Mites on Dogs
Mites on Dogs
Dogs are loved the world over as loyal and rewarding pets, and we put up with their propensity to be affected by skin mites and fleas as we enjoy their company to a great degree. Indeed, where mites on dogs are concerned there are two very common varieties, and while they are easy to treat it is equally easy to miss their presence and inadvertently allow the colony to grow beyond all expectation.
While know primarily as dog mites cats are also prone to the same sort of mites, although the ear mite is relatively uncommon as an infection found on dogs.
Looking at the two most common mites on dogs brings us to the subject of mange; mange is a condition that is not uncommon in dogs and cats (and also occurs in humans where it is more commonly known as scabies) and is caused by one of two types of mite that likes to live on dogs. Mites feed off the blood and, in doing so, have to pierce the skin, and where this causes irritation it can be exaggerated by the animals desire to scratch, something that we often succumb to.
The scabies mite, otherwise known as the itch mite, is a common cause of mange in dogs; this irritating little parasite – like all mites a member of the arachnid family – actually burrows into the skin to lay its eggs, and it is this action, when occurring with many mites in the same place, that helps to bring about the onset of sarcoptic mange, to give the variety its full title.
Demodectic mange is the second type, and is caused by a mite known as demodex canis which is unique to dogs and, in fact, occurs naturally among the hair follicles. For most dogs the mites cause no problem at all and the two exist happily together, but should the animal be weak or suffer from a damaged immune system the reaction to the mites presence induces a mange that is caused by these tiny parasites.
Treatment for both types of mange mite is generally by insecticide lotion and shampoo, which helps to soothe the skin while killing the mites, or by a number of ‘natural’ remedies that are said to have the same effect. The choice of which method to follow is up to the owner of the suffering pet, but a vet’s opinion is highly recommended in order that the correct affliction is treated.
