How to Treat Dog Mites?

When you find your lively and cute dog scratching its body frequently, its hair becomes rough, sparse, and even red spots and scabs appear, your heart must be pounding. After inspection, it was found that the dog had contracted mites, and the concern and heartache became even stronger. Although mites are small, they can cause great pain to dogs. As the closest guardian of dogs, understanding how to treat mite infections in dogs is the key to providing them with timely help and care.

Common mites on dogs include scabies mites and demodex mites. Scabies mites are small in size and almost invisible to the naked eye, but they can dig tunnels on the surface of a dog's skin, feeding on the stratum corneum tissue and lymphatic fluid, causing severe itching. Dogs infected with scabies mites may have red spots, papules, and in severe cases, blisters on their skin. After the blisters rupture, scabs will form and hair will also fall off. Dogs will constantly scratch and bite their skin due to itching, which can even affect their sleep and appetite, and their mental state will become listless.

Demodex mites mainly parasitize in the hair follicles and sebaceous glands of dogs, causing hair follicle blockage and skin inflammation. Dogs infected with Demodex mites may initially only experience local skin depilation and erythema. As the condition progresses, the depilation area gradually expands, the skin becomes rough, thickened, and may even have dandruff. Unlike scabies mite infection, demodex mite infection generally does not cause strong itching, but if secondary bacterial infection occurs, symptoms such as pustules and ulcers may appear, which can also cause great pain to dogs.

Once signs of mite infection are found in dogs, timely treatment measures should be taken. The treatment of scabies mite infection usually requires the use of drugs containing ingredients such as ivermectin and doramectin. These drugs can be administered subcutaneously or orally, and the specific dosage and course of treatment should be based on the weight and severity of the dog's condition, under the guidance of a veterinarian. While using medication for treatment, it is also necessary to thoroughly clean and disinfect the dog's living environment. Mites prefer to survive in warm and humid environments, so it is necessary to regularly clean dog beds and toys, soak them in hot water, and expose them to sunlight to kill mites and their eggs. In addition, dogs should avoid contact with other animals infected with mites to prevent reinfection.

For demodex infection, the treatment method is similar to that of scabies mite infection, but due to the parasitic presence of demodex mites in hair follicles and sebaceous glands, the treatment difficulty is relatively high and the course of treatment may be longer. In addition to using deworming drugs, some topical ointments can also be used in combination, such as ointments containing metronidazole, sulfur, and other ingredients. Applying them to the infected area can have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. If the dog develops a secondary bacterial infection, antibiotics need to be used for treatment. During the treatment process, it is important to closely monitor the changes in the dog's condition, regularly take it to a pet hospital for re examination, and adjust the treatment plan based on the results of the re examination.

Nursing is also very important in the treatment of mite infections in dogs. Put an Elizabeth ring on your dog to prevent it from scratching or biting its skin, which can worsen the infection. At the same time, it is important to pay attention to a balanced diet for dogs, feeding them foods rich in vitamins and proteins, such as fresh meat, vegetables, fruits, etc., to enhance their immunity and help with the recovery of their condition. In addition, it is necessary to keep the living environment of dogs dry and ventilated, regularly clean them, and reduce the chance of mite breeding.

Dogs infected with mites are a major challenge to their health and a concern for their owners. Every time I take my dog to the hospital for treatment, apply ointment to it, and clean its living environment, it is a manifestation of the owner's deep love for it. I hope every dog can overcome mites as soon as possible, regain their liveliness and happiness with the care of their owners, and continue to accompany us through every beautiful day. Let us accompany our dogs through this difficult time with love and patience, and protect their health.