External Cat & Dog Parasites - Lice, Mites, Mange, Fleas & Ticks
What Are External Parasites?
External parasites live on the skin and in the fur of cats and dogs. External parasites can cause extreme irritation and frustration and often times carry various diseases. As you groom your cat or dog check for evidence of parasites.
Signs of external parasites are:
- Red, irritated and inflammed skin
- Crusts patches
- Small spots or swelling (papules)
- Dry Scaly dust or dandruff
- Itchiness (pruritus) which can be mild or severe
- Small white mites crawling on the surface of the skin "walking dandruff" - (Cheyletiella mites)
- Dark brown or black granular debris in the ear (ear mites)
- Tiny brown or black specs on cat or dogs skin (flea dirt)
A number of other apparent and not so apparent signs are common among cats, dogs, other animals and humans.
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What Are Lice?
Lice are small flat, wingless insects that can be seen with the naked eye. Lice are host-specific, meaning they tend to spend their entire life cycle on one specific aninal.
There are two common groups of lice:
- Anoplura - Lice that are blood sucking lice belong in this group.
- Mallophaga - Lice that chew the skin & are non blood sucking lice belong in this group.
- Cat Lice (Pediculosis) - Felicola subrostratus.
- Dog Lice (Periculosis) - Trichodectes canis, Heterodoxus spiniger, Linognathus setosus.
What is Mange?
Mange is a general term for parasitic skin diseases caused by any of several microscopic mites that burrows beneath the skin of cats and dogs. There are several types of mange mites but only a few affect dogs and cats.
Signs of mange include excessive shedding, fur loss in patches and bald spots around the eyes, nose or ears. Although Mange is more common in dogs than in cats there are many similarities of the disease in both dogs and cats, and, there are a few very important differences which include:
- the species of mites
- the symptoms
- the treatment of the disease
A veterinarian should diagnose and treat a mange infestation as soon as possible.
Feline Mange falls in 2 general categories:
- Demodectic Mange or Demodex cati: a.) D.gaoi - lives in outer layer of the skin b.) D.cati - lives within the hair follicles
- Notoedric Mange or Notoefres cati: a.) Feline Scabies
Canine Mange falls in 2 general categories:
- Demodectic mange - Demolex canis, Demodex injai (red mange, puppy mange)
- Sarcoptic mange - Sarcoptes scabiel (Canine Scabies)
