Mighty Mites!
Dogs and cats as well as birds, guinea pigs and other animals can be infested with various types of external parasites including several types of mites. Mites are eight-legged arachnids, members of the same family as spiders and ticks. There are three main types of mites that affect our pets as discussed below.
All of these mites can are relatively easy to diagnose with skin scrapings or by taking material from the ears and looking at it the under the microscope, though sarcoptic mites are sometimes difficult to find. All are treatable though some cases of demodex and scabies can cause severe skin disease and may be difficult to completely resolve. If your pet has a skin problem, make sure your vet checks him out. A skin scraping or ear swab may be recommended to rule out mites as the cause of disease.
This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.
425 E Broadway
Red Lion, PA 17356