How to Treat Mange in a Collie

With their long luxuriant fur, the hair loss associated with mange is easily visible in collies. Collie owners should take advantage of this early warning and treat their pets before the hair loss and miserable itching make the dog suffer for very long.

Unfortunately, a collie's long, thick coat means the application of the medication to the dog's skin is much more labor-intensive than it would be for a breed with a shorter coat. Extra care and perseverence is needed to completely rid your pet of the disease.

Things You'll Need

• Mitaban
• Comb
• Brush
• Benadryl
• Vitamins
• Ester-C

Instructions

1. Take your dog to the veterinarian. Mange and the specific type of mange (sarcoptic versus demodectic) can only be diagnosed by a veterinarian. Demodectic mange can often be an indicator of an underlying health problem like diabetes or kidney problems, so have your vet give your collie a thorough checkup.

2. Apply the treatment as directed. Your vet will probably give you a mange treatment product like Mitaban which will need to be applied to your collie daily or weekly. Follow the treatment instructions carefully.

3. Use a comb and brush. In order to get the Mitaban onto your collie's skin, rather than just saturating the coat, use a dog comb and/or brush to part the fur and expose the skin.

4. Help alleviate the itch. Mange itches, and even though it is not an allergy, your collie may benefit from an oral dose of plain Benadryl pills to help alleviate her discomfort. Give her one per 20 pounds of body weight, and wrap the pill in a piece of cheese or lunch meat to make it go down easier.

5. Boost your collie's immune system. A daily dog vitamin and Ester-C (dispensed with the above-mentioned cheese or lunch meat) will help boost your collie's overall health; demodex mange is often caused by a weakened immune system that allows the mites to breed faster than usual. Ester-C is a non-citrus-based source of vitamin C and is safe for pet consumption.

Tips & Warnings

• Sarcoptic mange is contagious; take basic hygiene precautions when treating your pet so you don't become infected yourself.

References

• Collie Dog Owners--Mange and other parasite disorders
• Collie Health--Skin Diseases