If you’ve ever walked through the forest or fields with your dog, then you might have experienced a chigger attack if your best friend only caused a storm for the next few days. These little red pests are very small and you may not notice your dog, but when they become a source of itchy and discomfort, they are difficult to ignore.
Find out what chigers are and how they are treated below.
What is Chigger?
Chigger’s scientific name is thrombiculamite, but is also known as Red Bug, Harvest Mite, Itching Mite, and Scrub Mite. Small pests are especially common in forests and tall grassy areas in the southeastern United States.
Chiggers in the larval stage feed on a variety of animals, birds and reptiles. Their bites cause severe itching. This is disastrous for dogs who challenge Chigger’s natural habitat. What’s even worse, American Veterinary Association (AAVP) states that emerging tiger larvae tend to gather in one area.
“They are so small and barely visible,” said Dr. Susan E. Little, chairman of veterinary pathology. Veterinary Health Science Center, Oklahoma State University. And for pet parents who lead an active lifestyle with their pets, a single infection of chigger could be enough to keep you indoors, Little said.
Perhaps the biggest misconception about chiger is that they dig holes in their skin and feed them blood. But Chigger actually eats skin cells and should not penetrate the skin, Little said. According to AAVP, when larval tigers are attached to the host, the salivary secretions harden to form a tube known as the styrostorm. Feeding can last for several days. Once the chigger is finished, it separates and proceeds to the next stage of the life cycle: the symptom stage. On the other hand, feeding tubes remain attached to the host, causing prolonged itching.
Chigger bites are most common during summer and fall, with the main symptom being severe itching. According to AAVP, biting a bite can lead to secondary infections, but chigers do not carry the disease.
Handle Chigger bites
The dog’s body is fairly well protected from chigger bites due to its fur, but chigger can be attached to the dog’s head, especially the skin around the dog’s ears and eyes. “The sooner you get them, the better,” Little said.
To remove chiggers from these sensitive areas, we do not recommend wiping the area with a soft cloth or a veterinary recommended skin wipe. A warm bath is also helpful. In the case of severe invasion, veterinarians may prescribe prednisone to relieve the injury to skin inflammation, Little said. Additionally, systemic pet treatments containing acalici (forefront, revolution, etc. used to kill mites and mites Celest) It not only kills chigers, but also helps kill mites and fight off pests.
Luckily, Chigger doesn’t jump from dog to person, Dr. Christine L. Kane said he is an assistant professor and section chief. Dermatology & Allergy Section, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. And while the itching can last up to a week, the chigger itself is not difficult to remove. “The problem is pretty temporary,” Cain said. “Chiggers don’t live in dogs for a long time.”
Dog owners may want to try alternative treatments to relieve the itchy discomfort of their pets. However, home remedies such as Epsom salts, oatmeal tea and green tea in bath water may or may not be effective. Cain advises you to check with your dog’s veterinarian before attempting an alternative treatment.
Image: Marek Velechovsky Via Shutterstock
