veterinarian as soon as possible.


• You can turn to home remedies in a pinch to help soothe symptoms, including apple cider vinegar and honey. Honey is a natural antiseptic and gentle on the skin, but make sure you choose natural honey as opposed to a brand with artificial colors or added sugar. Apple cider vinegar is an all-natural astringent. It’s smell is potent, but it can gently help get the job done.


• Don’t get too experimental with home remedies or make uninformed guesses because this could lead to further irritation. Don’t substitute online advice for the advice of a credentialed veterinarian.


• Wash your dog’s bedding on a regular basis whether or not there are symptoms of mange.


• Brush and comb your dog and keep the coat trimmed if necessary.


• Be sure to use plant-based products when washing your dog and their belongings so as not to evoke an allergic reaction to products that aren't free of toxins or artificial fragrances.


• Let friends and family members know about mite infestations so you don’t have any cases of dogs that come in frequent contact with each other passing it back and forth. Tell them about the symptoms and natural ways to address the symptoms if they occur.

Image Source/Photodisc/Getty Images

The canine skin disease known as mange can cause skin sores, itching and hair loss. Dogs suffering from mange may require regular bathing with medicated shampoos to fight the mite infestation at the heart of the disease. In addition, gentle shampoos can soothe dogs as they go through treatment. Take precautions to prevent mange from passing onto other dogs and even humans in rare instances.

Mange is caused by mites, tiny arachnid parasites that burrow into a dog's skin or hair follicles. Two specific species of mites are responsible for the two different types of mange found in dogs. Most cases of mange are demodectic and are caused by the Demodex canis mite. These mites occur naturally on dogs and are often passed onto puppies from their mothers. Normally, the dog's immune system can prevent the mites from becoming too numerous, but if the immune system is suppressed or immature, mite numbers increase. Sarcoptes scabiei mites cause the second form of mange, known as sarcoptic mange or canine scabies. This type of mange spreads from infected dogs and causes serious skin irritation and discomfort.

With demodectic mange, your dog loses some of his hair but probably will not suffer from severe itching. In some cases, the hair loss is localized, usually around the eyes or on the face at first. In other dogs, the hair loss may affect the dog's whole body. Sarcoptic mange, on the other hand, causes dogs to scratch intensely because of the severe irritation from the mites burrowing through their skin. This scratching can lead to skin rashes, crust formation on parts of the skin and hair loss.

In cases of generalized demodectic mange and sarcoptic mange, baths with medicated shampoos may be part of the required treatment. Dogs with sarcoptic mange, for example, are sometimes dipped into baths of shampoo designed to kill the mites on their skin. Generalized demodectic mange is often treated with shampoos containing benzoyl peroxide. These shampoos remove scaliness and greasiness from the dog's hair -- both sometimes seen with mange -- while cleaning out the hair follicles where these mites live. Veterinarians often bathe the dog with benzoyl peroxide shampoos before dipping them in mite-killing solutions so the chemicals can more easily reach their targets in the hair follicles.

While medicated baths may be part of the required treatment for mange, additional bathing can help, too. Bathing your dog with a gentle shampoo, such as a hypoallergenic canine shampoo, can keep the skin from drying out -- although shampooing too much can have the opposite affect -- and keep the dog's skin clean, which reduces infection risks. However, do not wash infected and non-infected dogs together, especially in cases of sarcoptic mange, because the disease is highly contagious among canines. Humans can also contract sarcoptic mange from their dogs. The disease causes a rash of red bumps on the skin, so bathe these dogs carefully. Since transmission to humans requires direct contact, wear long rubber gloves while washing a dog with sarcoptic mange. Also, wash any clothing that comes in contact with the mites in warm, soapy water. Demodectic mange can pass to other dogs but not humans.