Solutions for Dog Mites

If your dog is experiencing skin or ear disorders, there's a chance it may be from mites. These tiny, spider-like creatures are parasites that feed off your dog's skin, blood and oils, often causing your dog a great deal of discomfort. Because most mites are too small to see, if you suspect your dog is infested, it's best to take it to a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. There are solutions for most mite infestations -- treatments vary depending on the type of mite.

  1. Otodetic Mange

    • More commonly known as ear mites, these parasites infest deep inside the ear canal causing itching, swelling and discharge around the ear. In some cases, these mites can also infest your dog's body. To get rid of ear mites, you should administer a parasiticide treatment in both the ears and the body for two to four weeks. Parasiticide ear drops and skin treatments are available at pet-supply stores and through your veterinarian.

    Cheyletiellosis: Walking Dandruff

    • These mites are highly contagious and cause itching and scaling. They live on the surface of the dog's skin and are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. To manage these mites, have your dog dipped in pyrethrins or lime-sulfur once a week for six to eight weeks. Since adult mites can survive off of the host for several days or even weeks, wash your dog's bedding in hot water and treat the area with flea-control spray.

    Canine Demodicosis

    • Demodex canis mites in small numbers are a normal part of a dog's skin, usually transmitted from mother to puppy during nursing. These mites only cause problems in cases of immune-system suppression or from a hereditary predisposition to disease. These mites infect sebaceous glands and hair follicles causing bald spots, discoloration and cysts. To treat your dog affected by these mites, you should wash it with benzoyl peroxide shampoo. Dips in amitraz have also proven effective.

    Trombiculosis: Chiggers

    • Trombiculosis is a common infestation caused by the parasitic larval stage of the harvest mite. These larvae are commonly called chiggers. They usually cluster on head, feet, ears and stomachs and can cause bumps, redness, irritation and hair loss. Itching may or may not occur. Treatment is difficult, and the best way to manage infestations is to keep pets away from areas known to harbor harvest mites. However, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual, lindane, amitraz, fipronil and pyrethroids have been shown to be helpful in both prevention and treatment.

    Sarcoptic Mange: Scabies

    • Scabies is a highly contagious infestation causing intense itching, lesions and crusts. Often, secondary yeast and bacterial infections occur in affected areas. Treatment consists of shaving your dog's hair and using an antiseborrheic shampoo to remove crusts. Lime-sulfur dips are highly effective against scabies and dogs should be dipped several times at five-day intervals. Scabies can also be treated internally with macrocyclic lactones available from your veterinarian.