Tick in a dog - what to do. Demodicosis - subcutaneous tick in dogs: types, causes, symptoms, initial signs, home treatment. Is demodicosis in dogs contagious to humans? Preparations for demodicosis in dogs: names, list, instructions for use

are a common cause of concern your beloved pet. The dog is an active and sociable creature, which, in turn, exposes him to all sorts of skin diseases. A pet is a member of the family and needs the same care as a human. How to identify and help the dog get rid of suffering forever and prevent the occurrence of this disease will be described in this article.

1. Causes of the disease

The main cause of demodicosis is a decrease in the dog's immunity.

The very first symptom of a subcutaneous tick in dogs is an endless itching. The dog scratches the affected areas with such force that the wounds may bleed. Animal getting restless, nervous and aggressive. Then the hair begins to fall out, and new hairs grow poorly, become thin and brittle. Dark red spots appear on bald areas. The dog smells strongly of "dog" even with careful water procedures. Heat exchange is broken. If your pet has begun thumping with its hind paw, it is necessary to conduct an investigation, as this may be the first signal indicating the presence of mites on the skin.

We have already listed the symptoms characteristic of all forms of the disease, now we will figure out what features exist in certain types of the disease.

According to the severity of symptoms, pustular and scaly forms of the subcutaneous tick in dogs are distinguished.

The scaly form is characterized by the appearance of skin areas covered with a flaky crust, prone to flaking, similar to the manifestation of dandruff. It is formed mainly on the paws. and the face of the beast. This type of subcutaneous disease is considered the easiest.

The pustular form is more severe. In the pustular form, the skin becomes moist. Purulent formations appear from yellow to black. Most often, reddish vesicles (pustules) form. All this leads to the formation of ulcers that begin to bleed. The dog's limbs and muzzle are the first to suffer. If treatment is not started in time, the animal will refuse to eat, sleep most of the time and may die from exhaustion.

As far as prevalence, localized and generalized forms are distinguished.

In 90% of cases, a localized form occurs. It is characterized by no more than 5 lesions of small diameter.

In other cases, a generalized form is determined. Most of the dog's skin is affected. In the presence of secondary symptoms or other pathology, the chances of a successful outcome are 50%. Often the generalized form has a pustular character. Anemia may develop.

Depending on the clinical picture, the juvenile and adult forms of the subcutaneous tick in dogs are distinguished.

Juvenile is the form of the disease in individuals under 2 years of age. With a localized form in young dogs, remission can occur even without special treatment after 2 weeks.

The adult form is often complicated by other accompanying symptoms.

4. Types of subcutaneous mites

5. Treatment of subcutaneous mites in dogs

Medications

Secondly, drugs that improve the dog's immunity are used. For example, multivitamin complexes and immunomodulators are prescribed.

Some veterinarians prescribe very strong Detomax injections or similar. Carefully study the instructions for the drugs, since not all animals are able to endure such an aggressive therapy. Possible cases of death.

Ticks in dogs: home treatment

It is advisable to spend a seven-day processing course pet with acaricidal shampoo or ointment. If necessary, the course is repeated after a week break. When taking any medication, the liver often suffers in a dog, so it is necessary to take Karsil, a drug that improves the condition of the liver. In the event of a bacterial infection, antibiotic therapy will be required.

All manipulations with drugs are best done under the supervision of a doctor and do not exceed the recommended dosages and regimen of taking the drugs indicated in the instructions. Treatment with special ointments or drops must be done with gloves, observing all precautions. An important condition for the owners of the Collie, Sheltie, Bobtail breeds: these dogs are strictly prohibited from drugs containing Ivermectin!

Folk methods of treatment

The most common remedy in the fight against skin diseases is the use of water procedures using tar soap or shampoo.

Chopped garlic has an antiviral effect, it can be used to treat the affected areas in combination with almond oil.

In the fight against subcutaneous mites, sulfuric and zinc ointment helps.

Lavender oil has a calming and repellent effect.

6. Preventive measures

Secondly, it is necessary to vaccinate the dog in a timely manner.

Fourth Do not give your pet antibiotics without a prescription from a veterinarian.

The disease is most easily treated at an early stage, so when the first signs appear, you should immediately seek veterinary help to establish an accurate diagnosis.

A female dog that has been found to have a subcutaneous tick should preferably be spayed to avoid recurrence due to hormonal imbalances or transmission of ticks to offspring.

The basis of the successful treatment of subcutaneous ticks is the general strengthening of the dog's body.

Please note that the waste products excreted by the subcutaneous mite in dogs are strong allergens that cause severe itching, painful sores and hair loss. As a rule, the animal can get sick from May to September, as the disease is seasonal. Most often, demodicosis occurs in dogs aged from six months to two years. Sick animals provoke the development of pathology, and the tick is transmitted at the time of direct contact with them through the eyes, ears, muzzle and hygiene items. Small puppies often become infected from the mother. In addition, demodicosis in a dog can be detected due to malnutrition of the animal, surgery, or past infectious diseases. Prolonged antibiotic therapy, the presence of worms and even rickets can contribute to the activation of the tick.

Generalized subcutaneous tick in dogs occurs after 2 years of age and accounts for 10% of all cases of infection. In this case, characteristic symptoms are observed in several parts of the body, including the limbs. The disease, as a rule, affects such breeds as pit bull, dachshund, bulldog, beagle and some others. Generalized demodicosis is more severe than localized, and its development depends on factors such as the presence of endocrine diseases, weakened immunity, and genetic predisposition.

Symptoms of the disease

The owner of the animal can detect demodicosis only at the second stage of its development, since it is difficult to diagnose the primary signs of a subcutaneous tick in dogs due to their ambiguity. So, the main symptoms of the disease that can be seen:

dog's unwillingness to communicate with the owner, her irritability;
poor appetite;
the dog itches badly and tears the skin to the blood;
baldness of certain parts of the body is observed, redness appears, the affected areas are covered with pityriasis scales;
the dog is shaking with chills, because her thermoregulation process is disturbed;
ulcers appear, which subsequently burst and smell bad;
if appropriate measures are not taken in time, a fungal or bacterial infection may join demodicosis, as a result of which the dog will lose weight and may die from blood poisoning or exhaustion.

Diagnosis of the disease

Only a veterinarian can identify a subcutaneous tick in a dog. To understand when to seek professional help, you need to carefully monitor your pet. The initial stage of demodicosis, as a rule, resembles a common skin dermatitis, so it is worth paying attention to how your dog smells. If a fetid odor emanates from it, it is worth sounding the alarm.

Diagnosis of the disease is not difficult. First of all, an analysis is carried out for demodicosis, which is a microscopic examination of pustules taken from the affected area. If there is an infection, the result will show it clearly. In order to properly analyze for demodicosis, it is necessary to take the material for research from the deep skin layers by scraping with a special tool. For these purposes, hair follicles from lesions are also suitable. To exclude the presence of other diseases, blood is taken from the dog for examination, since demodicosis most often manifests itself as a secondary pathology. In 50% of cases, a subcutaneous tick is the first sign of a weakening of the protective functions of the animal's body.

However, only drug treatment for demodicosis is not enough. It should be done to strengthen the dog's immune system, as well as to eliminate skin atony and hormonal abnormalities. To do this, you can use not only medical products, but also homemade recipes that will help supply the animal's body with the necessary vitamins and minerals. In addition, it is important to properly care for your pet and carry out hygienic manipulations.

It is worth noting that some medications for subcutaneous ticks in dogs can cause adverse reactions because they are toxic. Therefore, it is necessary to give the pet other medicines at the same time, the action of which is aimed at protecting the liver and restoring the strength of the animal. These include drugs such as Heptral, Karsil and LIV-52. The main treatment involves the elimination of the causative agent of demodicosis and the consequences of its vital activity. The ultimate goal is to restore the integrity of the dog's skin, its immunity and the normalization of hormonal levels. The course of therapy, as a rule, takes a long time - about 2-3 months.

Medicines for demodicosis

Drops of "Stronghold" or "Lawyer" can be applied to the lesions. In order to reduce the staphylococcal effect on the dog's body, antibiotics are often prescribed, and to strengthen the hair follicles, it is recommended to give the pet preparations containing sulfur. And their liniments, such as "Cyclone" and "Amitraz", are recommended to be rubbed into the skin affected by demodicosis. If the animal has reduced immunity and an increased amount of corticosteroids, a couple of drops of iodine solution (5%), as well as Chloditan, should be added to the feed.

To eliminate itching and redness, veterinarians advise lubricating the lesions with sea buckthorn oil with vitamin A or Pihtoin. Be sure to brush your dog regularly as bits of the affected skin will die off and flake off during treatment. You should also carry out antiseptic treatment of the dog's body every day with a solution of salicylic acid or "Fukortsin". If the dog is expecting puppies, then before the offspring appears (about a week in advance), it is necessary to carry out prophylaxis with the Ivomek preparation to prevent infection of the babies.

Treatment Shampoo

Shampoo "Doctor" has antipruritic, deodorizing and antiseborrheic properties. It quickly relieves inflammation, prevents the formation of acne, saturates tissues with oxygen, normalizes the production of subcutaneous fat, and also has an antifungal and antimicrobial effect against yeast-like fungi and staphylococci.

Shampoo "Doctor" is very easy to use. It should be used one hour before applying medication to the affected areas. Rub the shampoo until a rich foam forms, then rinse with running water and repeat the procedure again. After 10 minutes after repeated application, the foam must be thoroughly washed off. Depending on the rate of skin secretion, it is recommended to use shampoo at intervals of two to three days.

If you use such a product for a long time, the dog's skin may begin to peel off. In this case, the animal should be shown to the veterinarian. A contraindication of the drug is the increased sensitivity of the pet to its components.

Folk medicine for pet health

Do not know how to get rid of a subcutaneous tick in a dog? Perhaps folk recipes will help you. However, before using them, you must definitely consult a veterinarian and get his approval. So, what can be done to save the animal from torment:

You can prepare a healing decoction of wormwood and honey, which should be given to the animal as a drink, 1/2 cup every two hours.
A good result is shown by an ointment made from celandine roots. Raw materials should be poured with refined vegetable oil, simmered over low heat for several hours and carefully filtered. It is recommended to add a little sour cream to the composition, after which you can rub it into the affected areas of the skin, and also bury it in your ears.
Masks made from pureed juniper, elecampane roots or sour apples will be useful.

Do not forget that folk remedies are not as effective as drug treatment, although they are more gentle. In any case, the veterinarian must, of course, have the final say.

Are sick dogs dangerous to humans?

It is the same with dogs: a person cannot infect them, since they have different types of demodectic mites. However, in any case, close contact with a sick animal should be avoided, because, as they say, God protects the safe.

Disease prevention

The subcutaneous tick in a dog, the symptoms and treatment of which we examined in the framework of our article, is a rather serious problem that can even lead to the death of the animal. In order to avoid the development of pathology, it is necessary to take good care of your pet, constantly strengthen its health and prevent the possibility of infection with demodicosis from other dogs. To wash the animal, use products that are specially designed for this. So you can strengthen the hair follicles and prevent the tick from getting under the skin. Veterinarians advise rubbing sulfur-containing ointments into the dog's body, as well as adding a little iodine solution to drinking water.

Spring is a wonderful time to walk your dog in the park or forest. However, so that such a walk is not overshadowed by a tick bite, you need to know how to protect your dog from this trouble. Take care of your four-legged friend and visit the veterinarian regularly. Let your furry pet feel free and run wherever he wants.

All subcutaneous mites found in dogs feed on blood, epithelial cells or lymph. They gnaw passages in the skin, poison the host's body with waste products. In addition to severe itching and other unpleasant sensations, the subcutaneous tick in dogs causes a strong allergic reaction, the manifestation of which can be unpredictable.

There are several types of ticks, but most often in our latitudes there are Demodex Canis and scabies. Some types of Demodex and all scabies mites are transmitted to humans, so the owners of a sick animal need to be extremely careful.

The disease may appear due to a weakened immune system. According to statistics, more than half of the dogs are infected with a subcutaneous mite, but the immune reaction of the skin does not allow it to develop. As soon as the animal weakens for any reason, the tick wakes up and begins to multiply actively. Young dogs up to a year old are most susceptible to infection, as well as some breeds (dachshund, Doberman, German shepherd, French bulldog, pug).

How to recognize the disease

The success of treatment and the safety of dog owners depends on how quickly signs of a subcutaneous tick are detected. Symptoms of this disease can often be confused with the manifestation of fungal or infectious diseases.

Hair loss. In the later stages bald spots become visible, and at the beginning of the disease, hair loss can be found on those parts of the dog's body where the hair is usually short - the stomach, genital area, muzzle, sometimes paws, etc.
severe itching. The animal experiences excruciating itching, which causes it to scratch the skin area affected by the mite all the time. Very quickly, bloody scratches appear in this place.

Aggression, anxiety. Constant itching does not give the dog rest day or night, which is why even the calmest obedient pet can become aggressive and nervous, behave inappropriately.
Lethargy, lethargy, anemia, comorbidities. Such signs appear after a long infection with a tick. The animal is weakened by the disease, loses strength, looks depressed.

The only thing the owner can do for his four-legged friend is to give him antihistamines, taking into account weight and age. Whatever causes itching, antiallergic medicines can ease it a little.

Demodicosis is one of the most unpredictable and unpleasant subcutaneous mites, as it is always a secondary disease that occurs against the background of a weakened immune system. Treatment can be lengthy and ineffective if the cause of the dog's weakness is not identified.

The dog tick that causes demodicosis lives for a long time in the sebaceous glands of a healthy dog and does not cause harm, therefore it is called an opportunistic organism. It is not transmitted to humans and is even harmless to healthy and strong animals.

The disease spreads very quickly, the affected areas appear throughout the body. The animal experiences problems with thermoregulation, it often gets chills, even in the warm season.

Forms of demodicosis

Demodicosis can develop in three forms: pustular, scaly, and generalized.

With the pustular form, pustules appear in the dog's skin - seals that fill with pus and break out. The dog combs the diseased skin, increasing the damage, resulting in an infection in the wounds. This is the most dangerous form of demodicosis, since the pustules are located deep in the skin and touch large vessels. An infection that gets into the wounds can quickly spread in the body through the blood, causing infection and death of the animal. For this reason, the owners of the dog need to take it to a specialist as soon as possible, noticing the first symptoms.

With scaly demodicosis, small red spots appear on the surface of the skin, which gradually turn into dry scabs that resemble scales. They tighten the skin, cause itching, and the dog tends to peel them as soon as possible. This can also lead to infection, but the inflammatory process, most often, will be local. If a dog has chronic diseases, is old or has not reached adulthood, then even a local bacterial infection can kill it.

If scaly and pustular dodecosis appears locally in one area of the body, then generalized one can affect several at once, leaving significant bald spots and wounds. A photo of this disease is presented below.

Treatment of demodicosis

The difficulty of getting rid of the subcutaneous tick in this case is very complicated by the fact that it is a secondary disease. The root cause cannot be identified in half of the cases, because the four-legged patient is usually prescribed drugs that strengthen the immune system.

Since the subcutaneous tick is “activated” by internal problems, incl. hormonal failure, small dogs with chronic demodicosis are recommended to be sterilized.

Important: A sharp change in the dog's diet can lead to dysbacteriosis, which will cause new stress in the animal. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to drip liquid probiotics in drops into the pet’s food, which maintain the normal intestinal microflora.

If a subcutaneous tick or its signs are detected in a dog, it is urgent to take it to the veterinarian

If the animal's condition is critical, the veterinarian may prescribe Detomax. It is a very aggressive and effective drug with high toxicity. For a weakened animal, it can be fatal, so the veterinarian must correctly balance the risk and need for such aggressive therapy for the dog.

Scabies mite treatment

Prevention

Prevention of scabies consists in applying anti-mite drops to the animal's coat once every six months. To prevent the appearance of demodicosis, it is necessary to balance the nutrition of your four-legged pet, not to stress him. If the dog belongs to breeds prone to this disease, it is necessary to periodically give it immunomodulatory drugs.

Infection of a dog with subcutaneous mites can be a serious problem for pet owners. To help your pet, you need to learn how to identify this disease and take the right measures. What does a subcutaneous tick look like in dogs, the symptoms and treatment of this disease - we will talk about all this in the article.

Demodex is a mite that lives in the sebaceous glands. Dogs have a genetic predisposition to Demodicosis, which is why it is much more common in them than in cats or humans.

It is important to understand that demodicosis is never an independent disease. This is a consequence of another ailment: a decrease in immunity, hormonal disorders, or another disease. A tick can live for quite a long time without harming a pet, and only a weakening of the body turns it into an enemy.

There are two clinical forms of the disease: adult and juvenile. Juvenile is called demodicosis in an animal under 2 years of age, it usually occurs very suddenly, and has a better recovery prognosis.

There are also two types of disease:

Localized, which affects only one area of the body and does not have secondary symptoms.
A generalized, more severe variant that affects several areas of the body and paws.

Worth knowing! If the dog is predisposed or has already suffered demodicosis, sterilization is recommended.

Symptoms of a subcutaneous tick in dogs

Diagnosing a disease is not always easy. The fact is that the signs of a subcutaneous tick in dogs can be easily confused with other skin diseases of a fungal or bacterial nature.

However, the symptoms are:

Itching, which can become very severe, causing the dog to scratch itself until it bleeds.
Hair loss. So, at an early stage of the disease, this symptom is noticeable mainly in areas of the body with short hair: muzzle, hind legs, stomach.
Irritable state. Constant itching always affects the mood of the animal, making it more aggressive.
A neglected disease can be manifested by weakness, anemia, as well as the development of secondary pathologies.

Before starting treatment for subcutaneous mites, it is necessary to accurately establish the diagnosis. Given the similarity of symptoms with other diseases, only a veterinarian can do this after skin scraping. Do not try to treat the dog at random! Having noticed the listed symptoms, you can give the animal an allergy remedy that will partially remove the itching and go to the doctor.

The initial causes of the disease are still not known, but hormonal failure is almost always a factor that exacerbates all health problems.

Subcutaneous tick in dogs: treatment

The specificity of the life cycle of subcutaneous mites leads to the fact that sometimes treatment can last several months. In this case, the dog needs the supervision of a veterinarian, as well as treatment at home. Treatment for each dog is selected individually, but great attention is always paid to the overall strengthening of the body, immunity.

Treatment of subcutaneous ticks in dogs with folk remedies

Folk remedies can only be used at the initial stage of the disease, but it is worth remembering that they are usually aimed at creating an unpleasant habitat for the tick, which can also adversely affect the health of the dog.

Folk remedies for subcutaneous ticks:

Grind the garlic and pour it with almond oil (proportion 1: 2). Insist 2-4 days in the dark. Treat the affected area with the composition once a day, for a week. Important! Large amounts of garlic are toxic to dogs, and almond oil can dry out the skin.
Take kefir or liquid sour cream and add black sulfur there (proportion 3:1). Insist 3 hours in warmth. Also apply once a day, then rinse thoroughly. Important! Sulfur dries the skin even more, causing cracking and burning.

The subcutaneous mite is a disease that can be easily transmitted to other animals in the house, and in rare cases even to humans. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the disease as soon as possible and begin its treatment, not forgetting about precautions when contacting a sick dog. By identifying a subcutaneous tick in a dog whose symptoms and treatment you already know, you can quickly deal with this problem.

Subcutaneous tick in a dog in advanced form

Under a microscope, a subcutaneous tick in a dog looks like this

Subcutaneous tick: marks on the dog

One of the varieties of arthropods is Demodex canis or subcutaneous tick in dogs - a microscopic animal 0.3 mm in size, coexisting peacefully with the dog until force majeure occurs, when it becomes the causative agent of the disease. One of these factors may be a weakening of the immune system after a dog's illness. Arthropod habitats: in the epidermis, sweat, sebaceous glands, hair follicles.

Important! The main damage it causes to the skin of the dog. The covers become inflamed due to the release of waste products of the tick - strong allergens. The neglect of the disease leads to hair loss. Infection is most likely from May to September, although, in warm weather, the risk of infection remains virtually throughout the year.

Spots on the torso and head of a dog are more likely to indicate a mite infestation. The doctor will help to dispel doubts

The tick prefers purebred and smooth-haired dogs: boxers, sharpeis, pugs, rottweilers. All young animals aged from six months to two years are easily infected from a sick animal as a result of sniffing, touching the muzzle, neck, legs, ears. The most likely infection occurs from mother to puppy. The pattern of infection may vary. If these are small foci (up to 5 lesions), then a localized type of demodicosis is noted. With more extensive defects, its generalized variety is noted. According to the form of the course, the disease is scaly, pustular, papular, mixed.

Scabies in a dog: who is to blame?

A miniature bloodsucker can be a troublemaker of the always complaisant and meek four-legged friend. The scabies mite in dogs is microscopic in itself, and when it gets on the skin of a dog, it tries to pierce its body faster, which causes painful suffering for the animal, and also leaves traces of irritation on the skin. The probability of infection from the carrier is very high. A short-term contact is sufficient either with a sick animal, or with an object of “common use”: a pole, a tree, a fence, etc.

With frequent examination of the skin of the dog, infection can be noticed at an early stage.

Dog hairdressers, “beauty salons”, with an unscrupulous attitude of the staff to their duties, can infect a healthy animal through brushes, combs, towels, scissors that have not been treated with disinfectants, etc. A “sticky” tick can be brought on shoes and clothes into an apartment, and only then migrate to the dog.

Uninvited "tenant": how to recognize him?

It is impossible to accurately determine that this is a scabies mite without laboratory tests. But here are some features of the behavior of the dog of its owner, nevertheless, should alert.

First of all, restless behavior: she itches constantly, scratching her skin from a painful itch until it bleeds.
Attempts to tear off the affected itchy area of skin with your teeth, thereby causing bites and further injuring the skin.
Characteristic bald spots with fallen hair and inflamed, bleeding integuments.
Examining the dog, you can find enlarged lymph nodes, swollen paw pads (especially near the claws), in which mites settled while combing the skin.

Only these symptoms, and not trying to find a tick on the body on your own, should arouse suspicion and a reason to see a doctor about scabies.

Attention! Veterinarians often use a trial "test" for scabies in their practice. The tip of the dog's ear just rubs lightly between the fingers. If a scabious bloodsucker is present on the body, the animal will definitely confirm the “ear scratching reflex”: it will begin to scratch it with its hind paw.

Principles of treatment of a dog from a hypodermic tick

To get rid of the subcutaneous tick will help complex qualified treatment. It uses local and general therapy. General treatment is carried out with the help of special acaricidal agents that have a detrimental effect on subcutaneous arthropods: Amitrazine, Ivermectin, Ivomek. Topical treatment includes daily antiseptic procedures with salicylic acid solution, Fukortsin. Amitan, Akarabor is also used.

Such lesions are treated only with medication and in combination.

What is the first step in recovery?

If all the recommendations of the doctor are followed, the treatment can last about a month until complete recovery (scarring and healing of wounds). This is probably the easiest kind of recovery that exists. But it can only come if a number of mandatory measures are strictly followed. The main thing is to maintain the hygienic discipline of the dog:

the bedding on which the animal sleeps must be replaced;
you need to buy a new collar, leash;
equip a new kennel;
bathing is performed more often, several times a week, using a special anti-scabies shampoo;
for the entire period of treatment, if there are other pets in the house, limit their contact with the dog;
all items that can be washed, subjected to wet treatment with tar soap and disinfectant.

During this period, the dog is shown sedatives that relieve itching, as well as painkillers for severe forms of the disease. Pay more attention to your four-legged friend, and then you will not miss the first signs of illness. This gives a gain in time, which is so important in defeating the disease.