Demodectic Mange

Demodectic mange (also known as demodex, demodicosis, follicular mange, red mange and puppy mange) is a potentially dangerous inflammatory skin disease that can upend a dog’s life and their family’s. This type of mange is complicated, confusing, and surrounded by an amazing amount of misinformation. We hope to clear up some misconceptions and that you learn something new and helpful.

We commend you for digging deep and learning all you can about healing your pet.

Demodectic mange is caused by an over abundance of the demodectic mite normally found on dogs in small numbers.

Every mother dog passes a few of the microscopic parasites to her puppies, as Mother Nature intended for dogs to always have a few of them. The dog’s immune system keeps the population low and harmless, therefore most dogs have no reaction to them. But dogs with underdeveloped, suppressed, or compromised immune systems are prime victims for a population explosion of these parasites.

Demodectic Mange appears in 2 different forms. The localized demodicosis form can grow to become generalized demodicosis as this is a progressive disease.

1. Localized demodicosis is more common in puppies. Localized means 1-5 small spots, generally found around the eyes, lips, or legs. The lesions may or may not be itchy.
2. Generalized demodicosis is a severe disease characterized by patchy (5 or more areas) or significant hair loss and skin inflammation. Secondary infections may be present.

With generalized demodectic mange, patches of hair loss and inflammation develop which often coalesce into large areas of thickened skin and sores. Secondary fungal infections of the skin are routine and secondary bacterial infections are almost as common. Affected dogs can develop discharging lumps on/within the skin. Bleeding from these lesions is not uncommon. As with the localized form, lesions often start around the head, face, and feet, but often spread to involve large areas of the body surface. The ears can also be affected by this parasite, resulting in secondary infections. Itchiness and pain. An odor is a frequent symptom as well.

Left untreated, the disease has the potential to cause severe discomfort and additional health related problems.

Demodectic mange symptoms can also resemble other skin medical conditions. In the absence of a confirmed diagnosis, our Symptom Checker can help you narrow down which type of mite your dog has.

"Thank you! Mite Avenge saved Kenzie and us!!

Skin scraping is the most common diagnostic tool. They are notoriously fillable. A negative result does not mean the dog doesn’t have mites, it means that none were found.

Demodectic mites are deep and well-barricaded which makes it hard to drag them to the surface. Even punch biopsies fail to find mites more than they succeed.

A positive scrape is actually a blessing because you know what to treat, and treating the wrong problem uses valuable time which can make the condition worse.

For example, Demodectic mange and allergy symptoms are so similar that without a confirmed mite sighting, allergies are almost always diagnosed. The trouble with that is if the problem really is mange, the dog is taking drugs that only mask symptoms and when they wear off, the problem is still there, and probably worse.

Out of frustration, many of our customers end up diagnosing their dogs on their own. When things continually get worse, they realize they’ve been barking up the wrong tree and are forced to figure it out for themselves.

Puppies and juvenile dogs under 3 years of age are the most frequent victims of Demodectic mange. They are born with immature, under-functioning immune and digestive systems, both of which are critical contributors to a puppy’s ability to control its mite population even in the best of times.

Unfortunately, puppies have some of their most stressful challenges early in life such as re-homing, vaccines, neutering, and more.

Rescue dogs have the cards stacked against them due to poor diet, lack of health care, and the stressful environments they have endured.

Because of the high incidence of juvenile demodicosis, one of our most frequently asked questions concerns the age a puppy can be treated. The answer is Mite Avenge can safely be used on puppies over 6 weeks of age.

Almost all traditional mange treatments are chemical pesticides delivered in the form of dips, medications, and even flea treatments. Every one contains systemic neurotoxins that spread through the body.

Even though veterinary science considers them safe to an extent, they can still pose a number of health risks because, in reality, they are poisons that systemically spread, turning every cell in the body into a toxic bomb (even though only follicles and sebaceous glands are affected). 

That alone is scary enough because that means the chemicals can affect any part of the body but the way they work is just as unsettling.

Today, more and more pet owners demand safer alternatives and seek a natural route. Sadly, information on natural options is scarce.

There are many home remedies and commercial products available for treating mange and we recommend following a holistic plan that kills mites and remediates the underlying root problems such as diet. Click here to read How to Starve Mange.

There is a space for both chemical & natural treatments – the treatment choice for you should be what’s best for you and your dog. Our free e-book has much more information than we can provide here. It’s sure to be of benefit as you guide your dog back to health. Click here to download our e-book.

Our natural approach safely kills mites without caustic or toxic chemicals. Mite Avenge® is the most effective natural mite killer you can buy and Happy Dog Naturals® is the only source that explains all the facts and offers a proven solution.

Demodex is an intertwined disease that responds well when treated holistically. Here is the most comprehensive holistic program you’ll find. It’s the program that’s saved thousands of dogs.

We built this company to help you be the best guardian-advocate a dog could have, and the products we offer are selected to give you the expert tools to help you win the battle against mange.