We always try the natural approach first. Alot, of the mange meds and antibiotics just kill their systems and can cause other problems. Were you told if the mange was hereditary or mites? Our middle bullie who is almost a year was diagnosed with mange at six months when she came into heat. The vet told us it was because of her early puberty and her immune system couldn't handle it. They gave us goodwinol ointment to use and suggested dipping if that didn't work. They are all poisons with side effects. The ointment just made it worse, she dug at herself to get it off and made the places larger. We stopped using it and put the gentian violet on it and all spots for whatever reason she got after that. It cleared the mange spot up and we've never had it to come back and all her other spots from playing or whatever we put it right on them and in a few days they are healed. She just stays purple in those spots for a week because the medicine is purple. You can buy it anywhere, we get it at wal-mart for around $1.50, a bottle last a long time, it is usually with the antibiotic ointments. How bad are her mange spots?
I hope this helps.... Please email us, if you have any more questions.

Go to Wal-mart in the pharmacy section and tell them what you are looking for. It will work, but give it some time with it having the oral meds. and dipping.
adam

Gentian violet is an anti-fungal medication. Demodex mites are microscopic creatures. How can gentian violet work on mites? I did a little internet search and found that it is used to treat doggy ear problems which I imagine could be a result of a fungal infection. On another site it said gentian violet is very poisonous to dogs and should not be used as a disinfectant. So I just wonder about its use for demodectic mange. I'd love to find some fast, easy cure for my Dolly. But if gentian violet is such a sure cure it looks like every vet would recommend it the minute they spotted a demodex mite.

and you don't know what this may do to her on top of the dip. Give it (the dip) a chance to do what it should ie kill off the mites. It may take 3 dippings 2 weeks apart but this usually does work IMHO faster than the Ivermectin does.
They do get sleepy and not want to play for a day or so after the dip but then they are OK. Remember she cannot get wet( even walked in the rain) after being dipped or the dip gets washed off as it is water soluble.

If G.V. were such a wonderful cure, then every vet would be recommending it to their patients. Hmmmm

Not if it is herbal, as with all doctors. They will not prescribe or recommend an herbal cure because they are not tested. I guess this is like recommending diluted clorox. I could not imagine doing that but there are people on here that swear by it. Its just ones own opinion. I thought this is what the forum was for to offer advise on ideas you've tried and then its up to the person to use that advise or not.

If the mange is hereditary it will work, if it is mite mange obviously it would not work. I would not feed the dogs the leaves or plant but the medicine from the store has not affected none of our dogs. I assume the vets don't recommend it because it it herbal and with all doctors they only use approved antibiotics and treatments.