How To Tell If Your Dog Has Fleas Or Mites

How To Tell If Your Dog Has Fleas Or Mites

So your dog or dog is scratching. You may be thinking he’s either got mange mites or fleas. But the truth is dogs and puppies can get both of the above listed mites. So how do you know if he only has fleas or if it’s a case of a big infestation of mites instead?

Crawling around in the skin of dogs is an eight legged parasite called Sarcoptes scabiei. This mite if left untreated can cause infection of the skin and lead to serious health problems. They are known to live on dogs, cats, and even humans. However, when it comes to dogs, there are two types of this mite that you will want to be familiar with – demodex manges, which affect both human and dog skins. So now that we know the symptoms of having this condition (pimples, tiny red bumps and rashes), it’s time to find out Is your dog having mites?

How To Tell If Your Dog Has Fleas Or Mites

How To Tell If Your Dog Has Fleas Or Mites

Fleas and mites are a common problem in dogs, but they can also affect cats. Fleas and mites can cause skin irritation and infection, as well as transmit diseases. Here’s how to tell if your dog has fleas or mites:

Look for signs on the skin: Scratching at the skin or hair loss are signs of an infestation. Look for small insects that resemble grains of salt moving around the skin. If you see these insects, your pet has fleas.

Look for signs near their bedding: You may also notice small black dots on their bedding or on places where they sleep, which is evidence of mites that burrow into their fur. These aren’t easy to see, but look closely for them in dark-colored areas such as under furniture or couches where your dog spends most of its time.

If you’re wondering how to tell if your dog has fleas or mites, we’ve got the answers.

First, it’s important to understand that mites and fleas are very different creatures. Mites live on the skin of dogs and cats, but they don’t bite or feed on blood like fleas do. Instead, they suck the moisture from the skin cells of their hosts and leave behind a scaly residue called “scabbing.” This can cause irritation for your pet (and for you!)

Fleas, on the other hand, are tiny insects that burrow into your dog’s fur and suck blood directly from his body. They leave behind eggs in their wake that hatch into larvae, which then develop into adult fleas within 10 days to two weeks.

If you think your dog may have either mites or fleas—or both—there’s an easy way to tell which is which:

Mites: look for scales on your dog’s skin or fur where he sleeps most often;

Flea: look for black specks (flea feces) around his ears, eyes and mouth areas;

How To Tell If Your Dog Has Fleas Or Mites

Parasites are common among pets, especially dogs and cats that are allowed to roam outdoors. Various parasites can be native to a location, affecting pets throughout diverse times of the year. Pet owners should take note of the parasites common within their locale and observe their pets during the seasons they are most prone to infection.

Fleas

The most common flea is the Ctenocephalides Felix, more commonly known as the cat flea, though there are various other types. This particular type of flea is capable of hosting on humans, cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, rats, mice, guinea pigs, ferrets, and birds. These fleas rapidly reproduce and are capable of quickly infesting an entire household with both humans and pets as their hosts. If one pet has fleas, all pets within the household must be treated.

Fleas survive by ingesting the blood of their hosts. When they bite the host’s flesh, their saliva irritates the skin, causing the host to itch which in turn, may cause an allergic reaction. To determine if your pet has fleas, comb a section of hair on their back, towards a white piece of paper. If black flecks, resembling dirt, fall onto the paper, gently drop a very small amount of water onto the paper. If the black flecks begin to turn a rust-colored red, your pet has fleas. The rust hue is resultant of the blood being sucked out of your pet. If nothing comes off of your pet when brushed, or if the black flecks remain black, your pet is healthy.

Household inhabitants with fleas may experience: 

• Anemia
• Mild to severe scratching
• Open sores
• Pet owners experiencing flea bites

Treatment for fleas

If one pet in the household has fleas, all household inhabitants should be treated. Treatment can include either a shampoo or a topical treatment. Shampoos will kill fleas for a few days, whereas topical creams or gels will kill fleas for a few weeks. We recommend using topical treatments for a more thorough solution. If you would like recommendations when choosing a flea preventative, contact our veterinary office, and we would be happy to assist you in selecting a superior product for your pet.

Mites

Similar to numerous other parasites, mites exist in multiple forms. The ear mite is the most common type of mite among cats and dogs and frequently causes feline ear disease. Most mites are barely visible, forcing veterinarians to use a microscope to detect them on a pet and to determine the specific type. Most often, a pet contracts mites from another pet or from another pet’s bedding. Some mites, including scabies, are contagious to humans, while others, such as mange, are not.

Symptoms that a pet has mites: 

• Crusty rash around ears
• Dark, waxy or crusty ear discharge
• Hair loss from excessive scratching
• Head shaking
• Large blood blisters around ears
• Patches of scaliness
• Scratching

Treatment for mites

After the veterinarian has determined the type of mite bothering your pet through a microscope evaluation, they will determine the best form of treatment. Some mites can be treated with topical medications or oral medication; others are best handled with a medicated bath or dip. Some types of mites cannot be cured, but with the appropriate medication, the condition can be kept under control.

List Of How To Tell If Your Dog Has Fleas Or Mites