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Demodex mite
These may be found in small numbers in the skin, They can cause disease when they are present in large numbers. These mites live in the hair follicles and spend all they're lives on the dog. If there are sufficient numbers of these mites they can cause a decease called Juvenile demodicosis. Puppies up to the ages of 12 months are most venerable. A small bald patch of inflamed skin gives an indication that the dog is infected. Mostly all dogs have this mite at sometime in their life, but once infected will build up their immunity against them, and so wont get them again. The dog’s immune defences are primed to eliminate any new Demodex mites that happen to find themselves on the dog. It is when immune related, or nutritional or environmental stresses impact the dog that visible skin lesions from mite infestations become noticeable. It is important that all dogs (not just dogs with health problems) be consuming a high quality, meat-based diet with proper amounts of high quality fat. |
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