Grass mites can cause a lot of trouble for your beloved four-legged friend. How do you get rid of the pests without harming your dog unnecessarily?
Now in summer, grass mites lurk in many meadows with tall grasses. It can quickly happen when walking in nature: Your furry friend romps across a meadow and catches the tiny reddish-yellow pests. Shortly after, your dog is constantly licking his paws, biting and gnawing at his fur, and has red spots on his skin. The typical symptoms of a grass mite infestation.
What are grass mites?
When grass mites bite, the dog's skin often itches. © imago/Redeleit
Adult grass mites do not attack animals, they feed vegetarian on plant juices. But their larvae perch on long blades of grass and wait for dogs, for example, to strip them off in passing. Once on their host, they scratch the skin of the animal and dissolve the tissue of the top layer of skin with their saliva. Then they suck up the escaping tissue and lymphatic fluid. The bite wounds are not dangerous in themselves, but they are a gateway for bacteria and diseases. In addition, in some cases, the saliva secretion can lead to fur loss or even cause cramps. That's why you should fight the mites as early as possible.
How to fight grass mites in your dog?
Has your dog caught grass mites? Now, there are several methods to give relief to your furry friend. To get rid of the parasites, you can bathe your dog with an anti-mite shampoo. There are also special sprays with essential oils. With their acrid smell, these ensure that the insects leave the animal. In addition, you can get an anti-inflammatory ointment from your veterinarian, which also relieves itching.
If your pet's skin is severely attacked or even inflamed, you should definitely consult a veterinarian. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe an antiparasitic agent that can kill the mites and alleviate the symptoms.
You can treat a very severe infestation with special insecticides. So-called acaricides are neurotoxins that attack the nervous system of parasites. Although these are very effective against the pests, they often have strong side effects for your dog because of their toxic effect.
In any case, after a grass mite infestation, you should thoroughly clean the basket and existing blankets of the animal and mop the floor in your apartment.
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Prevention is the best treatment
Of course, you can't forbid your four-legged friend to frolic in meadows in summer. In your own garden, however, you can minimize the risk of grass mites by mowing your lawn regularly. Because the arachnids especially love tall grasses. When you come back from nature, you should thoroughly check your dog for mite infestation, especially the following parts of the body:
- The areas around the eyes and ears
- The paws, especially the spaces between the toes
- The base of the tail
- The abdomen and chest area
- If the dog has rolled over, including the entire back
If your pet has romped around in a questionable meadow, it is best to shower it thoroughly immediately after the excursion. If you want to be on the safe side, use a spot-on product against fleas and ticks, which also helps against grass mites. Information on such preparations can usually be obtained from your veterinarian.
