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Mites can infest many different parts of your dog’s body. Their seasonal appearance and where they settle on your dog depend on the type of mite involved. But how can you recognise and combat mites in dogs? In this article, you’ll find out which types exist, what vets recommend to tackle them, and the symptoms these parasites can cause.
Typical symptoms of a mite infestation in dogs include intense itching, hair loss, dandruff and various skin changes such as redness or crusting.
Take the signs seriously: If you suspect mites, you should promptly consult your vet, as only a professional diagnosis can ensure the right treatment is started.
Since mite infestations can be highly contagious , it’s important to keep your affected dog temporarily away from other animals and peopleto prevent transmission.
Treatment usually involves special antiparasitic medication and can last several weeks. In addition, your dog’s environment (dog beds, blankets, toys) must be thoroughly cleaned to prevent re-infestation.
Are Mites Dangerous for Dogs?
Mites belong to the arachnid family and are therefore related to ticks. Whether a mite infestation becomes a risk to your dog depends on several factors.
Firstly, the type of mite and its lifestyle play a role. Secondly, your dog’s current health status is also important. A weakened immune system makes a parasite infestation more likely.
Can Mites Transmit Diseases to Dogs?
Unlike ticks or mosquitoes, the most common types of mites do not transmit infectious diseases to dogs. Nevertheless, they can trigger an allergy or other illnesses in your dog, such as mange.
Can a Dog Pass Mites on to Humans?
While Demodex mites are adapted specifically to dogs, many mite species are not host-specific. This means they can spread from your dog to you or your family and cause symptoms.
Note: If you notice any signs, you should consult your GP.
What Types of Mites Affect Dogs?
There are numerous types of mites that can infest and trouble your dog. Here we introduce the five most important types of mites:
1. Harvest Mites (Trombicula autumnalis)
The larvae of the harvest mite (also known as grass mites) are about the size of a pinhead and have a characteristic orange-red colour. Their name comes from their seasonal appearance, as harvest mites only infest dogs in late summer and autumn.
2. Ear Mites (Otodectes cynotis)
Ear mites prefer to live in a dog’s outer ear canal. In severe cases, they can also spread to the skin around the ear.
A typical sign of an ear mite infestation is intense itching and the production of a brownish-black discharge, similar to coffee grounds.
3. Cheyletiella Mites (walking dandruff)
Cheyletiella mites are highly contagious and affect not only dogs but also cats, rabbits, and humans. They live on the surface of the skin and feed on tissue fluids.
These dandruff-like mites cause cheyletiellosis – a skin condition that leads to flaking skin and occasionally itching .
4. Mange Mites (burrowing mites, Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis)
Mange mites (also known as burrowing mites) are very host-specific. They are found mainly in dogs, foxes and martens.
As the name suggests, the female mite burrows tunnels into the host’s skin, where she lays eggs and deposits faeces. While burrowing, she feeds on dead skin cells and tissue fluids.
In dogs, mange mites therefore cause skin irritation and sometimes allergic reactions. The result is an almost relentless and unbearable itch.
Demodex mites (also known as hair follicle mites) are normal inhabitants of the skin of furry mammals. They live and reproduce in hair follicles and sebaceous glands and cannot survive in the outside environment.
In small numbers, this type of mite causes no symptoms. However, excessive multiplication of Demodex mites can lead to demodicosis, which may take various forms.
Symptoms: How Can I Tell if My Dog Has Mites?
The signs of illness your dog shows depend not only on the type of mite, but also on the extent of the infestation.
For example, demodicosis in dogs can cause different symptoms from an infestation with Cheyletiella mites. If your dog’s immune system is weakened, this can result in a more severe infestation.
Mild to Severe Cases
In many instances, mite bites in dogs cause only unpleasant symptoms, such as itching or flaky skin.
However, certain types of mites or a heavy infestation can, at a certain point, become a risk to your dog. For example, if the mites suck a lot of blood and this leads to anaemia in your dog.
Secondary Infections
If your dog experiences severe itching and scratches excessively, they may cause small wounds. If bacteria or other germs enter these wounds, inflammatory secondary skin infections can develop.
Recognising Mites in Dogs: Can You See Mites?
Depending on the species, mites grow to a maximum of just 0.5 millimetres and are therefore not visible to the naked eye.
Mites in dogs often cause uncomfortable symptoms such as itching or flaky skin.
Diagnosis: How Are Mites Detected in Dogs?
Your vet has various diagnostic methods available to detect a mite infestation. The choice depends on the suspected type of mite:
Superficial and Deep Skin Scrapings
By gently scraping the upper layers of your dog’s skin with a scalpel, your vet performs what is known as a superficial skin scraping. For a deep skin scraping, they scrape more deeply to detect mites that live further down in the skin, such as Demodex mites.
The sample is then examined under a microscope.
Adhesive Tape Test
In this method, the vet presses a strip of clear adhesive tape onto your dog’s coat and skin. The material that sticks to the tape is then examined under a microscope.
This method is suitable, for example, for detecting Cheyletiella mites.
Swab
An ear swab is useful if there is a suspicion that your dog may have ear mites.
Your vet will then also examine this sample under a microscope to identify the tiny ear mites.
Treatment: How Do I Get Rid of Mites in Dogs?
Before starting treatment for mites in your dog together with your vet, you should note the following points:
With some types of mites, it is important to treat not only the affected dog but also all other susceptible pets in the household.
Treatment often needs to be repeated several times to eliminate all stages of the mites’ life cycle.
For dogs with very dense or long coats, trimming the fur may be necessary to ensure the treatment works effectively.
Treating Mites with Medication
To combat mites, various medications are available in different forms.
These range from mite- and tick-killing (acaricidal) active ingredients in shampoos or drops to tablets, ointments or spot-on treatments.
Supportive Treatment
In severe cases, additional medication may be required alongside antiparasitic treatment. These include, for example, antibacterial shampoos or antibiotics in the case of bacterial secondary infections.
Allergic reactions may, in some cases, require antihistamines.
Hygiene Measures
To successfully tackle mites, you must also remove mites from your dog’s environment:
For mechanical cleaning, vacuum and mop your home thoroughly.
Wash your dog’s bed and blankets at over 60 degrees Celsius. Alternatively, you can freeze textiles.
Pet carriers and other grooming tools such as dog brushes and combs should also be cleaned thoroughly and consistently. Certain sprays can help you kill mites in the environment. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Are There Home Remedies for Mites?
Some home remedies, such as coconut oil or apple cider vinegar, are said to help affected animals with parasite infestations. However, their effectiveness has not been conclusively proven.
To effectively combat mites in your dog and provide quick relief, it is therefore essential to work closely with your vet.
Preventing Mites in Dogs: How to Protect Your Dog
By providing your dog with suitable parasite protection , you can help prevent a mite infestation. Most tick prevention products are also suitable for protecting against many types of mites.
These are available in the form of spot-on treatments and tablets . Active ingredient-treated collars are also available on the market.
Important Note: The content provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet's health, please always consult a licensed veterinarian.
This article was translated using Artificial Intelligence from the original German zooplus Magazine. While the original content was authored by industry experts and reviewed by our editorial team, this automated translation has not been human-edited and is provided for informational purposes.
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene.
Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future.
Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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