Mighty Mites!

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.

•  Demodex mites are long, cigar-shaped mites that live in hair follicles. These mites are not contagious, but they commonly affect puppies or animals with poor immune systems.  Demodex mites cause patchy to widespread hair loss, itching and sometimes scaly dry skin. A separate species called Demodex gatoii can infect cats
• Sarcoptic mites are round and burrow under the skin causing the condition known as scabies or mange.  Cats are rarely affected but in dogs the disease is highly contagious and causes intense itching, bright red skin and hair loss and often affects the underside and ears, but can spread over the entire body.  People are sometimes also affected with mange.  Wild animals like fox, squirrels, skunks and coyotes can also carry mange. Sarcoptic mites are spread from one animal to another by close contact or contact with a contaminated environment.
• Ear mites or Otodectes live in the ear canals of cats and dogs.  More common in kittens and cats, especially those who live outdoors, these mites cause a thick, black, dry debris to form in the ears and often cause the ears to be very itchy. 

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.