Demodectic mange is a skin disease that is caused by the mite, and it requires a demodex treatment to alleviate the disease. This kind of disease normally affects younger dogs, such as puppies or adolescents. Demodectic mites statistically live on every human and dog in the world, but they normally cause no harm or irritation to the host.
Dogs that have a suppressed or poor immune system cannot keep the mites under control, which is why they will develop demodectic mange. The first sign that your dog may have this disease is an isolate lesion. There are cases where a dog has been known to develop numerous lesions all at once, so the whole body must be thoroughly checked if one is found.
Areas Affected by Mites
The mites prefer to live around the eyes, muzzle and head of the dog, so this is usually the first areas to develop signs of the disease. You will notice hair loss and some crusting of the lesions. The dog may find these lesions to be itchy and irritating, but it is not the case for every animal.
Since the disease is caused by an underdeveloped immune system most of the lesions will eventually heal on their own as the dog gets older. Lesions that persist and begin to develop in other areas of the body should be treated properly. If left untreated, the whole body will experience hair loss, and the skin will begin to crack and ooze. The skin will begin to produce a great amount of oil. This causes the dog to have a shiny look to it, and the skin is extremely oily to the touch.
Shampoo and Bathing
Normal shampoos will not help for a demodex treatment. You need something catered to your dog's needs. The perfect thing for this would be a shampoo with benzoyl peroxide. This kind of shampoo is able to medically treat the disease running rampant all over your dog. This shampoo will help rid the mites from the hair follicles, which will help alleviate some of the irritation of the skin.
It is recommended that you wash your dog using this shampoo three times at seven day intervals. If you find that this alone is not helping then you can step up to the next level of demodex treatment.
The Big Dip
There are times when the mites are being too stubborn and the disease is persisting. You should bathe your dog using benzoyl peroxide and then dip it in Amitraz. This dip should be applied every two weeks, and you should rub the gel into the skin using gloves. All medium or long length haired dogs should have their hair cut down. This allows easier access to the skin and the areas that need attention.
You should use Amitraz in a well ventilated area, and always use benzoyl peroxide before giving the demodex treatment. The combination of these two medications should take care of all problems within a couple weeks. This gives your dog time to develop their immune system, and they should be back to normal in no time.