Scents Of Peace

Holistic Animal Care - Mange Remedy

Mange is an immune desease more then anything; and occurs when large numbers of mites inhabit hair follicles and sebaceous glands. There are more than five types of mites responsible for what is commonly referred to as mange in cat, dogs, and farm animals. Often times a vet will diagnose an animal, but due to the overwhelming negative impression the word "mange" has on a pet owner; the vet will prescribe antibiotics and supportive parasite therapy, without ever uttering the "M-word".

For just a few dollars and a well-planned strategy, you can effectively remedy a pet of mange mites with common household ingredients. These are safe to use and pose less harm than the toxic cocktail you may be subjecting on your pet and to your family. Remember that topical applications leave residues when your pet rolls on the carpet - the same carpet your infant crawls on and you walk barefoot across ! The formula given here is mainly composed of borax, a toxicity of about 3000 mg/kg (which is the equivalent toxicity of salt), and hydrogen peroxide. With the addition of water, it is a 1% concentration of the hydrogen peroxide.

It must be mentioned that BORIC acid is NOT recommended, as it is much more toxic than borax.

Before you start:

Within this site you will find simple recipes that are from simple ingredients. Nothing is more frustrating than reading a recommendation for a natural remedy that requires a second mortgage -IF - you can find the required ingredients. Feel free to contact me directly if you need clarification on any of these recipes, need assistance locating ingredients, or would like me to formulate a "concoction" for you. Most recipes are intended for dogs, but some have been used on farm animals - and even a few "two-leggeds" ! But before you adapt any of these home remedies for your feline companion, please read all cautions listed. Most importantly - do your own research before using !

On that note, we need to address a very important issue and warning to cat owner's. Please heed the following information !

Cats are sensitive creatures and toxicology studies show that the feline liver usually needs 48 hours to process and excrete toxins. Safe for a dog does not mean safe for a cat in all scenarios. Their liver is more delicate; and because they lack the necessary enzyme to break down toxins, do not eliminate them as quickly. As an essential oil therapist, with few exception and rare circumstances, I do NOT advise cat owners to use essential oils. The reason is that many essential oils have trace amounts of phenols, which build up in the liver. Interestingly, phenols are contained in many household cleaning products - just another reason to "go green" when cleaning. When diffusing oils, try not to use excessive amounts of essential oil, and make sure your cat can get to 'undiffused' air if it is not to their liking. Remember cats have many more olfactory receptors than we do !

If a situation arises, only a few essential oils are safe enough and must be highly diluted before use. Please consult with a knowledgeable cat practitioner and educate yourself on proper usage. Generally, never use oils on your pets that would not be appropriate on an infant. The previous statement was more a caution than an endorsement of comparison ! Simply stated, a cat and a human infant do not have the same liver function. Comparing the healing benefits of essential oils for you, and applying them to your pet is not wise due to metabolic differences.

And to make another point . . .

Although Tina’s great-grandfather was the local country “vet” and we run a small farm ourselves, we are herbalist, not trained veterinary staff. The commentary and recipes found in the site are in no way to be interpreted as medical or veterinary advice. It is simply a composite of personal experiences and information we are freely sharing with you to read and research. Everything contained is anecdotal and it is your responsibility to evaluate your situation. We assume no responsibility if you are unable to use common sense.

Now let's get started !

Borax-Peroxide Mange and Flea Dip

Shopping List :

- 16 ounce bottle of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide - found at your local pharmacy or grocer

- 20 Mule Team Borax - found in the laundry aisle of your grocer and a mainstay of any household for it's many uses

- Milk of Magnesia (optional) - found at your pharmacy or grocer

Preparation :

16oz. bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide
32oz. of water (fill empty bottle of hydrogen peroxide twice)
Four (4) heaping tablespoons of 20 Mule Team Borax powder

Mix until you have a solution that is just to the point of saturation where the liquid base cannot accept any more borax. It is perfectly fine if there are undesolved particles.

Usage :

Pour over the freshly washed dog and do NOT dry them off ! Lightly dust your pet with a small amount of borax powder after applying solution; and if itching is a problem, spot treat with milk of magnesia. Use daily if treating a severe mange infestation, but can be used after each bath to keep under control and prevent future problems. Use you best discretion according to your pet's response.

TIP :

Milk of magnesia will help the itching and irritation; this can be added to the hydrogen peroxide and borax for stronger effect. Another helpful action is to add 1/8 teaspoon per liter of water of borax to the dog's water; causing the larger fleas to dry up and die at the same time.

This should work for several reasons:

Borax works by killing the insect, modifying the hormones to prevent egg laying, and at the same time causes their eggs to dry up. The borax powder that the dogs leaves in the house will kill the eggs even after the dogs no longer has mange. If done properly, re-infection is highly unlikely.

The hydrogen peroxide helps speed the healing process where the skin has been irritated. Additionally, it helps the borax penetrate the skin on a cellular level to kill the mange mites where they have burrowed.

If there are many "hot spots", you can swab milk of magnesia directly to them after the pet has dried off to soothe and aid healing.

Summary:

To get maximum benefits, it may be that your pet's diet may have to be adjusted. If you are feeding an inexpensive grocery brand of pet food with the main ingredient of corn, your pet may not be absorbing enough nutrients. When was the last time you saw a pack of wild cougars and wolves attack a corn field ? To see if your companion could benefit from a better diet, try a different variety for 30-45 days - just make sure the first ingredient on the label is a meat-based origin. If you notice less stool, less odor, shinier coat, and usually after 45 days, needing to feed less; your pet was probably malnourished by comparison to the new diet. Many people make the mistaken assumption that when their pet's appetite dwindles after a few weeks, that it is because they no longer enjoy the food; when in fact, it is because their metabolism has adjusted to the new diet. A healthy pet has a better resistant to many ailments, including fleas. If you have a problem with mange, you generally have a problem with fleas. Please read our page on flea control.