I've been battling sarcoptic mange for over a month now and am maybe starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel - hopefully it isn't an oncoming train.
Sarcoptic mange is VERY difficult for a vet to diagnose. Thank goodness for the director of the foster group I work with, who told me right off the bat what she suspected. I took my dog in and they did a skin scraping, but couldn't see anything. A few weeks later, I took her in again, this time after the mange had really 'set in' and they did another scraping and found ONE tiny little mite. That was all they needed and she began treatments of Revolution and I came home and steam cleaned the carpets and sprayed flea and tick spray (the vet said it will kill mites) after vacuuming like crazy.
I threw out all bedding that I couldn't wash in HOT water with bleach and sat back and waited. Now every time my dog or the foster dog or my cat or even I itch, I feel like it's back and I just want to burn the house down. If you have a dog that does not have it, use a preventive measure like revolution or advantage or something. This is a nightmare to try to get rid of. I don't know about putting bleach on my carpets, I'd try the powder first. ALSO - the vet advised against the revolution and spraying the rugs and carpet on the same night.
She said not to overload the dogs' senses. Heck, even as I'm thinking about this stuff it's making me itch. (Humans can get this too, but the mites can't last long on us and the longest you will have any signs of it is, I believe, two weeks.
Depending on the type of mange, your vet will give you instructions on what to do in the rest of the house. If they don't, ASK detailed questions. This is NOT a self-diagnose or home remedy ailment.
My dog had mites when we first got her. Our vet gave us this powder stuff to spray all over the house and backyard. So I'm sure your local vet will have something also!
I'd call your vet. But I think it's like when a child gets lice or scabies. It's a super-tiny bug that itches like crazy. So I believe you might have to use some kind of bug killer. Call up any vet & ask them. They will need to prescribe a special medication for your pet. If you can't afford a vet. You can probably go to a large feed store. They sometimes sell supplies like this there. Be sure to wear (rubber, latex or acrylic) gloves when applying this!
It says there are 2 types of mange in pets. One is contagious to humans, & on isn't. Your vet has to scrape the pets skin then put the scraping under a microscope before he (or she) can tell. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This stuff below is AMAZING! It's a nontoxic bug killer for the home that's safe for kids & pets, It's environmentally friendly & is made from orange peals! (It even smells good) You can even use it around food! It's the only bug killer I will allow in my home! http://www.greenhome.com/products/pest_control/garden_pests/110520/ $18.00 for 2 bottles http://www.amazon.com/Orange-Guard-Indoor-Outdoor-Control/dp/B00104IYJO $12.99 for 1 bottle
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Request: Getting Rid of Mange in the House
Archived on 01/09/2009
What do I need to do to the house to get rid of mange? I was advised to throw out all bedding and I did throw out the dog's bed but washed the blankets, etc in bleach and hot water. Do I have to steam clean carpets?
Susan from MI
Answers:
RE: Getting Rid of Mange in the House
Yes, steam clean your carpets, rugs, etc. Make sure you wash any of the animals toys, bedding, crate, you name it. If this is not done, then the mites can hide and re-appear and even piggyback on humans. (12/17/2008)
Years ago we got a puppy from a pet store. He soon started scratching himself a lot. I tried different sprays, etc. I finally took him back to pet store and they "dipped" him in some solution to get rid of the mange. It worked. So, I think you have to treat your dog first, so there are no more mites accumulating on your carpet and furniture. (12/21/2008)
It depends on the type of mange. If you are dealing with sarcoptic mange (read - scabies), then it is best to keep the pet isolated in an area you can bleach down. Wash all bedding, blankets, and toys in HOT water with bleach. This condition is contagious to you, so take precautions. If you have other animals in the house, separate them immediately. If your pet has demodex mange, then that is not contagious. This is the type you generally see with puppies. (12/25/2008)
