Mary Allen
Mites in dogs can be quite uncomfortable. If it crawls, pinches, and crawls, your dog could be infested. How do you recognize the parasites?
When your dog starts scratching, you should pick up a magnifying glass. Because then it may be that your darling has secret roommates that he can do without mites.
Mites in dogs are annoying at best, at worst they can affect the dog’s health. So that it doesn’t get that far, we will introduce you to the tiny parasites here and explain how you can recognize and treat them.
What are mites in dogs?
There is no end to the horror of parasites that can infect your dog. In addition to ticks, fleas, and worms, there are also tiny mites. The small pests belong to the arachnids and are technically called ectoparasites. In contrast to endoparasites such as the dreaded worms, ectoparasites do not live in the host organism but on it. In dogs, for example, they settle on or in the skin or fur.
Unlike other parasites such as ticks or fleas, mites do not usually transmit diseases. Nevertheless, you can significantly affect the health of the dog. Recognizing and treating a mite infestation in dogs is therefore an indispensable part of the tasks of dog owners.
How does the dog get mites?
The most common spread of mites is from dog to dog. A mutual sniffing, cuddling, or a little scuffle, and the mites move bag and baggage from one host to the next.
Another way to get infected is through other animals. Foxes and cats in particular can transmit mites to dogs (or vice versa). Some mite species are already passed on from the nursing mother to her puppies. Other species of mites, such as the grass mite, wait patiently in the grass for a dog to sniff by.
Mites usually feed on cell juice, blood, bacteria, lymph fluid, or dander.
How can you identify mites in dogs?
Luckily, a mite infestation is relatively easy to spot. Some of the most common dog symptoms are itching, hair loss, and/or irritated skin in the form of scales, papules, pustules, scabs, or wheals.
If you notice that your dog scratches a lot, examine your dog’s skin and coat more closely. If you also discover skin irritations, crusts, or similar things, a mite infestation is possible.
Symptoms vary depending on the mite species. Ear mites cause severe itching in the ears. Your dog may scratch his paws there more often or shake his head violently. The grass mite, in turn, primarily affects the paws and other parts of the body close to the ground of the dog. In “low-lying” breeds such as the dachshund, basset hound, or corgi, it can also affect the stomach, for example.
How can you prove a mite infestation?
Some species of mites can be seen with the naked eye if you look very closely. Others are only visible under a microscope. If you suspect a mite infestation in your dog, go to the vet in any case. He takes a so-called skin scraping and examines it under the microscope. Detection by swabs from the ears, from the hair roots, or by tissue samples is also possible.
What mites are there in dogs?
The world of parasites seems endless and so it is with mites. There are numerous types that spread in different ways, affect different areas of the dog, and produce different symptoms. These are the most common types of mites:
Grass mites or autumn grass mites
These troublemakers are quite common in dogs. They are one of the few species of mites that are transmitted from plants to animals. Grass mites actually feed on plant sap. However, the larvae need lymph fluid, which they get from dogs, for example, by biting themselves when they come into contact. The paws, legs, abdomen, chest, and underside of the neck are most commonly affected. Typical symptoms are very severe itching, constant licking and even gnawing on the paws or other places.
Grave mites or mange mites
Grave mites have their strange name because they like to dig. Namely – be careful, it gets a bit unappetizing – a tunnel about a centimeter long in the dog’s skin. This is where the eggs are laid. When the larvae hatch, the dog experiences severe and painful itching.
Initially, areas with very thin skin are particularly affected, such as the ears, muzzle, stomach, elbow, and hock joints. Spots and crusts form on the skin.
Grave mites or mange mites are considered highly contagious. Left untreated, this is very painful for the dog in the long term and can lead to weight loss, behavioral problems, and even death.
Ear mites
Ear mites like to infest dogs’ ears, hence their name. They particularly like the warm, humid climate in a dog’s floppy or standing ears. Ear mites feed on lymph fluid and usually settle in the external auditory canal.
Typical symptoms are itching, the dog shaking its head violently, and brown to black deposits or crusts in the ear canal. The latter is due to the increased production of earwax, which the dog’s body uses to try and fight the ear mites. Left untreated, it can lead to severe middle ear infections and eczema.
Nose mites
Some like ears, others noses. The nose mites are quite rare in Germany, but more common in Scandinavia. If you have planned a holiday with your dog in the far north, you should keep an eye on it. The mites settle in the nose and sinuses. There is itching, frequent sneezing, and possible breathing problems.
Fur mites or predatory mites
Fur or predatory mites are among those mites that you can see with the naked eye (or a magnifying glass). The mites then often look like “wandering scales”. They infest the dog’s fur and feed on tissue fluid and skin material. The back, head, ears, and croup are particularly affected. Typical symptoms of fur mites are dandruff, itching, scab formation, and hair loss.
Hair follicle mites
Hair follicle mites are actually considered to be natural roommates in animals with fur. Your dog also has more or less hair follicle mites to a certain extent. In most cases, the mites are transmitted by the mother in infancy. The mites usually live in the part of the hair that encloses the root of the hair. They feed on hair follicles and sebaceous glands.
So that the dog does not get an immunological or allergic reaction, they “kindly” store their feces in their own cells. A “normal” infestation with hair follicle mites does not usually cause any symptoms in the dog.
For reasons that are still unknown, hair follicle mites can multiply in certain cases, especially in young animals, to such an extent that it is referred to as demodicosis. This is a skin condition that can appear anywhere on the dog’s body. Demodicosis manifests itself in dry, scaly, and reddened areas of skin with possible hair loss. The itching is rather slight in local demodicosis. In generalized demodicosis, the infestation occurs all over the body and the itching is pronounced.
How dangerous are mites in dogs?
Unlike other parasites, mites do not transmit disease. A mite infestation is often more annoying and annoying than life-threatening for the dog. Nevertheless, an infestation should not be underestimated and should definitely be treated by a veterinarian.
If the mites spread unhindered, severe inflammation can occur. In addition, due to the sometimes unbearable itching, dogs can scratch the affected areas until bloody or even bite them. Bacteria or fungi can then get into the wound and lead to a serious infection.
In extreme cases, a mite infestation can be fatal, especially when it affects sick or old dogs. Here, however, death usually does not occur directly from the mites, but from associated consequences. These include secondary infection, starvation from lack of appetite, death from weakness, or from a heart attack. Unfortunately, this mostly affects stray or neglected dogs that do not receive appropriate treatment from a veterinarian.
Treatment: How to get rid of mites in dogs?
Treatment against mites should always be carried out by a veterinarian. There it is determined which mite species it is. Appropriate medication will then be prescribed. Therapy can take different forms:
- shampoo
- tablets
- spot-on preparations
- ointments or creams
- Douching liquids or tinctures (for ear mites)
- if necessary, antipruritic medication
- if necessary, agents for inflamed skin
- if necessary, antibiotics for secondary infections
How can you prevent mites in dogs?
Fortunately, you can protect your four-legged friend quite well from mites and prevent an infestation. Of course, you cannot prevent contact with other dogs (or humans). But there are other measures.
Prophylaxis
Today, many flea and tick prophylactics are also effective against many species of mites. Normally, veterinarians recommend remedies that help against all three types of parasites right from the start. If not, ask directly about mite preventatives. One treatment per month protects your dog well from the unwanted, crawling housemates.
The big cleaning
If your dog or another furry roommate in your household has been infected with mites and has been treated, the big cleaning begins now. Wipe and vacuum your entire apartment and then clean everything with a gentle contact insecticide. This includes all areas with which your dog has contact: car, sleeping basket, blankets, pillows, toys, transport boxes, and care utensils. In this way, you prevent your dog from being infected again with the annoying parasites as soon as he comes home.
Do home remedies help against mites in dogs?
Some dog owners swear by home remedies for mites. But similar to other parasites such as worms, only medical treatment with medication helps in the event of an infestation. There is no scientific evidence that home remedies help dogs against mites. You are only unnecessarily prolonging your dog’s suffering.
The best way to help your dog is to make sure he is always healthy and alert. A strong immune system also helps against many symptoms of a mite infestation and, ideally, prevents it from spreading more. A healthy, balanced diet and food supplements can therefore definitely help the dog, even if only as a preventive measure.
How long does it take to fight the mites?
The duration of treatment depends greatly on the type of mite, the extent of the infestation, and the form of the drug. If the mite is contagious, treatment can take up to six weeks. In the case of generalized demodicosis, it is even up to three months. Your vet is the best guide here. He will give you all the important information you need.
Can dogs transmit mites to humans?
Very briefly and painlessly: Yes, mites can be transmitted from dogs to humans if they come into contact with them. Luckily, not all mites are contagious to us. For example, ear mites and hair follicle mites do not like humans as hosts at all.
You should be careful if your dog is infested with fur mites or grave mites. These can also cause skin inflammation and itching in humans. The grave mite can also trigger the so-called pseudo scabies in humans.
When dealing with mites in dogs, it is, therefore, essential to ensure careful hygiene and wash clothing and similar things at least 60 degrees Celsius. If you notice strange skin irritations or other symptoms that you cannot explain, you should definitely go to your dermatologist. Because nobody wants secret roommates…