How to Treat Canine Scabies with Cephalexin
Scabies is a condition caused by mites that tunnel and breed underneath your pet's skin. It is more than uncomfortable and itchy for your pet---it is also contagious in humans and other animals. Before you can treat your dog's skin infection, you'll have to first address the infestation by consulting with your veterinarian about grooming and medication. Your vet may then prescribe cephalexin, an anti-microbial cephalasporin antibiotic, to treat your pet's skin. Here are directions for treating your dog's scabies with cephalexin (brand name Keflex.)
Instructions
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Ask your veterinarian about treating your dog's scabies-infected skin with cephalexin. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the antibiotic for use in pets, it is a commonly prescribed "off-label" medication to treat infections of the skin in dogs and cats.
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Administer 10 to 15 mg of cephalexin per pound every 8 to 12 hours, as prescribed by your dog's veterinarian. The medication comes in liquid or pill form, so if your dog has trouble swallowing pills, ask for the liquid suspension, and mix it into his food.
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Make sure to continue giving your dog its medication until it is all gone. It is probable that your dog's symptoms will improve dramatically within a day or two, but keep administering the medicine.
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Keep your dog comfortable while she is healing by combing through her fur on a regular basis, checking for mites or other problems. Use a soothing shampoo with an antifungal agent to relieve itching and irritation. Try to keep your dog from biting, scratching or otherwise irritating her infected skin. You may have to use an Elizabethan (funnel) collar if her biting is persistent.
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Tips & Warnings
Watch for signs of an allergic reaction, and take your dog to the vet immediately should you notice hives, shortness of breath, a swollen tongue, face or lips, vomiting, diarrhea, bruising or mucus or blood in his stool.
Resources
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