Treatment of Mange in Dogs
Mange is a skin problem in dogs that could go anywhere from mild to severe. There are different types of parasites and mites that could invade the dog's body. They could affect a single body part like the ears, foot, or face.
However, they can also cover the entire surface of the dog's skin. Localized mange is easier to treat than generalized mange. And when it comes to curing this disease, it is best to let the veterinarians do the necessary course of action.
The treatment of mange in dogs depends upon two factors: the type of the parasite present in the dog's body and the severity of the disease. To treat mange in dogs, the following course of treatment are usually carried out:
- Mite killer analgesics
- Lime-Sulphur insecticide solutions
- Amitraz
- Anti-Bacterial and anti-fungal drugs
For milder cases of dog mange, veterinarians may prescribe some over-the-counter mite killers. Such analgesics may come in the form of solutions, powders, or ointments. Just apply the analgesic daily on the affected part, usually after bathing the dog. Or just follow the orders of your veterinarian and your dog will enjoy optimum mite protection.
Veterinarians usually preside this form of treatment. Normally, they would mix lime, sulphur, and mite insecticide to create a solution where they can dip or bathe the dog in. Invermectin is the most common substance used to treat makes mange treatment dips for these days. A lot of clinical studies had proven its effectiveness as far as sarcoptic mange is concerned.
Amitraz is another solution that can be used to dip the affected part of the dog into. Ideally, a dip in amitraz is conducted every 7 to 10 days, depending upon the severity of the disease. And it has to be continued until after there are no more scrapings present in the dog's skin. This also indicates that the affected areas will eventually heal. Amitraz may have negative side effects on the dog so its use has to be supervised by a qualified veterinarian.
Again, depending upon the extent of the disease and the root cause of the problem, oral medications may be prescribed along with other modes of treatment. Dogs may need to take medicines on a regular basis until after the reddened and swollen areas have dried out.
These drugs are taken to ensure that the mites would no longer reproduce on the dog's skin, as the blood the parasites feed upon would contain substances that are lethal to them. Again anti-bacterial and anti-fungal drugs may have negative side effects to the dog's health. Owners are always advised to follow their vet's orders.