Among the plethora of allergens dogs may be exposed to, dust mites are often underrated, perhaps because of their microscopic size. It's natural to blame other triggers for Rover's itchy fits. This often results in delays in treating your dog's allergies, which can be quite an annoyance, since all it takes is a minimal amount of dust mite allergens to trigger annoying symptoms in dogs.
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Feeding Habits and Habitat
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Dust mites are often erroneously depicted as parasites, but they're not; indeed, these critters don't bite, sting or burrow their heads to feast on a dog's body. Rather, these translucent, insect-like pests thrive on a diet of dead skin cells found in dust. Dust mites thrive in places with humid, warm air and easy access to food. The indoor environment of many homes offers all of these amenities. Favorite living areas of dust mites include carpeting, upholstered furniture, curtains, mattresses and bedding.
Effects on Dogs
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Bringing dogs indoors exposes them to a protein found in the feces of dust mites, which causes a variety of allergic symptoms. Affected dogs develop itching, recurrent ear infections and skin conditions. Unlike pollen allergies, which are seasonal, dust mite allergies tend to linger year-long in most cases.
Combat Dust Mites
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Treating dust mite allergies requires totally eradicating these critters, or at least limiting exposure to them through air filters, special mattress covers, vacuuming, dusting and reducing humidity in their environment. Dust mite allergy symptoms in dogs can be temporarily managed through the use of medications and allergy shots. Always consult your vet about the health and treatment of your pet.
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