Skin mites in dogs: what is dangerous and how to treat at home with medicines and folk methods

What is dangerous subcutaneous tick for dogs

The disease caused by a subcutaneous tick is called demodicosis. It is customary to distinguish 2 forms of the disease: scaly (the skin turns red and cracks) and pustular (in this case, the skin becomes wrinkled due to ulcers).

In the absence of therapy, the first form passes into the second, which is difficult to treat and often causes complications. The disease can spread throughout the body, causing malfunction of the following organs:

The number of wounds on the body is rapidly increasing, which makes the dog's body vulnerable to bacterial infections. Secondary infection often occurs, which can lead to sepsis if the dog has a weak immune system. The disease is most severe in puppies under 2 years of age, dogs with chronic diseases, as well as dogs with a pedigree.

How can a pet get infected?

A dog can become infected from a sick animal through direct contact, as well as through care items (litter, toys, towels). Some types of parasites are part of the flora and in small numbers do not pose a health hazard.

Active reproduction of ticks can begin when the dog's immunity is weakened: this occurs with acute or chronic infectious diseases, as well as long-term treatment with corticosteroids.

In addition, the following factors influence the development of demodicosis:

• age (puppies and older dogs are more susceptible);
• time of year (in the summer, parasites multiply more actively);
• breed (hereditary predisposition have bulldogs, sharpei, German shepherds, pugs, bull terriers);
• improper care and nutrition (diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the appearance of bald patches, fungi on the skin);
• stressful state.

Types of subcutaneous mites

There are 2 types of subcutaneous mites that are dangerous for a pet.

Demodex

The disease is caused by Demodex - a microscopic mite, 0,2-0,4 mm in size. An adult has a light gray worm-like body, four pairs of limbs and a long proboscis. Demodex never leaves the host's body, it develops in the sebaceous glands, hair follicles.

Scabies Ticks

Scabies mite (itch) is an intradermal parasite that causes scabies in mammals. Dangerous for humans and other pets. Itching can reach a size of 0,45 mm. The body is broadly oval, devoid of segmentation, white or yellow-white.

The parasite penetrates the skin and feeds on particles of the epidermis.

If the dog is healthy, there may be no symptoms of the disease, but the animal will be a carrier and can infect others.

There are 2 types of scabies, each of which causes a specific type of scabies.

Types and symptoms of demodicosis with a photo

According to the clinical course, several forms of demodicosis are distinguished.

Localized focal

With a localized form of the disease, several lesions are observed. More often they occur in the muzzle, especially in the eyelids and lips, as well as in the limbs and torso. In the affected areas, hair falls out, peeling and redness occur. Itching is not observed. It has been noted that puppies not receiving immunosuppressive drugs may spontaneously recover.

Generalized

In this case, these symptoms may appear after 5-10 months from the onset of the disease.

Juvenile

This is a subspecies of the generalized type of demodicosis. Diagnosed in puppies under the age of 1 year. Offspring become infected from a sick mother. It is characterized by reddening of the skin and hair loss near the eyes. Sometimes the disease goes away without treatment. Therapy is possible only when the puppy gets stronger.

Pustular demodicosis

It can occur both independently and as a consequence of untreated scaly demodicosis. A characteristic symptom of this type: tubercles and nodes (pustules) filled with pus form on the bald areas.

Outwardly, they look like blisters of a red or brown hue. After 3-4 weeks, the blisters burst, the contents dry up, and scabs form.

At the same time, a fetid odor emanates from the dog. The treatment of pustular demodicosis must be started immediately: the dog is defenseless against bacteria, there is a high probability of infection with secondary infections, and cases of blood poisoning are known. Therapy includes stimulation of immunity and disinfection of the affected epidermis.

Otomodemodicosis and Podomodedecosis

These are types of demadecosis, which can be part of the generalized and local forms of the disease.

Signs of scabies

As mentioned above, scabies in dogs can be of 2 types: classic and ear.

RџSЂRё classical type of disease the following symptoms are observed:

• the appearance of small spots on the body, the number and size of which increases with the development of the disease;
• the dog actively itches, rubs against the corners of the furniture due to severe itching;
• in advanced cases, abscesses and ulcers appear.

ear scabies manifests itself as follows:

• restless behavior, the dog shakes its ears;
• noticeable scratching in the ear area;
• poor appetite.

Methods of diagnosis

Symptoms of scabies are similar to other skin diseases, so only a veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis.

Therapies

When diagnosed early, skin diseases in dogs can be successfully treated.

List of drugs for the disease

There are many drugs against subcutaneous ticks. All of them should be used only as prescribed by a doctor.

A sick dog must be isolated from other animals.

Acaricidal injections

Intramuscular and subcutaneous acaricidal injections are indicated for dogs with an advanced form of scabies and demodicosis. They have antiparasitic action. Most often, veterinarians use the following drugs:

Acaricidal ointments

Ointments are the most common remedy for treating animal diseases caused by subcutaneous mites. They have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and analgesic effects.

The most effective of them are:

• Sulfuric ointment;
• ichthyol ointment;
• Amidel gel.

Acaricidal solutions for topical treatment

Solutions for topical use have a wide spectrum of action: they act directly on parasites, relieve inflammation and itching, and prevent the development of secondary infections.

Popular acaricidal solutions:

Acaricidal drops at the withers

Drops are often included in the complex therapy of skin diseases in dogs. Effective against the fight against single lesions. Effective drugs this release form:

• Advocate;
• Promeris Duo;
• Dironet Spot it

Bravecto and analogues

The active components of the drug Bravecto and its analogues disrupt the connection between tick neurons, immobilize and destroy them. In veterinary medicine, they are used relatively recently, but they have already shown their effectiveness.

The drugs in this group include:

Antibacterial tablets

Antibacterial tablets in the treatment of skin diseases are prescribed to prevent the development of secondary infections in advanced cases. The most effective drugs:

• Tsiprovet;
• Synulox;
• Xiklav.

Folk remedies

With a mild form of the disease or at the beginning of its development, you can alleviate the condition of the pet with the help of folk remedies. The following recipes are known.

Shampoos

Before starting treatment, hair from the affected areas should be cut off. The dog needs to be bathed to get rid of scales and excess fat. After bathing, you do not need to wipe the dog, you should gently blot the skin, let the coat dry naturally or use a hair dryer. Shampoos have keralitic and antibacterial action. Here are some of them:

• Doctor;
• DermaPet;
• Peroxiderm.

Features of nutrition during the treatment period

Proper nutrition activates the defenses of the dog's body, which helps him cope with the attack of parasites faster.

1. The main part (70-80%) of the pet's diet should be proteins - meat, eggs, fish. It is impossible to give the pet new products during the treatment period: they can cause allergies, which will negatively affect its general condition.
2. 20-30% of the diet should be occupied by vegetables and fruits; for a change, you can add a little porridge to the menu. The dog should receive a complete, balanced diet not only during the period of therapy, but for the rest of his life, since any disturbances in the immune system can provoke a relapse.
3. When choosing dry food, it is necessary to take into account the age, breed, and health status of the pet. It is important to make sure that it does not adversely affect the functioning of the liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract.

Possible complications

Skin diseases caused by parasites are often accompanied by secondary infections and damage to internal organs. Common complications are conjunctivitis and dermatitis. In the later stages, the disease can affect the gastrointestinal tract and this is the most dangerous complication of demodicosis. In the absence of therapy, the animal may fail the liver, stomach, kidneys, which will lead to death.

Man can also get scabies, but in humans the disease is caused by parasites of the genus Demodex folliculorum, and in dogs by Demodex canis, injai, mange. Therefore, a person cannot get infected from a dog, a sick animal must be isolated only from relatives.

Prevention of demodicosis in dogs

The risk of infection with subcutaneous mites can be reduced to a minimum if a number of recommendations are followed:

Exclude communication of the dog with stray, unfamiliar, wild animals.

1. For nutrition, use only high-quality feed of well-known brands; when using natural food, be sure to add vitamins to the diet;
2. Carry out wet cleaning in the room at least once every two days. If the dog has long hair, vacuum cleaning 3-4 times a week;
3. Do not neglect planned deworming and vaccination.
4. Exclude a long stay of the pet in the cold and in dampness. Sleeping mat should be dry and clean.
5. Regular washing and combing the pet, timely removal of all contaminants.