Types Of Mites That Affect Pets
Not only fleas and ticks feed on our dog or cat; There are other organisms that invade the skin and hair of animals and cause different diseases. In this article we will tell you about the types of mites that affect pets.
Mites that affect dogs
Mites are small microorganisms that, like other parasites, invade the skin and coat of dogs, and also cats.
They cause minor or serious injuries, and the most common diseases they cause are scabies and dermatitis.
It is necessary to know that they are very contagious, and that if they are in a favorable climate they reproduce very easily. Because there are different types of mites that affect pets, the treatments are not the same in each case; it is always advisable to consult with a veterinarian.
These microscopic beings are infected with light contact between animals – for example when they play in the park – and are the cause of various skin diseases. In the case of cats and dogs, the most common are:
1. Sarcoptes scabiei canis
They are responsible for sarcoptic mange, which appears after the female mite digs several ‘tunnels’ in the dog’s skin and lays her eggs there. Dogs are allergic to their saliva and excrement and, therefore, begin to scratch and bite hard until they hurt themselves.
This results in shedding, infected areas, flaking, irritation, hardening of the skin, etc. But sarcoptes scabiei affects not only dermally, but also internally: the dog will become thinner and more listless.
2. Demodex canis
Another type of mites that affect pets and cause scabies is the so-called demodectic. It develops when pets have weakened immune systems.
The symptoms are: reddened areas of the body and itching. The downside of the appearance of this parasite is that when scabies is generalized, it leads to skin infections and deterioration of the animal’s health.
3. Cheyletiella yasguri
This mite causes what is known as ‘walking dandruff disease’, another type of scabies a little milder than the previous ones. It is common in puppies.
4. Otodectes cynotis
This type of mite lodges in the dog’s ears, and causes mange and otitis when the female digs holes in the skin of the ear canal to lay her eggs.
In addition, it causes an allergic reaction in the pet while feeding on the secretions and keratin in the area. One way to detect this disease is to observe the dog: if it shakes its head a lot to the sides or scratches its ears profusely.
Mites that affect cats
Although some types of mites are ‘shared’ by dogs and cats, others are more common in felines, although quite similar in terms of symptoms and development.
1. Demodex cati
Also called demodex gatoi, it is the type of mite that causes mange in cats; a less common pathology than that of dogs, but that we must also take into account.
The symptoms are displayed with the appearance of red bumps that become ulcers, hair loss and constant itching.
2. Notoedres cati
In this case, it causes what is known as ‘cat head mange’, similar to the sarcoptes scabiei mite in dogs, and is spread by direct contact with an infected animal.
The lesions appear on the head or neck of the animal, and are very itchy; the feline hurts itself with its nails from scratching a lot, which is why there may be infections or wounds as a result of the development of this parasite.
