Pet Dogs Information

Mites are normally microscopic parasites that invade their ways to the dog's body through the hair follicles or various oil glands present in the epidermal layer of the skin. Your companion pet may be reduced to shabby hair and a patchwork of damaged skin, if it gets inflicted and infested with mites. Also known as 'Mange'; mites on dogs may cause health hazards which may lead to conditions like severe skin infections (accompanied with inflammation and itching), acute hair loss and sometimes may lead to various terminal diseases. Generally, we see that all dogs have a certain population of mites thriving on their body. The condition gets critical only when the immune system of the animal fails to retaliate the multiplying mites, this may result in severe outbreak and unchecked reproduction of mites on the dog's body.

Type of Mites :::

Normally, we see that there are two varities of mites that may infest your dog.

Demodex Mites :

These mites cause the severe skin disease called 'Canine Demodicosis' in dogs. These miniscule vermin are generally white and oblong. These parasites spend their entire lifecycle on the hair follicles and sebaceous glands of the host dog and feed on various skin debris, sebum and cells. There is a very high possibility of a mite-infested nursing bitch to transfer these mites to their offspring.

Sarcoptic Mites :

These type of mytes are also called 'Scabies' and are more troublesome than the Demodex Mites. These mites thrive on the hair follicles of dogs and cause intense skin-itching (also called as 'pruritus') and a variety of other skin infections. Sacoptic mites result in dry skin lesions and severe hair loss in your dog. These mites might even invade the skin of healthy dogs and puppies.

Symptoms of Dog Mites ::

• Unexplained hair loss or Alopecia
• There may be bleeding from various skin abrasions and fissures
• There may be cracking and scabs in the skin
• The dog may develop a reddish or swollen skin
• There may be severe skin itching or 'pruritus'

Home Treatment for Dog Mites ::

• Learn these various time-tested home remedies that can effectively help mites get rid of the problem.
• Dusting powder or medicated ointment should be applied which helps to cure various bacterial skin infections.
• The dog should be given capsules containing zinc, selenium, vitamin E and vitamin C after consulting with a veterinarian.
• The dog should be fed with cod-liver capsules thrice a day.
• The dog should be fed with fresh water or boneless canned fishes. Fishes that have high mercury content (like tuna and swordfish) should be avoided.
• The dog should be fed with a few tablespoons of plain yoghurt after every meal which is beneficial in fighting intestinal bacteria and parasites.
• The dog should be given a good diet. Lots of green leafy and cruciferous vegetables should be added to his diet.
• Proper hygiene should be maintained when it comes to your dog. The dog should be given a proper bath every other day with a medicated shampoo.
• A teaspoon of sesame seed oil should be sprinkled on every meal that you give to your dog. This helps in proper immune function and skin repair.
• There are Various organic herbs like Olive Leaf Extract, Kyolic Garlic, Cat's Claw and Flaxseed Oil which help fight bacterial infections. Include them in his diet.
• Various tropical treatments may be applied on the affected areas of the dog. A very good option is a mixture of lavender oil, neem and almond oil.
• The veterinarian should be consulted regarding different dips and oral medication that are available for fighting mites on dogs.

Its worth mentioning here that one cannot make the life of a pet perfect. But we can atleast contribute a lot towards his happiness, by making sure that he leads a healthy lifestyle.

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