Chances are, your dog loves a good long walk to explore lots of new sights and smells. However, those lovely walks in the outdoors can come with some unwanted ‘guests’ such as mites and fleas. These creepy crawlies live on your friend’s skin and hair, and they happily breed there.
If your dog comes home with mites, you don’t want to take a trip to the vet or a grooming salon every time. Most mite infestations resolve themselves, but some can cause irritated skin and health complications if left untreated.
Here’s how to eliminate these pesky critters in the comfort of your own home. First, let’s look at the types of mites that could make their home on your pet.
Types of mites
There are four types of mites that cause symptoms that lead to mange and other skin irritations and conditions. These are:
Sarcoptes scabiei, or canine scabies. These mites aren’t easy to spot as they burrow into the skin. If you develop a patch of discolored skin or a minor red rash, you may have contracted these mites from your dog. You can treat the problem easily by taking a bath or shower.
Otodectes cynotis, or eat mites. These critters often leave behind a black or reddish-brown ear crust. Check that your dog doesn’t have an ear infection, as the signs are similar.
Cheyletiella yasguri, or walking dandruff mites. These mites stay on the surface, hence their name. As with canine scabies, any discolored skin or slight rash means you may have caught these from your dog. A quick bath or shower should solve the problem for you.
Demodex canis. These mites are common ones on healthy dogs but can cause damage if left untreated, or if on dogs with compromised immune systems. They live in the hair follicles and don’t spread to humans. If your dog has patchy skin on his face, it could be a sign of demodectic mange, which can spread to the rear and be deadly, so visit your vet immediately.
How to tell if your dog needs treatment
Some common symptoms of a mite infestation that needs treatment are:
- Loss of hair
- Skin that is red or irritated
- Skin that is scabby or with scales
- Intense itchiness
- White flakes
- Dark-colored ear residue (rust-colored residue could also be a sign of an ear infection)
Mites tend to concentrate themselves on the parts of your dog’s body with less hair, such as the stomach, armpits, elbows, and around the outside of the ears.
If you suspect your dog has mange, do take them to the vet to make sure that mites are causing the problem, as other skin ailments can have similar symptoms.
Natural remedies for mites
There are many medications available for treating mites that your vet could give you, as well as some over-the-counter options.
However, if you think your dog has a light case of mites and you wish to treat this yourself, you can try some natural remedies, such as:
Baking soda. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of warm water. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture, and rub it around the affected area. Do this every day till you’re sure the mites are dead.
Tea rinse. Green tea is a natural antiseptic and can flush out mite debris from the ears. Steep one tablespoon of green tea leaves in one cup of hot water for 4 minutes. Strain the tea and let it cool, then soak a cotton ball in the mixture and apply it where needed. Do this daily for one month.
Olive oil. Crush 4 garlic cloves in a cup of olive oil and let it infuse overnight. The next day, strain the oil and apply it with cotton to the affected area.
Note: do not put tea or any other treatment into your dog’s ear.
Treat your furnishings too
Mites don’t just live on your dog – some types will infest the bedding, furniture, and carpets, too. If you have a handy Chasing Tails or another kind of ramp, chances are your friend spends lots of time snuggled up to you on the sofa or the bed.
This means that to make sure the treatment is fully adequate, you’ll want to clean your bedding thoroughly. Wash all of your sheets, towels, etc., in hot water and run them through the dryer on a high heat setting.
Steam clean your carpets, and wash or replace any furniture fabrics that could be infested.