Are dust mites the cause of your dog"s skin problems?

Yesterday, I wrote about food allergies as the possible source of your dog’s skin problems.  Today, I’m going off-topic to talk about dust mites. 

You may be surprised to know that your dog probably tried to tell you for a couple of years that he was developing an allergy but he learned to quiet down because, without realizing it, we scold our dogs when they lick themselves in front of our guests or when they scratch excessively and bother us.  So we don’t realize he has an allergy until he actually starts to shed fur or develop sores.

You always want to check with your vet for skin problems because it could be anything from fleas to a problem with his thyroid.  Very often, a skin problem isn’t caused by food.  It’s usually caused by something actually on or burrowing under the skin.

There’s a neat little research website on dustmites.  This is what they had to say about dustmites and dogs:

Dogs can be strongly allergic to house dust mites too, but the allergens that cause dermatitis in dogs are different from the major mite allergens that affect humans.  Dogs react to the enzymes, which act to degrade chitin.  Chitin comes from the outer part of arthropods and from the cell walls of fungi. Both dead insects and fungi are an important part of the mite’s extensive diet.   For dogs, scientists have named the guilty allergens as Der f 15 and Der f 18.  For humans, similar ‘chitin-busting allergens’ called Der p15 and Der p18, can also cause allergy.  To guard your dog against mite-related dermatitis, you should keep all resting places mite free and wash your dog regularly with a shampoo that contains a small amount of tea tree oil.* The oil will act to clog up the breathing holes on the mite’s shell and suffocate the mite.  *Please refer to your vet before taking this action.

Reference:
The chitinase allergens Der p 15 and Der p18 from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.
O’Neil SE, Heinrich TK, Hales BJ, Hazell LA, Holt DC, Fischer K, Thomas WR, Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 2006, 36, 331-339 

I know of two products that are wonderful at dealing with skin problems in dogs.  Always see your vet, but once you’ve made sure he has the healthiest diet and his surroundings are clean and as free as possible from dust mites, you can try an Oxyfresh hot spot ointment (available at your vet) or the herbal Soothing Mist available from HealthyPetNet. 

Teresa Holladay
The Holistic Pet Food Blog
http://IsYourPetFoodSafe.com

Filed under: Holistic Pet Food