How To Treat Your Dog’s Mange Naturally

Quick Summary

• Apple cider vinegar bath is one of the most popular ways to treat a dog’s mange naturally.
• Other natural remedies for mange in dogs include: olive oil, honey, lemon, garlic oil, and neem oil.
• Dogs with mange should be checked by a veterinarian first to diagnose how bad the condition is before treating them with home remedies.

Applying a mix of ½ cup apple cider vinegar with ½ cup of Borax and warm water on the skin and coat is one of the most popular ways to treat mange in dogs naturally. This solution, however, cannot be licked by dogs as it can be toxic because of borax.

Stray dogs and dogs that roam with no supervision are very prone to get infected with any common skin disease like mange. I avoid this problem by always knowing where my dog is by using wireless dog fences.

Mange is an inflammatory disease in which large numbers of mites attack dogs and massively reproduce on their skin. If your dog has been diagnosed with mange your vet may recommend medicated shampoos, organophosphate dips and other treatments, depending on the type of mange.

There are two types of mites that can cause dog mange. On one hand, the sarcoptic mites are those that live and spread on the surface of the skin of infected dogs. Sarcoptic mange mites can easily spread to other animals as well as the environment. On the other hand, demodex mites are those that live deep under the skin, and while not contagious to other animals, they can attack the infected dog’s immune system and the disease can be passed on to puppies it may give birth to.

Natural Remedies For Mange in Dogs

Ingredients in these treatments can be harsh, and side effects may occur. “Anybody who has treated a dog with mange using conventional treatment knows exactly how ill their pet can become,” writes Luella May on NaturalNews.com.

Some pet parents have successfully treated mange using the following natural treatments. However, remember that you should also be sure to practice good hygiene with your pup—keep your dog’s bedding and his environment clean—and feed him a healthy diet.

Be sure to consult with your veterinarian before trying any of these mange treatment options on your dog.

What ingredients to use

• Hydrogen Peroxide and Borax

Bathing your dog in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and borax is one of the best remedies for mange, according to Grandma’s Home Remedies. “However, be sure to not confuse borax with boric acid,” the website notes.

Dissolve 1 to 2 tablespoons of borax in every 16 ounces (500cc) of 1-percent hydrogen peroxide, and bathe your dog in it once a week. Don’t rinse your dog or towel him dry; let the solution dry naturally so it can be absorbed into your dog’s skin. Do not use this treatment for longer than two months.

• Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

You can apply apple cider vinegar topically to your dog’s skin, and also mix a tablespoon of it into his dog food at meal time.

• Olive Oil

When applied to your dog’s scaly patches, olive oil both soothes his skin and helps kill mange mites.

• Honey

“Honey has astonishing antiseptic, antioxidant and cleansing qualities,” writes May. You can rub raw honey on your dog’s affected areas.

• Lemon

Grandma’s Home Remedies advises dropping lemon slices (keep the skin on) into a pot of boiling water. Then turn off the burner and let the lemon slices steep overnight. Using a sponge, lightly apply the mixture to the dog’s coat.

Dr. Jeanette Thomason on The Whole Dog suggests combining 3 tablespoons of (preferably organic) lemon juice with 2 ounces of witch hazel and 4 ounces of distilled water. You can dab this solution on your dog’s sores with a sponge a few times a day.

• Garlic Oil

“Garlic contains sulphur compounds, which mites dislike,” writes Natural Dog Health Secretary. It is also antibacterial, so it can minimize bacterial infection. You can topically apply diluted garlic oil to your dog’s affected areas.

• Neem, Lavender and Almond Oils

Natural Dog Health Remedies suggests making a skin rinse from these three oils and applying it to your dog once or twice each day. To make the rinse, combine one part neem (medicinal tree) oil and one part lavender oil with 10 parts almond oil.

• Don’t Use Motor Oil!

Mar Vista Animal Center notes that 30 years ago, motor oil was often used by pet parents as a dip to control demodectic mange.

Here’s why this is a bad idea: “Skin exposure to motor oil can cause rashes and skin destruction in severe cases,” according to the Mar Vista website. “The hydrocarbons can be absorbed through the skin and cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. If motor oil is licked off the coat, resultant vomiting can lead to aspiration of motor oil into the lungs and pneumonia. Kidney and liver damage can result from motor oil dipping.”

As with any health condition, dog mange can also vary in severity. This is why I caution you to always consult a veterinarian before treating mange in dogs through natural home remedies. It is important that a veterinary professional checks your dog’s condition first before working on the treatment process.