Parasites & Pets
Pets can suffer from skin problems caused by insects that we can barely see. Animal Dermatology Center of Chicago can diagnose and treat the skin problems caused by fleas, mites, and more. All other animals that come in contact with an infected pet must also be treated. Household therapy may be needed since mites may survive for short periods off of the host. Below is information about some of the dermatology problems that your pet might contract from parasites.
Sarcoptic Mange
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Sarcoptic mange is a skin disease that is caused by a mite. This mite, also known as scabies, is contracted from other dogs, foxes, and possibly coyotes that are infected with it. The mite burrows in the skin and then the adult mites, immature forms, and eggs spend most of their time there.
Symptoms are due to an allergic reaction to the mites with severe itching primarily around the elbows, hocks (lower back legs), ventrum (underside), and ear flaps (especially margins). Due to self-trauma through scratching, pets may have secondary crusting in these regions also. Very few mites are necessary to cause clinical signs, thus sarcoptic mange is very difficult to diagnose. Since the mites are found less than 25% of the time, diagnosis often is based on the distribution of lesions, severe itching, and resolution of signs in response to trial therapy for mites.
Cheyletiellosis
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Cheyletiellosis is another skin disease that is caused by mites. It is contracted from dogs, cats, rabbits, or other animals that are infected. The mites live in the superficial layers and on the surface of the skin. Mite adults, immature forms, and eggs spend most of their time on the skin.
Your pet may be symptomatic or non-symptomatic—that is, animals may appear normal, itching very little, but still harbor the mites. Scaling and itching are the most common clinical findings. Most common over the backs of animals, scaling and itching can be located anywhere on the body. Due to self-trauma, these animals may have secondary crusting in these regions as well.
Cheyletiellosis is diagnosed by skin scrapings, flea combings, or preparations made from scales from the skin. Since the mites are often difficult to find, the diagnosis may also be based on resolution of clinical signs in response to trial therapy for mites.
These mites can also be contagious to humans about 20% of the time. In humans, the clinical signs are small, red, very itchy, grouped bumps often found on the forearms, chest, and abdomen. These may have crusted centers. Humans should seek the advice of their physician if they are affected.
Canine Demodicosis
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Demodicosis is another disease caused by a mite that lives deep in the hair follicles. This mite is transmitted from the dam to offspring during birth and while suckling and is found in small numbers on all dogs. These mites may initially cause problems in dogs due to an immunologic disorder. This can occur in two “general” ages of dogs. One group is less than 2 years old at onset (juvenile onset demodicosis) and the other group affected is older dogs (adult onset demodicosis).
In the younger group, about half of the dogs cure relatively easily, often spontaneously; therefore their immune system probably matures and keeps the mites in check. The other half are difficult to treat due to a hereditary disorder, but 35–40% of this group may be cured with treatment. Approximately 50–80% of this younger group overall can be cured.
Typically a full series of blood tests are taken initially to screen for any disorders and other tests may follow. Steroids and some other hormones can also cause the mites to multiply. Diseases that can induce adult onset demodicosis include liver or kidney disease, heartworm disease, hormonal disorders, chronic steroid use, and neoplasia.
