Fur mites in pets: When pets are constantly scratching, licking or even biting themselves, there is usually a skin problem. Relatively often this is Cheyletiella fur mites, which fortunately can be easily treated.
Fur mites in pets
What are Cheyletiella fur mites
Cheyletiella fur mites are a type of parasite that is easily transmitted from animal to animal or even to humans. They look like ordinary dandruff and are therefore often not treated properly. You can recognise the difference to dandruff with a magnifying glass, because the tiny white animals move around in the coat. This is why they are sometimes called "walking dandruff". The parasites feed on the lymph fluid in the skin and cause severe itching.
How to treat Cheyletiella fur mites
A tried and tested household remedy against these parasites is lime sulphur solution. This sulphur-containing liquid is available to buy as a shampoo, spray or drops (LimePlus Dip). Depending on the product, the solution is sprayed directly onto the affected area or diluted with water and used as a washing solution.
It is recommended to wear rubber gloves when applying the solution and to remove jewellery, as the metal may discolour.
The animal should be tied up or held tightly, as the solution smells very unpleasant and many animals try to run away. As the fur contains oils, the solution must be rubbed in well so that it does not simply run off.
The solution should remain in the coat until it is completely dry, but you should not use a hair dryer for this. It is therefore advisable to carry out the treatment outdoors or in a well-ventilated area because of the odour. During drying, care must be taken to ensure that the animal does not lick the treated area and swallow the solution.
To be on the safe side, the treatment should be repeated after about a week if eggs remain in the coat, from which new mites will hatch after a week.
All blankets, toys and items of clothing that the animal has come into contact with should be washed in the washing machine. Vacuum the carpets thoroughly and dispose of the hoover bag immediately if necessary.
What is Lime Sulfur and is it dangerous for the animal?
Lime Sulfur is a sulfur lime solution that not only kills mites and other parasites, but is also generally effective against fungi and bacteria.
Sulphur and lime-sulphur are among the oldest insecticides. Elemental sulphur is practically free of toxins when used in small quantities. Ingestion of larger quantities of Lime Sulphur into the digestive system can lead to symptoms of poisoning. Lime sulphur is considered toxic if ingested in quantities of 4g or more per kilogramme of body weight. The symptoms of poisoning are characterised by irritation, discomfort or blistering, but very rarely lead to death.
