Dealing with Mange Mites
Mites are tiny creatures that resemble spiders and that can only be detected under a microscope. The most common kind of mange mite that affects dogs is sarcoptic mange. Another name for it is scabies.
The adult females who find their way onto dogs burrow into their skin and lay eggs. These hatch in a few days, and the young feed off the top layer of skin until they mature and perpetuate the life cycle. Dogs affected by scabies become very itchy, and infected areas tend to become red and sore. A veterinarian can quickly confirm a scabies infection with a skin scraping and will then prescribe the dip and/or ointment to treat the infection. Your dog may need to wear an Elizabethan collar to keep her from licking at the spots until they are healed.
The medications your veterinarian may prescribe to rid your dog of mange can further compromise her immune system as well as her skin. Support the treatment with safe, all-natural remedies such as a naturally medicated shampoo (it should contain neem oil or tea tree oil) and immunesystem stimulators such as vitamins C, E, A, and the addition of whole foods to the diet.
Fortunately, this type of scabies cannot live on a human host. They also can't survive off a host for longer than about thirty-six hours, so while it certainly helps to disinfect your dog's sleeping areas by vacuuming or washing in hot water several times during treatment, scabies is eradicated from the environment fairly quickly.
