Walking Dandruff (Cheyletiellosis) in Dogs
Introduction
Walking Dandruff in Dogs: Veterinary reviewed information on Walking Dandruff in dogs. Get started and see what choices you and your vet can make to successfully manage Walking Dandruff in Dogs.
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Walking Dandruff (“Cheyletiellosis”) – Definition
Cheyletiellosis (also called cheyletiella mange) is a highly contagious, nonseasonal parasitic skin disease of dogs, rabbits and cats. It is caused by surface-dwelling Cheyletiella spp. mites. The mites that infest dogs usually are of the species Cheyletiella yasguri. Rabbits are most commonly infested with Cheletiella parasitovorax, and cats are the host species for Cheyletiella blakei. The layman’s term for cheyletiellosis is “walking dandruff.” This nick-name derives from the fact that these pale to reddish-colored parasites are fairly large, as far as mites go. In fact, they often are large enough that they can be seen scurrying along the dog’s skin, or on or just under its hair coat. When moving, Cheyletiella mites indeed do resemble “walking” flakes of dandruff.
Walking dandruff is the common name for a skin condition caused by infestation of a dog’s skin by tiny Cheyletiella mites. These mites burrow through the outer layers of the dog’s skin, causing irritation and mild to severe itchiness (pruritis) as a result of mechanical irritation. They produce irritating by-products as a result of dining on the dog’s skin and can also secrete substances that cause an allergic reaction (hypersensitivity) in the affected animal. Dogs,
Dogs infested with Cheyletiella yasguri mites typically develop a mild to moderate inflammatory skin condition (dermatitis) that is characterized by skin scaling and flaking. The condition may be accompanied by varying degrees of itchiness (pruritis). Some dogs do not seem particularly bothered by the Cheyletiella mites, while others scratch, bite and rub furiously at affected areas.Symptoms of infestation with Cheyletiella mites usually become evident within about 2 to 6 weeks after a dog has been
Young dogs with heavy “dandruff” over their necks and backs – especially if the flakes of dandruff move – should be suspected of being infested with Cheyletiella mites. They may or may not have any symptoms of itchiness.The attending veterinarian may recommend a urinalysis and routine blood work (a complete blood count and serum biochemistry profile) to rule out metabolic causes of skin scaling. In many cases, walking dandruff can be diagnosed by physical examination
The standard treatment protocol for dogs with walking dandruff is weekly bathing to remove the scales, followed by weekly topical treatments with insecticidal rinses for a period of at least 6 to 8 weeks. Two-percent lime-sulfur rinses (LymDyp), and pyrethrin shampoos, are commonly used and reportedly are safe for puppies and dogs, as well as for kittens, cats and rabbits. Other reported treatments for dogs with walking dandruff are Amitraz (Mitaban) dips, subcutaneous injections of