While working at a vet in deep south Texas (right on the Mexican border) I have noticed some pretty unusual "animal ethics". Besides the total choas and lack of ownership and responsibility for their pets, the overpopulation of chihuahuas and fighting pit bulls(i like the breed- but they literally have large fighting rings down here), I'd say the place looks and acts like a third world country.
My questions is specificly on this strange thing people seem to have been doing: pouring Motor Oil on their Dogs! Somebody comes into their overdue vet appt. and their dog is oily and black and smells like a car engine. "What is on your dog?!" I thought he had a skin problem..."Oh, no it's motor oil-keeps the fleas and mange away". So, right out of the car and it goes on your dog and nobody knows where this crazy idea came from. It's commonly see with the people who have their dogs chained outside with a big heavyweight chains and they are dirty animals that are always underweight. The vet I asked has no idea why either, he tells people not to do it but after 40 years of trying to reason with the people down here is just rolls his eyes- they always keep doing it.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />Does anyone know where someone would get the idea that pouring used motor oil on your dog will keep fleas and mange away? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Looks like it was an old home remedy for mange ...
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=630&S=1&SourceID=42

Maybe someone took the idea from the use of dormant oil on plants. That's an oil you spray on the plant in the spring to suffocate any overwintering mites or insect.

I will not attempt to defend any of these peoples other actions, However, My father in Law used it on a few dogs many, many years ago when he was into dogs, and it DOES work most of the time. Though, I never heard leaving it on your dog. He would soak them in it, and leave them in it for about 2hours and then clean them off. It takes several baths and a couple of days to completely get rid of it, but it did cure mange, even when the dog was starting to get spottie, the dog then recovered from the mange and the coat actually grew back healthier. I seen one dog he treated like that and I'm not a doctor and can't tell you why, but I know it worked and fast.

Oh my gosh! I can't believe they actually thought it would help! Good article. Now I see where they were getting the idea. Poor dogs!
I actually rescued a doberman bitch that was found wandering on my property covered in motor oil and had just whelped. I let her roam for a few days thinking there were puppies to feed but she was starving herself. Several times she escaped her owners with a wire coat hanger on her neck and a bicycle chain that flesh was growing around as a collar. Backyard breeder I guess? Friendliest thing, so I took her to a rescue. Shows the kind of uneducation people have about animals.

Chris, many many years ago, I would guess is that the lube oils didn't have all the exotic chemicals that they have now. It just goes to show that a little applied information can be dangerous.

yeah, I just read the article. I wouldn't ever, never needed to either, but I guess my father in law was one of the lucky ones that it helped when it could have had a different outcome. I never knew what to make of it, but there it is from a doctor.

i suppose this thinking is along the same lines as the old farmers who put axle grease on dogs' ears to prevent fly bites. it worked, but that's not to say it was a good idea. i think some of these old home remedies came about because they had to make do with what they had.

I recall my dad talking about lard and sulphur being a cure for mange <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />. Sure glad none of my dogs had mange back then.

My parents used Crisco on our dogs ears and it did seem to work. To put it in perspective, they didn't put any bug spray or sunblock on us kids so the dogs were doing better than us <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />.

I know in the Philippines they normally use gas to treat ticks and fleas. They also use Malathion, a form of bug spray I think, for mange. They work, but I'd assume they weren't safe. You just have to keep the dog from licking its coat I guess.