My dog is itchy and losing hair. What are the signs of dog mites?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
What are the signs that can be observed when a mite bites a dog?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on March 9th, 2018
There are several different mites that can affect dogs. One of the most common is known as demodex. It is a normal mite that lives in the hair follicles of dogs. Many dogs receive them from their mother. They are only typically a problem if the mites become overgrown for some reason. This is common in certain breeds of puppies (English bulldogs and pitbulls for example) or in adult dogs with an underlying illness. Affected dogs will have patchy spots of hair loss. They are not typically itchy. Another mite is sarcoptes. It is commonly spread through exposure to wild animals. This mite can be spread from dogs to people. This makes the dog extremely itchy. They will lose hair, have red skin and sometimes open wounds from the constant scratching. I hope this information helps you!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on November 17th, 2016
Dogs get two types of mites, sarcoptic and demodex. Demodex is a normal mite of the skin and usually only causes a problem in young dogs with an immature immune system. Sarcoptic mange is a contagious mite that dogs obtain when exposed to an animal that in affected. Mites are not usually life threatening and can be treated with medications. Mites are diagnosed by a skin scraping and finding the mites using a microscope. If you think your dog have mites, he should be examined by a veterinarian to diagnose and treat the problem.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
How do mites in dogs look?
A lot of times it depends on the type of mite. Some larger mites like Cheyletiella can look like white flakes. Other mites are microscopic and bury around the hair follicles. Sarcoptes mites usually cause extreme itchiness and hair loss especially around the ears. Demodex mites tend to not be itchy but can cause patchy hair loss and scabbing all over the body.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I think my dog has mange
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Mange is usually defined as either Demodectic or Sarcoptic mange. The difference is determined by seeing the mite under a microscope. Your Vet will perform a skin scrape and look at that under the microscope. Scabies is contagious, so your dog would have gotten it from another infected dog or from a fox den. The lesions are usually on the ears, elbows and hocks but if it goes untreated for a long time, it can be anywhere. They are VERY itchy! Demodex is a mite that naturally lives on the dog but over grows due to an issue with the immune system. It is not contagious and can be itchy. The hairless areas can be anywhere on the body. Based on your pictures, mites are possible but so are allergies, an infection, a hot spot (superficial bacterial infection) or even ring worm. Sadly a lot of different skin conditions can look exactly the same! I'd take Otis in to your Vet and have them look and do some tests. I hope this helps and good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
What causes mites what are its signs and symptoms ? Is it life threatening disease or what ?
Dogs get two types of mites, sarcoptic and demodex. Demodex is a normal mite of the skin and usually only causes a problem in young dogs with an immature immune system. Sarcoptic mange is a contagious mite that dogs obtain when exposed to an animal that in affected. Mites are not usually life threatening and can be treated with medications. Mites are diagnosed by a skin scraping and finding the mites using a microscope. If you think your dog have mites, he should be examined by a veterinarian to diagnose and treat the problem.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My 8 week old rat terrier mix has two patches on him that are both peeling and taking hair. He is not itching at all. He does not have fleas and is clean. What could the problem be and is there a home remedy that can help?
Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bentley. I am concerned that he has a condition known as demodex. This is an overgrowth of a normal mite that lives within the hair follicles of dogs. It results in bald spots that generally do not itch. This is diagnosed by the veterinarian doing a skin scrape and identifying the mites under the microscope. If this is what causing his signs, he will need a prescription medication as well as a medicated shampoo. Of course there are other skin conditions that he could have. In the meantime, you can try bathing him with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula and see if this lessens his signs at all. I hope this information helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My 9 week old blue pitbull has recently developed some scaly sores on his foot and inbetween his toes. He also has dandruff and has been scratching and biting alot. He has bit a patch of hair off his tail. What could be the cause of all these things
From your description, the first thing that comes to mind is a skin condition called demodectic mange - this is quite common in pit bull puppies (it's hereditary, so more common in certain breeds) and causes patches of hair loss similar to what you describe. Other possible causes would include allergies, or a bacterial or fungal skin infection. I would recommend taking Apollo to a vet on Monday morning for an exam - he/she can do a simple test called a skin scrape to help diagnose the problem and get him started on appropriate medication to treat it.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Both of my dogs have been iching and biting themselves and looseing fur they dont have fleas. I have given the benadryl i have changed there food i have given them baths but still there iching and looseing there fur. What do they have? Is it mang? Th
Since there is a smell, severe pruritus (itch), and hair loss this is very suspicious for sarcoptic mange, especially since both your dogs are affected. You will need to take them to your vet for a skin scrape to verify that it is indeed mange. Mange is relatively easy to treat with an injection of an avermectin. Sometimes a second injection is needed. Unfortunately sarcoptic mange is contagious and if you have other pets (dogs, cats) they should all be treated. You will also need to watch out for itchy skin conditions as humans can also be affected.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
About a month ago, my dog’s lids were swollen shut. Assuming it was allergies, I gave her some Benadryl. It cleared up but the hair around her eyes hasn’t grown back yet. Since then, she’s began to lose the hair on her mouth as well her armpits and b
Allergies and mange would be at the top of my list. A vet can easily check for intestinal parasites (mange) and then figure out a treatment plan for allergies if you don't have any parasites. There are many many different way to treat allergies, depending on how much you want to spend on medications/testing.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Could my dog have beds of mites under his skin on back making lumped up, bald spotes,itching him constantly
Mites are just one possible cause of itching and hair loss, however they wouldn't necessarily cause "lumped up" spots on the skin. You may be seeing hives, which are due to some type of an allergic reaction.
The first thing to do would be to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Discuss allergy testing, hydrolyzed diets, food elimination trials, parasite control and antihistamine use with the vet. Any potential treatment will depend on the underlying cause.
In the meantime, place an e-collar (cone) on Axel to prevent excessive licking or chewing. You can also treat for fleas using a topical preventive (Frontline, Advantix, etc.) or an oral preventive (CapStar, Comfortis, Bravecto, Credelio, etc.). Vacuum everywhere indoors and dispose of the bag or empty the canister outdoors immediately afterwards. Wash all bedding in the hottest water allowable by fabric and dry in a dryer. Use an area treatment, such as Indorex or Knockout ES, to prevent or treat any flea infestation.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I think my dog (pitbull terrier) could have a skin parasite or a mite of some kind. She is 9 yrs. old and was got really sick almost 2 months ago. The veterinarian that looked at her. Was a new vet. and knew nothing of her past history, and said
Mites in older dogs typically indicates an underlying disease process is going on that is lowering her immune system, such as a thyroid problem, immune mediated disorder (I.e. Lupus) or even skin cancer has to be considered with any older pet. If she does have skin lesions as you say, then the best diagnostic test to do is a skin biopsy, which can determine what is causing the issue. Once the skin problem is identified, then treatment options can be explored. I would recommend going to a Nother more experience vent for a second opinion, and it sounds like she may needto go ahead and get started on a short course of antibiotics for now, if an infection is confirmed. Staff infections on the skin tends to be itchy in and of themselves. She could potentially benefit from either steroids or other immune medications to stop the itch for now until testing is done to determine if any additional treatments are needed for her.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog was recently treated for Giardia/ ear infections. Not long after he started experiencing sudden and RAPID hair loss/itchy red skin. My vet thinks its allergies but I asked for a fungal culture due to existing circular patches that looked like
Sarcoptic mange is possible if your pet was exposed to another dog with this skin condition. The immune system plays a small role when it comes to Sarcoptes, and more of an influence when dealing with Demodexx mites. The test for mange is a skin scrape, and medication choices are Ivermectin daily for 30-60 days in most situations or Bravecto or Nexgard (newest off label treatment for demodexx mites and potentially for Scabies.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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