Cheyletiella Mange: The Walking Dandruff in Dogs
Of all the mites and skin disease your dog might acquire, Cheyletiella mange could just be the most discomforting of all. Unlike other mites, cheyletiella mites are visible to the naked eye. And your dogs can certainly feel them walking on their skins and under their hairs.
Cheyletiella mites are referred to as the walking dandruff because of the flakes and the scales they produce. And if you happen to look at them very closely, the flakes would appear to move from one place to another.
Cheyletiella mange is very similar to sarcoptic mange. The only difference between the two is their size. Cheyletiella mange is also very itchy. Like sarcoptic mange, it causes scaling, crustiness, and hair loss on the affected part. Cheyletiella mites usually attack the neck, head, and back of dogs.
Cats and other four-legged pets can be affected by cheyletiella mange as well. Just one cheyletiella mite penetrating the fur of your dog is enough to trigger an attack. These parasites can reproduce greatly until it reaches a number that could severely harm your pet.
But more than your pet, you should be concerned about cheyletiella mites as well. Humans can be temporarily affected by it, should it find its way to your skin. However, it won't live long and reproduce on human skin as much as it does on animal skin. You would merely experience itchiness and redness on your skin. It would eventually go away after the lifespan of the mite has ended. Cheyletiella mites also have the ability to live outside of the host for a short period of time. Therefore, it is possible to acquire the disease even without direct contact to an affected animal.
Both puppies and adult dogs may acquire cheyletiella mange. Pet owners are very much advised to take their pets to the veterinarian when the first signs of the disease show. The course of treatment always depends upon the extent of the disease. Vets should be able to decide if your dog needs oral medications like antibiotics or if dipping in anti-mites solutions would suffice.
However, prevention is always better than cure. Dogs with strong immune systems are not susceptible to cheyletiella mange. This means that if you feed your dog right, keep it in a healthy environment, and provide the best hygiene to it, you should not worry about cheyletiella attacks on your four-legged friend.