Recognizing and Treating Dog Mites

Many owners are concerned about mites on dogs, how they can be prevented, and dog mite treatment options. We’ve put together a guide on dog mites to help you out.

What Are Dog Mites?

Mites are tiny creatures, usually under a centimeter long, that burrow into your dog’s skin and cause irritation and inflammation. Mites are a fairly common health concern for dogs. They are parasites that can cause a range of skin conditions, from dry skin to hair loss. Mites live in the fur, or sometimes in the ears, and can make life uncomfortable for your dog. Mites are also what cause “mange,” a well-known skin condition in dogs.  

According to Dr. RuthAnn Lobos, Purina Veterinarian, “The skin is the largest organ in the body and proper nutrition is necessary to support it fully. Ectoparasites, like mites, can take advantage if the skin is weakened or the immune system is compromised. Early diagnosis and treatment can help clear things up faster. Stay vigilant.”

The skin is the largest organ in the body and proper nutrition is necessary to support it fully. Ectoparasites, like mites, can take advantage if the skin is weakened or the immune system is compromised. Early diagnosis and treatment can help clear things up faster. Stay vigilant.

       – Dr. RuthAnn Lobos, Purina Veterinarian

What Health Conditions Do Dog Mites Cause?

If your pet is infested with dog mites, it is known as a condition called mange. The common types are “sarcoptic mange” and “demodectic mange.” Other conditions caused by mites include cheyletiellosis and trombiculosis, also known as “harvest mite” infestation. Ear mites live in the ear canals of dogs and can cause severe discomfort, so it’s extremely important to keep a look out for dog ear mites.

How Do I Tell if My Dog Has Mites?

Sarcoptic mange is a very itchy and unpleasant dog skin condition that can also affect humans. Affected dogs can cause damage to their skin and coat with constant scratching, leaving redness and sometimes scabs.

Demodectic mange is a serious skin complaint that causes hair loss, reddening, sore areas, scaling, crusting, lesions, and the darkening of chronically affected skin. It usually affects younger dogs and those with immunosuppressive conditions and can be very serious if left untreated.  

Dog Mite Symptoms

If you notice the following symptoms in your dog, they may have mites:  

• Hair loss (either in patches, or all over their coat)
• Dandruff
• Excessive scratching
• Visible irritation, such as red skin

You may even be able to see mites on their skin. Part the fur and look closely.

Diagnosing Mites in Dogs

You might be able to tell if your dog has mites by carefully studying their skin. If they’re scratching, biting, or chewing themselves excessively, you might suspect they have mites and should take a closer look.  

Your veterinarian, however, is the best person to diagnose mites in your dog. They will be able to tell what kind of mites your dog has and how they should be treated.  

Your veterinarian will usually diagnose mites by doing a “skin scrape” to exfoliate cells and a few hair follicles under the microscope, which is an entirely safe procedure. This will help them identify the type of mite affecting your dog.  

Dog Mites Treatment

The good news is most mite infestations resolve on their own or can be treated with various types of treatment. Medicines that are typically used to treat mites include dips, spot-ons, and oral pills. Your vet may provide you with one of these treatments to help get rid of a more serious infestation, such as scabies. Sometimes more than one dog mite treatment will be used at a time, and they may have to be administered for a while. The only thing you can do is be patient and persevere, and soon your dog will be mite-free!  

How Do Dogs Get Mites?

While demodectic mange mites are not contagious, sarcoptic mange mites are. Dogs can pick up sarcoptic mange mites from a number of places. They are usually passed from dog to dog, but they can come from their environment, too.  

Your dog can catch mites through close contact with another dog that has them, such as at an animal shelter or grooming facility. They can also pick up mites from contaminated environments, such as bedding or other surfaces where mites are present. Sarcoptic mange is usually diagnosed with a skin scraping, where a veterinarian collects a small skin sample and examines it under a microscope for mites. Since the mites can be difficult to find, your veterinarian may recommend treatment based on your dog’s symptoms and monitor how they respond. In some cases, additional tests, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, fecal test, or skin biopsy, may be needed if the diagnosis is unclear or your dog isn’t improving. Your dog may also pick them up from another dog when you’re out and about on a walk.  

Dog mites may also continue to live in the environment, such as in your dog’s bed or in the carpet, after they or another dog has been contaminated. Your dog can then pick them up again, which is why you should make sure everything is clean and mite-free after a known infestation.  

How to Prevent Dog Mites

The best way to prevent dog mites is to ensure your dog doesn’t come into close contact with a dog who has them or in a contaminated environment that has mites. This can be tricky, as you won’t always know, but keep an eye out if they come into contact with an unfamiliar dog or setting.  

Preventing the spread of mites is an important part of treatment. Keep your dog away from other dogs until your veterinarian says they are no longer contagious. Since all dogs in the household may have been exposed, your veterinarian may also recommend treating them. Wash your dog’s bedding, collars, harnesses, blankets, bowls, and other washable items in hot water or diluted bleach. Replace items that can’t be thoroughly cleaned and vacuum your dog’s living areas to help reduce the risk of reinfestation. Although sarcoptic mites survive only a short time away from a host, cleaning your dog’s belongings and surroundings can help prevent mites from spreading back to your dog or other pets.

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For more tips from Purina experts on how to prevent or treat dog parasites, explore our other dog parasite articles.