Dog & Cat Mites

Mites come in various forms and are classified as ectoparasites, which live on the outside of their chosen host. These parasitic organisms can live on the outside of a cat or dog, feeding off of the host while not killing it. With severe cases, however, they can cause significant health problems for the infested animal.

  1. Treatments

    • Mites usually feed on blood and can cause severe irritation of the skin as they scrape, bite and bury their way through the skin. This in turn will make the animal scratch intensely, which can create open sores that then can become infected. Treatment for mites can come in a number of forms, including injections, oral medication, topical creams, and dips or shampoos. Although there are a number of effective treatments on the market, it can take a number of weeks to eradicate an infestation and a re-occurrence of mites is not out of the question.

    Ear Mites in Cats and Dogs

    • The medical name for ear mites is Otodectes cynotis and they can affect cats and dogs. These mites live in the ear canal and feed on the bodily fluids within the ear. This can cause irritation and redness of the ear canal, and can sometimes create swelling of the surrounding glands. Luckily, ear mites are fairly easy to diagnose and treat. A veterinarian takes a sample of debris from the animal's ear that is suspected of having ear mites, and places it under a microscope to see if mites are present. If mites are found, the veterinarian will prescribe the appropriate treatment, which may be an oral medication, a topical cream or ear drops.

    Mange in Cats and Dogs

    • Mange is a general term for a few types of mites in both canines and felines, but almost all of them cause irritation of the skin with scratching and open sores. These sores can become infected, at which point antibiotics should be prescribed as well as the medication to get rid of the mites.

    Cat and Dog Scabies

    • Sarcoptic mange also is known as scabies and can infect humans as well as dogs. These mites have been known to infest cats, but it is a rare occurrence. Cat scabies is caused by a different type of mite known as notoedric mange. Both types of mange can cause loss of fur and dry, crusty, irritated skin. This is due to the mites burying under the skin and feeding on the blood of their host.

    Demodectic Mange

    • Demodectic mange is a type of mite that is almost always present in the skin. Normally, the quantities of these mites are not sufficient to cause any irritation, as a cat or dog's immune system will keep them at bay. When a feline or canine's skin starts to react to demodectic mange, it is often a sign of an underlying problem with the animal's immune system.

    Cheyletiella Mange Mites

    • Cheyletiella mange mites are slightly larger than the other forms of mites previously described. They usually are a red color and can be seen with a magnifying glass. This type of mange also is known as walking dandruff, as the mites produce dandruff and move around the skin in large groups. Cheyletiella mites don't normally cause as much irritation as other mites and they have a much shorter life span.