Mary Allen
The dog has mites – that’s not a nice diagnosis. In contrast to ticks, they do not usually transmit diseases, but a massive mite infestation can still trigger diseases. Here you will find tips on how to get rid of those annoying tormentors.
Depending on which mites have infested a dog, the causes and transmission routes can be of different nature. The treatment against the various subspecies of arachnids, on the other hand, usually follows the same pattern. Does your dog have mites? Then don’t hesitate and visit a vet immediately.
Recognize Mites in Dogs
General symptoms of a mite infestation are:
- severe itching in the affected area, which is noticeable through increased scratching
- dry, scaly, and/or reddened areas of skin, sometimes with scab formation
- Hair loss and bald spots in the coat, especially with mange
Shampoo, Medication, Home Remedies: What Kills Mites in Dogs?
Your veterinarian will determine whether your dog is actually infested with mites and recommend appropriate measures and medication for your animal. As a rule, this includes a mite shampoo for the dog and, if necessary, anti-inflammatory ointments and sprays (spot-on preparations) or tablets.
More tips to treat mites in dogs:
- The treatment should be repeated at short intervals, especially in long-haired dog breeds.
- If there are several animals in your household, you should treat the other furry friends as a precaution.
- You should wash textiles such as sleeping blankets or cuddly blankets for your animals.
For prevention and to support treatment by the veterinarian, home remedies against mites in dogs can also help:
- Apple cider vinegar can naturally fight mites. The dog only gets a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in the drinking water two to three times a week.
- Coconut oil is used for grooming and cleaning the dog’s ears. Rub the body of the fur nose regularly with a walnut-sized amount of coconut oil. It is best to clean the ears carefully with a cloth that you have previously soaked in liquid coconut oil.
- Baking soda can help heal inflamed skin. After consultation with your vet, you can dissolve a pinch of baking soda in warm water. Soak some cotton in the resulting solution and gently dab the affected areas of the skin.
- Sulfur flowers are also considered an effective remedy for mites in dogs. The flower is available in the form of an antibacterial powder that is administered over the feed daily for about two weeks. The dosage depends on the size of your pet and should be discussed with the veterinarian.
What Types of Mites are There in Dogs?
Like ticks, mites are arachnids and, as parasites, are dependent on a host. The following different subspecies exist of the annoying crawlers:
- Hair follicle mites also called Demodex mites
- Grass mites, also called autumn grass mites, autumn mites, or autumn lice
- Mange mites, including burrow mites
- ear mites
Hair follicle mites are often transmitted from the mother to the puppies after birth. They nest in the dog’s hair follicle and only cause problems when they multiply excessively because the four-legged friend’s immune system is weakened.
Grass mites affect dogs as well as cats and humans, but only when they are still larvae. They lurk on grass and are stripped off by the host animal while walking.
Mange mites can either be burrow mites (Sarcoptes) or Cheyletiella mites, sometimes hair follicle mites can also cause mange, but only if the dog’s defenses are severely weakened. Grave mites are usually transmitted from dog to dog, even without direct fur contact. Thankfully, Cheyletiella mites are very rare but highly contagious. Both mite species can spread to humans and cause scabies.
Ear mites are transmitted to dogs through direct physical contact and primarily affect puppies, more rarely adult animals. Their brownish, crumbly secretion is usually easy to see in the dog’s ears.
What Diseases Can Mites Cause in Dogs?
Most mites in dogs do not transmit diseases but can trigger allergic reactions. Dogs often have an allergy to grass mites in particular, which manifests itself in particularly extreme itching and a rash. The wounds caused by scratching can become infected.
If mites infest the dog’s ear, a secondary disease can be a middle ear infection, for example. In addition, the eardrum is sometimes affected and in the worst case, your dog can go deaf.
Hair follicle mites, in turn, can trigger what is known as demodicosis, a skin disease that can occur locally – i.e. on individual parts of the body – or anywhere on the dog’s body.