Mange Mites
How to Get Rid of Mange Mites
Mange is a general term for several skin conditions caused by tiny mites that infest the skin or hair follicles of dogs, cats and other mammals. Symptoms of mange include intense itching, hair loss and fowl odors. Some forms of mange are more serious or contagious than others, depending on the species of mite infesting the affected animal. Secondary infections from wounds opened by scratching can be fatal.
The Three Types of Mange Mites
- SARCOPTIC SCABIES MITES can cause widespread hair loss and oozing sores on pets. Unlike the human scabies mite which is primarily transferred through skin-to-skin contact or direct contact with infested surfaces, the sarcoptic mite can jump to a new host from the floor. It’s a good idea to wear socks around the house, as these mites often attack feet and ankles. Thankfully, sarcoptic mange mites tend not to persist on humans or burrow under human skin, but they can cause plenty of transient discomfort and irritation. For added protection, spray your socks with our indoor formula, which acts as a repellent as well as a skin treatment. Since infected pets often wander throughout the home and relax on couches and easy chairs, wide area spray treatment is quite necessary. Spray carpets evenly, and mop hard surfaces with a Swiffer pad saturated with our indoor formula. Be sure to treat couches, easy chairs and dog beds. Continue treating carpets and dogs until pets show no signs of mange. A two-gallon purchase is optimal for most homes below 1,500 square feet.
- DEMODEX MITES commonly live in hair follicles and usually cause no symptoms. Occasionally, populations explode, causing intense itching, thinning of the hair or small bald spots around the eyes, muzzle and front legs. In advanced cases, bald patches can occur all over the body. Demodex mites can be transferred from one dog to another, but healthy dogs will tend to fight them off more easily. Puppies can contract this type of mange through nursing, but symptoms usually won’t be severe. Demodectic mange is usually associated with stress or other illness which predisposes the animal to outbreak.
- CHEYLETIELLA MITES cause itching and dandruff, particularly around the head and neck of infected dogs, cats or rabbits. They can also live comfortably on humans for extended periods of time. The skin irritation these mites produce is commonly referred to as walking dandruff, due to the appearance of moving skin scales carried by the mites. Cheyletiella mites don’t complete their entire life cycle on humans and are thus considered to be transient parasites. They can live apart from a host for up to ten days, seeking new hosts and infesting other territories within the home. The good news is that they can’t reproduce on humans. Human symptoms generally resolve when pet infestations are addressed. Traditional flea sprays and powders are often ineffective against this mite.
What Makes Our Organic Cedar Oil Formula Powerful and Unique?
- Erodes the exoskeleton of insects that crawl through treated areas, contributing to the early demise of insects you don’t see.
- Repels a wide variety of insects and discourages new insects from moving into treated territory for up to a month.
- Dissolves eggs on contact, but not by proximity. In other words, eggs must come in contact with the formula, not just the vapors.
- Won’t stain carpets, bedding or furniture because it’s steam distilled in small batches to remove impurities.
- Spreads nicely over wide areas because it’s not mixed with water. (Our formula contains a special organic solvent that helps it stay mixed. Normally, oil and water will always separate, producing very uneven results when distributed over wide areas. That’s why it’s so difficult to treat wide surfaces with essential oils that are sold in tiny bottles at health stores.)
- Can be applied directly to humans, dogs and horses.
- Is endorsed by Animal Wellness Magazine as a safe alternative to dangerous chemical and spot drop flea treatments, which shorten life spans and cause SEVERE reactions in more than 44,000 animals each year. Read more…
- Is used by housing authorities across the country against bedbugs because these hearty parasites have an uncanny ability to develop resistance to chemical pesticides.
TREATMENT INSTRUCTIONS:
For all types of mites that cause mange, direct spray treatment of pets, humans, carpets and furniture is strongly advised. Mites absorb air through pores called sphericals. The aroma of our indoor cedar oil formulation triggers an instant danger response, forcing the mite to close its breathing pores.
FOR HUMANS AND PETS: Spray pets and humans with Dr. Ben’s Evictor or Dr. Ben’s Paws & Claws, our organic cedar oil formula. Do not rinse. If necessary, a generous amount may be applied to human hair. Place a non porous shower or swim cap over a freshly saturated scalp and leave the cap in place for an hour.
HOME TREATMENT: Since cheyletiella mites can live without a host for up to ten days, it’s particularly important to spray carpets, couches and bedding with Dr. Ben’s Evictor. The solution will not stain. For advanced infestations in homes with multiple pets, fumigation may be necessary. Our state-of-the-art fog machine penetrates unseen cracks and crevices where all types of parasites hide.