Fighting Demodectic Mange Naturally

Management
The Demodectic Mange mite occurs naturally on dogs. If the dog is sensitive to the mites, Demodectic Mange can develop. The Mange may clear up on its own, but for some dogs, especially herding breeds, the road to recovery is long. The traditional cure for Demodectic Mange in herding dogs is unpleasant, expensive and not guaranteed.

Home remedies for Demodectic Mange are an effective, less stressful way to treat the mites. Pictures of Demodectic Mange on Princess Peach show the improvement achieved using nutrition, herbal supplements and stress management.

Demodectic Mange
Demodectic Mange is a skin disease caused by the Demodex Canis or Demodex Injai. Demodectic Mange is sometimes called follicular mange because the mites live inside hair follicles.

These mites live on the bodies of the adult dogs, and most human beings without causing any harm normally.

Demodex Mites
Demodex mites are naturally present on all dogs and usually cause no problem. When these mites take over, prompt action is required to keep Demodectic Mange under control. Dietary changes and a few supplements can help in the fight against Demodectic Mange.

The mites must live on the dog's body so cannot be transferred by bedding or kennel areas. "Demodectic mange mites do not spread to people under any circumstance and to other pets under normal conditions. The one exception is that the mother may pass the mites to the offspring during and around birth." states Dr. Larry Cohen, the Regional Vice President for Veterinary Centers of America.¹

Normally, these mites do not cause a problem unless they get out of control. Puppies and older dogs that suffer from weakened immune systems are at the greatest risk of developing a problem from the Demodectic mange, allowing the mange to get out of control.

Symptoms of Demodectic mange generally appear in puppies, between 3 to 6 months old. Mild cases clear up on their own, as the puppy's immune system grows stronger. Cases of Demodectic mange in older dogs may be indicative of a more serious problem.

The 3 Most Prominent Signs of Demodectic Mange
The most prominent sign of Demodectic mange is hair loss. There may be only a few all patches, such as in localized Mange, or the whole body may be involved as in generalized mange. Hair loss is generally first noted around the head area.

The skin of the balding patches may be red and crusty looking. These spots may or may not be itchy and, if inflamed, may become weepy. A bad smell associated with the balding patches may indicate a secondary infection.

The skin may have a moist or greasy appearance and feel oily to the touch.

Diagnosis of Demodectic Mange
Your veterinarian diagnoses Demodectic mange by taking a scraping of the area looking at it under a microscope.

Dangers of Demodectic Mange
Many times puppies will outgrow the symptoms of Demodectic mange on their own, as their immune system develops (at around 12 to 18 months). The mange spots will heal on their own.

For others, though, Demodectic Mange can be a serious health risk. These puppies may develop bacterial infections, which could lead to bigger problems.

Alternative Treatments for Demodectic Mange
Diet, topical treatment, and stress relief are three main factors in treating Demodectic mange. Each of these factors is equally important.

Diet
Feeding your dog healthy, high-quality foods, supplemented with vitamins, minerals, and herbs is the key to helping your puppy or dog fight Demodectic Mange. It is important to support the immune system as well as treating the skin.

A raw food diet, made with high-quality all-natural foods, is an excellent start building your puppy's immune system. A raw diet includes chicken, beef and lamb, including the bones (bones should be served raw -- never serve bones that had been cooked in any way). Salmon, mackerel, sardines or freshwater fish, canned or poached (boneless), are also good sources of protein. Do not feed your puppy tuna or swordfish because they are laden with Mercury.

Vegetables, especially leafy green kind, and important vitamins and nutrients to your dog's diet. You will need to purée the vegetables before serving them.

Grains are optional fillers that are not necessary to the diet. If you choose to add grains; avoid wheat and rye. Choose oats, rice, or barley instead.

Two tablespoons of plain yogurt added to each meal will help maintain good intestinal bacteria. Good intestinal bacteria are essential in fighting parasites.

Be sure to give your dog a good age-appropriate multivitamin every day. There are many herbs that are beneficial to boosting the immune system, such as Garlic, Rose Hips, Echinacea, to name a few. Silver Lining Herbs offers an herbal combination called K9 Immune Support, consisting of these and many other herbs designed to boost the immune system.²

Topical Treatment
A 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Gel, applied daily, has been found to be successful for localized Demodectic Mange, according to Dr. Race Foster, DVM.³

Tea tree oil may also be beneficial because of its antimicrobial properties.⁴

Stress Relief
Dietary changes, pain, and itching can cause your pet undue stress. Make diet changes gradually to avoid tummy upsets. If you are planning to switch from a dry food diet to a raw food diet, introduce raw foods slowly. Each day, increase the amount of raw food while you decrease the amount of dry food.

Stress can take its toll on the immune system, so it is important to keep your puppy happy and as stress free as possible.

Don't Give Up
Strive to keep a positive attitude and give your furry friend lots of extra love and attention. There is no instant cure for Demodectic mange.

You will need to be consistent and proactive in treating your pet's condition. Have patience and follow through with your pet's treatments to have the best possible chance of success.

Notes
1) Dr. Larry, PetVet.com. Retrieved December 29, 2008 from http://www.drlarrypetvet.com/health_mange.html

2) Silver Lining Herbs. Retrieved December 29, 2008 from http://www.silverliningherbs.com/store/index.php?p=product&id=41&parent=2

3) Pet education.com, Drs. Foster and Smith, Inc.. Retrieved December 29, 2008 from http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2107&aid=729

4) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia [Maiden & Betche] Cheel). Retrieved December 29, 2008 from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tea-tree-oil/NS_patient-teatreeoil