Common Skin Mites that Affect Dogs

Because they are so common, when pets start scratching incessantly, most owners automatically think, “Fleas!” But believe it or not, the pesky parasites aren’t always to blame. There is another insect that is every bit as troublesome as the flea, and may be much harder to detect. As the name implies, mites are tiny, mostly are microscopic insects. When a dog suffers from mite infestation, he will typically scratch, chew, and even gnaw on his own skin in a vain attempt to end the pain. This mastication typically results in loss of fur and large, raw patches of irritated and injured skin. These inflammations will only get worse unless they are treated with products that are specifically designed to kill mites.

Also known as mange, mite infestation is a serious condition. Just imagine if droves of almost invisible insects were burrowing into your skin, feeding on your blood, and laying eggs and multiplying at an incredible pace! Sound bad? It is! Manage is an agonizing skin condition that is fortunately 100 percent treatable.

Common Mite Infestation Symptoms

As we mentioned at the outset, when most pet lovers see their dogs scratching, they typically treat them for fleas. But most shampoos are designed to kill fleas and ticks, not microscopic mites. Furthermore, there are three specific types of mange and each is treated in different ways. Thankfully, all of them have similar symptoms, which make them easy to diagnose in most cases.

Because they have parasites feeding on their blood, most dogs that have mites are consistently tired or lethargic. They may also have red, irritated, inflamed skin from all of the scratching. Hair or fur loss is quite common in extreme cases and sleeping may be interrupted. A strong, septic smell is a reliable sign of a serious infection that is cause by a particular type of mange.

There are three different types of manage that dogs may suffer from: Demodectic Mange, Sarcoptic Mange, and Cheyletiella Mange. Out of the three, only Demodectic Mange is not highly contagious. Only a trained veterinarian has the experience to accurately identify which type of mange your pet is afflicted with. Let us take a moment to discuss the most common symptoms associated with each of them.

Also known as Red Mange, the Demodectic variety is seen mostly in puppies, as it is inherited from the mother. Hair loss is usually seen first around the eyes, muzzle, and feet. There is no known cure for this strain of manage, but it is treatable. Outbreaks should be treated as soon as they occur, or the pet will suffer needlessly and his lost hair or fur may not grow back.

Sarcoptic mange is a slightly less serious condition, at least for dogs. Yes, just at you can get fleas from your pet, you can get Sarcoptic mites (also known as scabies) from them as well. They are highly contagious! These mites cause intense itching, for both humans and canines. The good news is that they don’t dig as deep as other mites, which means they are easier to kill. Sarcoptic mites also don’t cause infections, as Demodectic ones often do. There are many topical creams, sprays, and ointments that are designed specifically to treat outbreaks of canine scabies.

While it is easily the most difficult to pronounce, Cheyletiella Mange is the least serious type of mite infestation. It is considered a mild skin condition that is also known as walking dandruff. Because these mites live on the outer, epidermal layers of the dog’s skin, they are comparably easy to kill. Just like Sarcoptic mites, these insects can find and survive off human hosts!

Dogs that have this form of the disease may not experience common mange symptoms. In other words, they may not scratch themselves more frequently than they normally do. However, most dogs do experience increased itching and at least some hair loss as well as scaly skin.

No matter which form of mange your pet has, treatment can be expensive. Prescription medications to deal with frequent outbreaks can cost hundreds of dollars a year, or more! Not to mention the veterinary bills! Few people who live on fixed incomes can afford these additional costs, which means they have to watch their furry friends suffer. Remember, no form of mange will go away on its own. It is a degenerative disease, i.e. it will only get worse unless it is treated.