Grain mites are commonly found in dog food and might have an effect on your pet's health. These mites are extremely hard to detect because they are microscopic. Preventative methods can be taken to ensure your dog doesn't get irritated by these tiny creatures.
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Infestation
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Mites live off mold and fungus. The grain mite specifically lives off fungus growing or found on grain. The mites reproduce quickly when they are feeding on wheat germ, yeast, cheese, flour and powdered milk. Dry dog food contains these ingredients.
Types
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The Acarus siro is the most common type of grain mite. This type of mite feeds mainly on the germ of damaged grain. The mite might also go for moldy grain. To prevent the mites from feeding on these grains, be sure to clean the grain and store it in a dry and clean environment.
Symptoms
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If a dog ingests grain mites, it doesn't usually cause major harm to the pet. However, the mite can be a nuisance. The symptoms of a dog infected by grain mites can include itchy feet and ears and a skin rash or infection.
Infected Product
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If your product becomes extremely infected, it will need to be gotten rid of completely. Moderate infestations may be handled through chemical treatment. These common treatments may include using Fumigation.
Warning
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If you believe your pet or product has been infested by mites, seek professional advice immediately to prevent further damage or complications. Preventative measures are the best way to ensure that grain mites don't infest the pet or damage the product.
Treatment
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If your dog does become infected by grain mites, there are some treatment options available to help kill the mites. Many medications used to treat the mites need to be prescribed by a veterinarian. Other treatment options include medicated shampoos (such as PetAlive) that have ingredients which will help kill the grain mites.
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