How To Get Rid Of Mites On Dogs – For Good
On the bright side, mites on dogs don't pose a big health risk. On the not so bright side...itching, hair loss, and allergies. So here's how to get rid of these pesky critters on your dog - for good.
When you think of pesky critters that infect your buddy’s skin and fur, you might think first of ticks – and you wouldn’t be the only one. But mites on dogs can be as big (and annoying) a problem.
Even worse, some species of mites can transfer from dogs to humans. Meaning, it’s not just your buddy but also you who are at risk of getting infected – and very itchy at best, if not dealing with some serious allergies, at worst.
So in this post, we’re going to cover all the ways you can protect your buddy (and yourself) from a mite infestation – including figuring out where your dog’s running into mites in the first place. Let’s get started.
What exactly are mites?
Mites are eight-legged parasites. Which, technically, makes them members of the spider family – in case you weren’t creeped out enough!
These little pests are tiny, approximately 1-2 millimeters in size – and their larvae (which like to bite in your dog’s skin) are only around 0.3 millimeters in size.
- Unlike ticks, mites don’t feed on blood. Rather, they prefer feeding on your poor dog’s skin tissue and lymphatic secretions.
- Mites can technically infect any mammal as a host – meaning you, a human, count as a “host” as well!
- Thankfully, unlike other, more dangerous parasites like fleas, mites don’t tend to transmit any harmful diseases.
Read more:
- Flea & Tick Prevention For Dogs: Your How-To Guide
- Can Dogs Get Lice? How To Keep Your Buddy Scratch-Free
- Why Is My Dog So Itchy? (And How To Bring Them Some Relief)
At the same time, dealing with grass mites on dogs can be unpleasant, even painful for your poor buddy. The resulting itching and discomfort just isn’t worth the trouble.
And since grass mites live in colonies…well, let’s just say your dog might not have just one or two on their skin, but several times more than that!
Which brings up an important question…
Where is my dog running into mites in the first place?
Grass mites, for example, like to hang outdoors between April and October. (Aka, peak season for going outdoors with your dog for a hike, run, or camp out in nature.) Though these parasites can also be active earlier or later in the year, if it’s warm enough for them to survive.
Unfortunately, as soon as you’re out and about with your buddy, there’s always the risk they might be infested with grass mites.
- These little critters like to hang out on dry meadows on warm or hot days.
- The lay their larvae in grass, where – upon hatching – they wait for your dog to brush past them.
- Here’s where grass mite larvae end up latching onto your dog’s skin and feeding from them.
🪳Here are some common areas your dog might run into mites:
- Grassy areas, fields, playgrounds, and parks nearby – especially those with tall grass.
- Forests and woodlands where you two might go for a walk, hike, or run
- Your backyard or garden – or those of your neighbors’
- Any nearby sandy or rocky areas, where certain species of mites tend to live
Even worse, some other species of mites favor the indoors – lurking in your bedding and furniture, including carpets and other humid environments where they feed on skin flakes and other organic material. (Watch out for your basements, bathrooms, and laundry rooms in particular.)
Some mite species can also spread from pet to pet, whether they’re all in the same household or if you’re boarding your dog at a kennel, shelter, or a grooming facility.
How can I figure out the mite-prone zones in my neighborhood?
Now confining your dog indoors isn’t a solution, especially if they’re used to enjoying the outdoors and the weather’s nice enough to allow it. (Plus, mites also like to hang out indoors!)
Rather, here’s a more proactive solution: watch out for the signs of a mite infestation and figure out which spots around town your dog might be running into mites.
So you can:
- Avoid these areas altogether, if it’s a particularly bad case,
- Double down on your anti-pest treatments before heading to these spots,
- And even warn fellow pet parents about these mite-prone zones.
Which you can do by hovering over your dog 24/7 to monitor where they’re coming back extra-itchy from…
💡Or you could join a growing family of loving, responsible dog parents around the world – just like you – who are using GPS trackers to monitor where their dogs are wandering.
🐶 With your trusty Tractive GPS strapped to your buddy’s collar, you can now track them:
- In real-time,
- Over an unlimited range,
- Across a Heat Map of spots where they like to spend most of their time
- And even while on vacation (or 175 countries if you’re on a Premium subscription)
All with just a glance at your phone.
What are some signs of mites on dogs?
Every dog reacts a bit differently to mites – but it’s most likely they’ll experience some intense itching to begin with. (Though not necessarily always.)
Which, with time, can lead to:
- Hair loss from excessive scratching,
- Inflamed, reddened skin,
- Excessive licking (and possible hair loss) around the legs, paws, and belly (all risky spots that mites like to latch on to)
- Scabs or crusty skin
- Dry, flaky skin that resembles dandruff
- Bumps or hives in your dog’s skin
Besides, keep an eye out for changes in your dog’s behavior like:
- Restlessness or irritability
- Shaking their ears or head to relieve any discomfort
- Rubbing their face on or scooting their butt across the floor
In more serious cases, your dog might develop an allergic reaction to mite bites. These can worsen any itching and inflammation and might need immediate medical care.
In other cases, if you aren’t able to spot a mite bite on your dog, it might worsen the infestation – or open up your dog’s risk for secondary bacterial or even viral infections.
What types of mites tend to infect dogs?
Not all mite species like to feed on dogs, but here are some that do:
- Scabies mites, which can also infect humans and lead to sarcoptic mange in dogs. (Since they can also transfer across animals.)
- Grass mites,
- Demodex mites,
- Harvest mites, also known as Chiggers,
- Ear mites, whose bites can lead to a foul odor around your dog’s ears
- Walking dandruff mites
How can I figure out if my dog has mites?
Now sadly (and scarily!), not every dog infested with mites might experience intense itching or scratching. In fact, if the infestation starts off on the lower side, it’s possible you might miss it entirely.
Rather, it’s a good idea to:
- Brush your dog’s coat in the direction of their hair (ideally, on the regular)
- Tap the comb or brush over a white cloth to make the pests drop on to it.
- Mites are more likely to resemble small reddish dots on the cloth.
⚠️ Small brown dots are most likely fleas – in which case, you’re best off rushing your dog to the vet, since fleas can transmit harmful diseases!
How to get rid of mites on dogs (and prevent them from coming back)
Now while mites on dogs aren’t a serious health issue by themselves, it can lead to worse outcomes down the line – especially if your buddy gets a secondary infection.
So if you do notice mites, mite bites, or just your dog scratching themselves more than usual, it’s usually a combination of medical treatment and a few lifestyle changes that can help.
Medical treatment
If you have multiple dogs at home, bring them all over to your vet for treatment. Your vet might begin by thoroughly examining them from nose to tail to determine the severity of the infestation, what pests are responsible, and how bad the infection is overall. They might also take a skin scrape to examine under a microscope to figure out the type of pest and what can help against it.
Be prepared to answer questions like:
- When did your dog’s symptoms first appear? Has your dog had them before?
- Did you make any changes to your dog’s food, outdoor privileges or other routines recently? (Other factors like stress, anxiety, or even food allergies can also trigger itching in dogs.)
- Is your dog primarily an indoor or outdoor dog? How often do they head outdoors?
(💡See why it makes sense to have your buddy’s favorite hangout spots in mind?)
Then, depending on the case, your vet might prescribe your dog:
- Anti-inflammatory ointments that can help reduce itching and inflammation,
- Medicated shampoos that can help kill mites,
- Spot-on treatments,
- Special anti-mite sprays,
- Oral medication, which can help treat mange caused by Sarcoptic or Demodex mites.
- Antibiotics, if your dog is dealing with a secondary infection,
- Ear drops, in case your dog’s ears have been infected
- A year-round flea and tick preventive that can also keep other pests away
In all cases, make sure to follow your vet’s instructions over the full course of treatment (whether that’s over a couple of days or even weeks – and yes, even if your dog seems to be getting better right away.)
Also, avoid using any products on your dog that were designed for humans. They’re more likely to be toxic to animals and may worsen the problem.
Do a deep clean of your indoor space
Once you’ve got your medical treatment at hand, make sure to thoroughly clean and disinfect your indoor space from top to bottom – to prevent your dog from spreading its mites elsewhere.
This includes:
- Their sleeping area, including any blankets or pillows they like
- Any other surfaces, like couches, rugs, mats, and cushions, they like to sit on
- Food and water bowls
- Toys
- Grooming tools
- Anywhere else around your house your dog likes to spend most of their time
Make sure to wash any clothes, toys, and bedding at a temperature of at least 60 °C/140 °F so that the pests don’t have a chance to come back.
For other types of indoor mites, consider using a dehumidifier to lower the humidity indoors.
Don’t skip out on regular grooming
Which can help you pick up on any weird bumps, lesions, bites, patches of missing fur, or even pests in your dog’s fur – while preventing it from matting and tangling. (All of which can attract pests.)
Just make sure to use separate grooming tools if you have multiple dogs at home. Also, be sure to follow your vet’s instructions regarding what kind of shampoos to use if you’re dealing with a case of mites.
Watch out for tall grass
In the warmer months, it can be difficult to keep your dog 100% mite-free. Grass mites, for example, lurk pretty much everywhere – especially in high meadows where you and your buddy likely go for on your walks together.
🌿Which is why it’s a good idea to watch out for areas with tall grass. Including:
- Your own lawn and backyard, where it’s a good idea to mow the grass on the regular to prevent pests from gathering.
- Parks with short grass, which have a lower risk of your buddy encountering grass mites.
Wash your buddy’s paws and fur thoroughly after a walk outdoors to get rid of any pests.
Figure out where your dog likes to spend most of their time
Whether it’s in your backyard or your neighbors’ – or that kind family down the block that’s just so generous with the treats – your dog has their favorite spots around town.
⚠️ Which may or may not be mite-prone zones that they bring home to you, your couch, your bed, and just about anywhere else.
Even your indoor dog that only ventures out with you for walks can run into mites from parks, woodland, hiking trails, or any grassy spot outdoors. (Not to mention from other pets.)
💡 So imagine being able to identify these spots right away – and take precautions much in advance?
It’s where your Tractive device’s Heat Map and Location History can be a lifesaver.
🐶 Because with just a glance at your phone, you can now figure out where your dog’s coming home extra-itchy from.
Which could be:
- That patch of woodland by your property
- Your neighbors’ open fields and farmlands
- Your own backyard or a neighbors’ garden
⚠️ Where your buddy isn’t just at risk for running into mites – but also harmful chemicals and even more dangerous pests, like fleas and ticks, which can transmit harmful diseases. (Also to humans.)
Which, if you ask us, isn’t a risk that’s worth taking.
Ready to manage any mites & mange like a pro?
Dealing with mites on dogs can be annoying at best – and it might open up the risk for your buddy getting sick from an infection or developing an allergic reaction. But by watching out for:
- The signs of a mite infection,
- And what areas in your environment might be ‘pest-prone’ zones,
You can spot an infection early and get your buddy to a vet much before their health takes a turn for the worse.
Signs your dog might be infected with mites
Much of the time, mites on dogs means intense itching. (But not always – it can depend on the species of mite.) Watch out for signs like:
- Hair loss from excessive scratching,
- Inflamed, reddened skin,
- Excessive licking (and possible hair loss) around the legs, paws, and belly (all risky spots that mites like to latch on to)
- Scabs or crusty skin
- Dry, flaky skin that resembles dandruff
- Bumps or hives in your dog’s skin
And get your dog to a vet for a checkup right away.
Usually, a combination of anti-mite medical products, a deep clean of your indoor environment, and identifying the pest-prone zones in your environment can help prevent your buddy from getting re-infected.
How to figure out where your dog might run into mites
Normally, mites like to lurk in tall grass in warm, dry weather. But some species like humid indoor environments, like in your furniture and bedding!
So if you’re finding your dog extra-itchy if they primarily spend time indoors, put aside some time for a thorough deep clean.
But if your dog likes to spend time outdoors, you could monitor any “pest-prone” zones by hovering over them 24/7…
💡 …or just take a glance at your phone and check your dog’s Heat Map and Location History instead.
No need to monitor your dog all day or ever worry about where they’re off wandering.
🐶 Just the peace of mind from checking your Tractive mobile app – and knowing you’ll always be able to find your dog, no matter where they are. (Or where you are.)
Always know where your dog is
Follow every step in real-time with unlimited range. Get alerts if they wander too far. Keep them happy & healthy with Wellness Monitoring. And let others – like walkers or sitters – keep an eye on your dog too.
Got a dog scratching itself to death but not sure if they’ve got a case of mites – or worse, fleas? Here’s Dr. Ben Weinberger walking you through the difference:
And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.
