Demodex spp. are cigar shaped microscopic parasitic mites that live within the hair follicles of all dogs. These mites are passed to puppies from their mothers in the first few days of life, and then live within the hair follicles for the duration of animal's life without causing problems.
Demodectic mange is caused by a parasitic mite (Demodex canis or Demodex injal) that lives in the hair follicles of dogs.
Demodectic mange can resolve on its own in mild cases. It usually takes 1-2 months for mild, localized infections to resolve spontaneously.
Since about 90% of young dogs with demodex will resolve the problem on their own we do not recommend immediate treatment in these cases. If your pet is not uncomfortable and otherwise in good health we recommend a 4-week monitoring period to determine if it will resolve on its own or will require treatment.
Dog mites may also continue to live in the environment, such as in their bed or in the carpet, after they or another dog have been contaminated.
The most effective way to prevent the spread of sarcoptic mange is to keep the affected dog/cat away from anything that can't be easily and thoroughly decontaminated, either by cleaning with household disinfectant or running it through the washer and dryer on the hottest setting possible.
I recommend washing sheets and pillowcases in hot water and drying with the hottest possible dryer setting to kill the mites that might otherwise jump from bedding to faces. In some cases, it might even help to get new pillows. Patients might also consider not using makeup for a week, and discarding their old makeup.
If your dog has demodectic mange, you need to bathe twice a week, usually for several weeks. Canine herbalist Rita Hogan recommends neem shampoos for dogs with sarcoptic mange.
NexGard is a medicine used to treat infestations with fleas and ticks, as well as demodectic and sarcoptic mange (skin infestations caused by two different types of mites) in dogs.
Several products are effective for treatment of demodicosis in dogs. Most recently, flea and tick preventatives in the isoxazoline class of drugs (including Nexgard®, Bravecto®, Credelio™, and Simparica ®) have successfully been utilized off-label for the treatment of demodicosis in dogs.
Most people have Demodex mites on their skin. You don't need treatment unless the mites grow out of control and cause symptoms. Treatment for a mite infestation usually involves a cream, gel, lotion or wash containing an acaricide. An acaricide is a pesticide that kills ticks and mites.
NexGard® and NexGard SPECTRA® are highly effective options to treat mites on dogs. They treat and control Sarcoptes mites, Demodex mites and ear mites.
Life cycle - direct
Demodex mites complete their entire life cycle on the host. Adults live primarily in hair follicles, where the females lay eggs. Each egg hatches to release a larva, which moults through several larval and nymphal stages to become an adult. The entire life cycle requires at least three weeks.
What is the life cycle of Demodex canis? The demodectic mite spends its entire life on the dog. Eggs are laid by a pregnant female, hatch, and then mature from larvae to nymphs to adults. The life cycle is believed to take 20-35 days.
This tiny mite lives in the hair follicles of all dogs and rarely causes any problems. However, when something – such as stress, illness, or old age – weakens your dog's immune system, the mites can multiply out of control and cause demodectic mange.
Demodex spp. are cigar shaped microscopic parasitic mites that live within the hair follicles of all dogs. These mites are passed to puppies from their mothers in the first few days of life, and then live within the hair follicles for the duration of animal's life without causing problems.
Of all the treatment options investigated, tea tree oil has been shown to be the most promising option for killing Demodex mites (Liu 2010).
Thus, ivermectin can have a useful therapeutic effect on Demodex blepharitis because of its antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory effects, which can eliminate both the cause of Demodex infestations and the inflammation caused by the progression of the infection.
In addition, the severity of the patient's symptoms was related to the number of Demodex mites, and all clinical symptoms disappeared after the eradication of Demodex mites. Ivermectin is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug that reaches peak plasma levels 5 hours after oral administration.
This type of demodex will affect larger areas of skin or possibly the entire body. Generalized demodex will many times cause secondary bacterial infections. These bacterial infections will cause intense itching and a foul odor.
Temperatures below 0 degrees C and above 37 degrees C are harmful to the mites. The lethal temperature is 54 degrees C, and the effective temperature that kills Demodex mites is 58 degrees C.
Most, if not all of the fur should grow back as well. Scar tissue doesn't develop often, but the rest of the dog's body should be covered in fur by the time the dog has been fully treated.
Direct contact or eggs present in dust as well as contact with infected towels, blankets, or sponges are the possible routes of Demodex spp. infection described in the literature [13, 14]. The use of facial creams or eyeliners has been considered as a potential route of Demodex spp.
Doctors may also apply a high-concentration alcohol solution to a person's face. This brings the Demodex mites to the surface. The doctor can then apply substances to the skin that kill the mites and treat the condition. For people who have a severely weakened immune system, a doctor may prescribe ivermectin.