Mites on your dog are awful and unpleasant, not just for your pet but for you, too. These small parasites will increase rapidly, proliferate the skin of your dog and cause mange, which is a skin disease that leads to further discomfort and health problems. However, there are a few ways to get rid of them.
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Related: Puppy Flea Treatment – Best Practices
What Are Mites On Dog’s Skin?
As cousins of the spider, mites belong to the arachnid family. These parasites can be found pretty much everywhere in your home, and especially on your pets. Demodectic mite and Sarcoptic mite are the two species which are harmful to dogs.
The former is not contagious to humans and is a natural inhabitant on each dog. Demodectic mites are easily transferred from dog to dog and usually don’t cause any problems. However, if your dog has a weak immune system and its population gets out of control, its presence will cause your pet great discomfort and mange.
As for the Sarcoptic mite, it is very contagious and will affect people. For that reason, if you find any trace or symptom of this species on your pet or in your home, you have to react swiftly before the problems gets more serious. Do not take it lightly, because even casual contact should be a cause for alarm.
What Are the Symptoms of Mites?
If you own a pet, you should be skilled when it comes to noticing problems with your dog. Since ticks and fleas are visible to the naked eye, they are easy to pinpoint. However, mites are minuscule and for that reason you have to look out for symptoms like mange. There are some common symptoms which can give you a clue that your pet has a severe problem, but keep in mind that dogs react differently to mites. These include obvious discomfort, chronic itching, bad odor, rashes and sores, reddened skin, and hair loss which happens in patches.
How to Get Rid of Dog Mites? – Dog Mite Treatments
The treatment you choose to get rid of dog mites will depend on your preference in terms of trying to take care of the problem at home or visiting a vet, and the type of mite your dog has. Many people use home remedies to get rid of mites, but sometimes a trip to a veterinarian may be necessary if home treatments don’t work, or if the infection is serious. Common types of dog mites include mange, ear mites, and walking dandruff. Some common treatments include applying a soothing ointment, washing the dog with a medicated shampoo, and administering prescription medications.
- Getting Rid of Mange Mites
Mange mites can also be classified to as scabies. This type of mite is often passed from mother to puppy during the first few weeks of life, and most dogs have it. In most cases, mange mites only cause symptoms in dogs which are very old or have a weak immune system. The symptoms include scaly skin and hair loss which often begins around the dog’s face, but can spread over the entire body. Usually, a veterinarian is needed to prescribe or recommend the best treatment for mange. Some of the most effective treatments are shampoos, dips and lotions. - Getting Rid of Ear Mites
Ear mites live in a dog’s ears. Shaking the head and ears, scratching around the ears, and blood or a dark, coffee ground-like substance in your dog’s ear canal are the most common symptoms of this type of mite. So, how to kill mites on dogs? Drops which include an insecticide may help get rid of these parasites in the ears. You should massage these drops deep into the dog’s ear canal for at least 2 to 3 weeks. Slowly cleaning the entire ear each day will also help remove the mites. Many tick and flea medications will kill mites, but you should read the product label, because it usually states whether or not it works on mites. In addition, it is recommended that the entire body of the infected dog is treated, because ear mites can move to other areas of the skin. - Getting Rid of Walking Dandruff
Cheyletiella mite is another common type of dog mite. This type of mite is more commonly called “walking dandruff.” These mites can be seen moving in the fur of your pet. Flaky, itchy, and scaly skin on the dog’s back are the most common symptoms. Normally, a veterinarian will diagnose walking dandruff and prescribe a series of prescription baths. You will probably want to get rid of them quickly, since these mites can be transmitted between dogs and humans through close contact.
I have lived in big cities my entire life. Having grown up on the Upper East Side in Manhattan, my early life was an exciting one, filled to the brim with interesting encounters and opportunities popping up at every street corner. Like many city people, my passion for dogs first started when my parents decided to bring a puppy into the household. For them, it was a way of getting me to spend less time at his computer or wandering aimlessly around the city with my friends. Little did they know that bringing a Labrador Retriever into their apartment would determine not only the course of their son’s professional career but also my love life.
Having obtained a Computer Science Bachelor’s degree from Fordham University, I went on to pursue an IT career in the Big Apple. After a few years of doing basic cybersecurity and tech support work in various offices around Manhattan, I decided to leave New York and look for my calling in Boston, Massachusetts. There, I got a Master’s degree in Computer Science with a specialization in Web Development. As a means of supporting myself through college, he found a salesman job at a local paper company, where he met Mary, the love of my life and the person I’d end up creating My Sweet Puppy with.
