Right of the bat, you need to know that nothing you do will totally prevent mange. Unless you keep your pet in a sealed box, totally closed off from the outside world, your pet is susceptible to mange. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to minimize the chance of a mange infection. Here are the top ten best ways to prevent mange.

1. Avoid other mangy critters. If you know that another animal has mange, or even suspect that it does, keep your pet away.
2. Avoid suspicious animals, stray animals, and wild animals. Stray animals carry diseases and conditions that you don’t want your pet to pick up. Assume that any stray animal or wild animal is infected, and steer clear.
3. Keep your pet away from animal shelters and humane societies. Again, the problem of infected animals are presents at these locations.
4. Keep your pet clean. A regular scrub-down, and rinse-off is recommended. Use a high-quality shampoo and wash thoroughly.
5. Maintain an anti-parasite treatment regimen. Once a month, use the OTC ointment that helps to keep your pet parasite and mite-free.
6. Make sure your pet eats well. Your animal should maintain optimal health to fight disease, including mange. Being well-fed is the way your pet stays healthy.
7. Keep up with your pet’s vaccinations. As a first line of defense against diseases, your pet should be vaccinated. Keep this schedule strictly and you’ll avoid a lot of diseases, not just mange.
8. Inspect your pet thoroughly. Every so often—we recommend monthly—give your pet a careful visual once-over. Inspect the legs, ears, face, nose, behind, back—basically everywhere—to check for any sign of trouble.
9. Take your pet for a stroll. Your pet should be getting enough exercise. Again, it is important for your pet to stay healthy, and that includes regular physical activity. A weak pet is a pet with a suppressed immune system. A suppressed immune system means higher susceptibility to mange.
10. Try to keep your pet’s life stress-free. Animals, like humans, respond negatively to stress. Research has shown that pets which live in stressful conditions are more likely to contract harmful diseases, including mange.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, nothing will guarantee that your pet stays mange-free, but you can help. As it turns out, the best help you can give your pet—the best ways to prevent mange—is just common sense TLC.