Treating dogs for mites not only makes the dog feel better, but it will keep your other animals from catching mites also. Mites are microscopic and not always visible to the naked eye, but they can do some real damage to your dog's skin and make him feel truly miserable. Your dog will be more comfortable once you have treated the mites.
Things You'll Need
- Medicated shampoo
- Medicine from the vet
Instructions
Watch your dog. Look for signs of red skin and any signs that your dog might be uncomfortable because of his skin. Mites will burrow into the skin and cause itching. First look to see if your dog has fleas, and if there is no indication of fleas, consider that your dog could have mites.
Wash the dog with medicated shampoo, which can be found at local pet stores. This will help get rid of mites and sooth the dog's skin.
Take your dog to the vet and have them do a skin-scraping test. This will give the vet a chance to test your dog for mites and determine what kind he has. If mites are present, the vet will prescribe a treatment to get rid of them.
Apply the medicine prescribed by the vet to your dog's skin. Your vet may also prescribe a cream to help with the itching. Apply the cream after the medicine.
Take your dog back to the vet for a follow-up. Most vets will ask that you come back anywhere between a week and a month from your first visit. The vet will do another skin testing and see how your dog is doing. The vet may prescribe more medicine if the dog still has mites.
Give the dog antibiotics if your vet prescribes them. Sometimes dogs can get secondary infections due to scratching and biting the mites.
Follow all directions that you receive from the vet. Treat other animals in the house for mites if you suspect that they might have them also. Sometimes the vet will recommend that you treat all of the animals in the house at once so mites do not spread.