By definition, mites are crab-like parasites that reside on and in the skin, pores, hair follicles and hair coats of many mammals, including our dog and cat friends. Mites are invisible to the naked eye, measuring a few hundred millimeters in size, but they can cause headaches many times their size for us and our pets. The most common mites to affect our pets are:
– Demodectic mange — These mites are usually species specific, though one variety that infests our pooches can transfer to humans as well. Found in dogs and cats, demodectic mites live inside the hair follicles and sebaceous glands attached to the hair follicles, preferring the facial areas. The mites usually benefit from their feline or canine host without harming her, but demodectic mange can develop from an infestation if the dog or cat is weakened from another disease, is in poor condition or suffering from malnutrition. Dogs with short hair are more susceptible to demodectic mange than other dogs and cats.
– Ear mites — Cats are more affected by ear mites than dogs, especially kittens, and these can also occasionally infest humans. Ear mites are a frequent and major cause of inflammation of the cat’s external ear. A cat with ear mites suffers from intense itching, shaking his head, licking the affected parts and vigorously scratching his ears.
– Itch mite (feline scabies) — Though itch mites can occur globally, they are infrequent in the United States. These mites dig tunnels in the skin of cats to lay eggs which will eventually dig their own tunnels before becoming adults and repeating the process. Affected areas of skin will be thickened and wrinkled, forming crusts and scabs often with alopecia.
– Walking dandruff — This minute pest covers the gamut for infestation with its ability to infest cats, dogs and humans. Living on the skin surface, these mites feed on the major structural protein of the skin, keratin. Usually, infestations cause little to no skin inflammation, but in major infestations, the moving mites carry small skin scales giving off the impression the dandruff is moving.
– Nasal mites — Found globally, though infrequently, nasal mites affect dogs and cause symptoms such as chronic sneezing, nasal discharge, coughing, nasal bleeding and restlessness with large infestations.
– Canine scabies — Unfortunately, despite the name, the mites behind this condition are enzootic, but are highly contagious between dogs, transferring either directly or passively in the environment. The mites can cause major issues for your dog as they dig into the skin tissues which respond with allergic reactions to the mite saliva and feces. Affected skin will develop pimples and papules and have massive hair loss before progressing to hardening and thickening.
There is no clear cut way to prevent mites, only minimize their infestation once they are discovered. Additionally, mites themselves don’t directly cause a disease, but instead proliferate in number on an immune suppressed pet and cause secondary disease. Keeping your pet clean, healthy and well-nourished is essential for combating mite infestations. If your pet is infested, washing bedding and related items in very hot water or having them dry cleaned at high temperatures is highly recommended, as the high heat will accelerate the death of possible mites and eggs. Replacing all contaminated items is also an option. In households with more than one pet, whether the same species or not as the infested pet, thoroughly cleaning or replacing all tools for pet care is also recommended to avoid passive transmission of the mites.
There are three types of products on the market that contain synthetic parasiticides to control mites on dogs and cats. If you suspect your pet is suffering from a mite infestation, contact our clinic to set up a treatment plan and get her back to her much less itchy self!
