What is Walking Dandruff?
Walking dandruff is an infestation by a parasite in the Cheyletiella family. Although dogs are most often infected by Cheyletiella yasguri, other mites in this family may affect your animal, particularly dogs that share their homes with cats or rabbits, their preferred hosts.
The Cheyletiella mites also flourish in overcrowded facilities and are easily spread from animal to animal. This condition causes the skin to flake and peel, leaving it swollen and itchy, and the movement of the mites may even be visible to the naked eye.
An infestation caused by the Cheyletiella mite can cause the skin to itch and flake. It is known as walking dandruff due to the movement of the flakes as the mites crawl beneath them.
Symptoms of Walking Dandruff in Dogs
This condition gets its name from characteristic dandruff-like scales that form on the skin and the visible movement of the mites on the skin. The mites may cause your dog to exhibit excessive scratching, biting, or rubbing of affected areas. Other signs of infestation can include:
- Red, bumpy rash
- Reddened skin
- Cheyletiella yasguri - These skin mites affect the back of dogs and can cause flaking, scabbing, and itching, but when Cheyletiella mites jump to humans, they affect the arms, trunk, and buttocks
- Demodex canis - The most common mite to affect dogs, lives in the hair follicle of the animal; they are usually harmless unless the immune system is suppressed and they breed out of control
- Otodectes cynotis - These mites, also known as ear mites, are more common in cats than in dogs and tend to be restricted to the ear area
Types
There are four types of mites that tend to infest dogs including the Cheyletiella yasguri, also known as surface mites. Mites that frequently affect dogs include:
- Sarcoptes scabiei - This variety of mite crawls along the surface of the skin, burrowing into it to lay their eggs; this produces intensely itchy rashes that can affect any area of the skin
Causes of Walking Dandruff in Dogs
This disorder is a type of mange caused by a mite called the Cheyletiella mite. The Cheyletiella mite that causes walking dandruff utilized dogs, cats, and rabbits as hosts, although each host has a slightly different species of mite that feeds on it. The mites that make up the Cheyletiella family and their hosts include:
- Cheyletiella blakei- Cats
- Cheyletiella parasitivorax- Common rabbits
- Cheyletiella romerolagi- Volcano rabbits
- Cheyletiella strandtmanni- Hares
- Cheyletiella yasguri- Dogs
The mites that affect cats and dogs are also known to occasionally jump to human hosts.
Diagnosis of Walking Dandruff in Dogs
When you bring your dog into the veterinarian's clinic, the visit will most likely start with a general physical examination, and in the majority of cases, the movement of the parasites on the skin will be revealed. Sightings of the mites and the symptoms they cause will generally prompt the examiner to use either a flea comb or a piece of tape to collect some of the mites.
In some cases, a sample of the affected skin will be collected for a process known as cutaneous cytology, where the skin sample is examined microscopically. This will not only identify which mites are affecting your animal but will also help to determine how extensive the infestation is. The Cheyletiella yasguri mites are typically visible moving on the skin with the naked eye and relatively easy to identify on most skin samples with a microscope, and when coupled with the skin reaction, diagnosis becomes elementary.
Treatment of Walking Dandruff in Dogs
Infestations of Cheyletiella mites can be treated by using a few different methods, but all of them involve treating all of the animals in the house. Topically, this usually involves clipping of long or thick hair bathing designed to remove the scales, followed by the application of a miticide. Topical miticides can be applied using a rinse, a dip, or a simple lotion or ointment, and the amount and frequency of the treatment will depend on which specific medications and methods are used. Medications such as Milbemycin and Ivermectin can be administered orally, and Ivermectin may also be employed by injecting it under the skin. It is crucial to inform your veterinarian if your dog has any herding breeds in its family history as Ivermectin is toxic to these breeds. Breeds that are more susceptible to Ivermectin toxicity may include:
- Australian Shepherd
- Collie
- German Shepherd
- Old English Sheepdog
- Shetland Sheepdog
It may take several weeks and multiple reapplications to fully eliminate the mites.
Worried about the cost of treating your pet's symptoms?
Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.
Recovery of Walking Dandruff in Dogs
Cheyletiella mites are highly contagious and can hop between dogs, cats, rabbits, and even humans. For this reason, it is important to treat all of the animals in the household if any of them are diagnosed with walking dandruff. Any bedding that has been in contact with the animals should be laundered, and carpets and upholstery should be vacuumed to prevent further infestations. This will need to be repeated periodically throughout the weeks of the treatment process. As humans are not the parasite’s normal host, the infestations are generally short and treating the affected animals, and environment usually provides resolution.
Walking dandruff can be expensive to treat. If you suspect your dog has walking dandruff or is at risk, start searching for the right pet insurance plan today.
Walking Dandruff Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Bernedoodle
Five Months
17 found this helpful
17 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
My dog was diagnosed with walking dandruff after bringing him home from breeder. It was a heavy infestation and they were in his nasal cavity as well. In addition to the environment, I have been treating him and my other dog for about 8 weeks now with baths, revolution and they have both had two does of ivermectin 300mcg/kg SQ x1 week apart. My question is, I still see some small dandruff like flakes, nothing like from when this all started, are they still considered contagious? Are other dogs protected from the mites if they have Revolution on? Thank You!
March 10, 2021
Answered by Dr. Linda S. MVB MRCVS
17 Recommendations
Walking dandruff or cheyletiella mites should usually respond well to treatment.
If unsure if treatment has been 100% effective, a vet visit is best to check by taking a sample and analysing it under the microscope.
You may be seeing dry skin secondary to itching or we may not have had full resolution. It is important to know.
March 27, 2021
Was this question and answer helpful?
husky retriever
Two Years
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Dandruff
I am trying to determine if my dog has Walking Dandruff Mites or FAD. He's not really itching or scratching much but be has a bald patch on his back near the base of his tail! He is eating and drinking fine and the skin isnt red or irritated.
Feb. 1, 2021
Answered by Dr. Linda S. MVB MRCVS
2 Recommendations
Without examining him, it is hard to know for sure.
If you look closely at the dandruff , if there are Cheyletiella mites it should move.
Flea allergy dermatitis tends to be extremely itchy so dogs chew and scratch.
We would also consider dry skin or zinc dermatosis on the case of your dog.
A vet visit is best and, if not up to date, we should provide a broad acting anti parasite prevention.
Feb. 2, 2021
Was this question and answer helpful?
Border Collie
Ten Years
5 found this helpful
5 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Itchy, Flaky Skin, Dandruff Like
Hello,
My dog is a border collie mix and we believe he has cheyletiellosis mites.. His skin is very flaky, itchy and seems to look like lots of dandruff.. I read online we can’t use chemicals to cure the cheyletiellosis, I was wondering what I could use on him?
Dec. 9, 2020
Answered by Dr. Linda S. MVB MRCVS
5 Recommendations
As discussed in my previous response, it is important to get a diagnosis. If cheyletiella is confirmed, a spot on containing Fipronil should be safe and effective.
Dec. 9, 2020
Was this question and answer helpful?
Rottweiler
9 weeks
5 found this helpful
5 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Scaly And Flaky Skin With Itching
I got my puppy 2 weeks back and she was doing fine but she started to have itching in her back and when i look at it, it was flaky bumps on the skin and seems dandruffs like, I donot know what to do as I donot want to take ger to emergency as i cannot afford it right now. Please help me here.
Aug. 7, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
5 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. Puppies can have skin problems due to parasites, bacterial infections, or fungal infection. None of those seem to be an emergency, and you should be able to have your puppy seen by a regular veterinarian when they open up at regular hours. There are parasites that actually look like dandruff, so they will be able to look at her skin, see what might be causing this, and get treatment for her. I hope that all goes well for her.
Aug. 7, 2020
Was this question and answer helpful?
Rottweiler
Nala
2 years
8 found this helpful
8 found this helpful
My dog has flakes on her skin. She is doing a lot of scratching, which is not the norm for her. It seems that all of this happened when put her in doggy hotel she iras on vacation. At this time I cannot afford to take her to the vet since I was just laid off
Nov. 25, 2017
8 Recommendations
Make sure that Nala is up to date on flea and tick prevention, use a spot on medication like Frontline (fipronil) or Advantage (imidacloprid and moxidectin) on her. Also, scaly itchy skin may be caused by some external irritant, allergies or another skin condition so bathing Nala in a shampoo with benzoyl peroxide shampoo (before the flea and tick prevention) may also be beneficial to cover a few bases. If you have no success with this, then you would need to visit your Veterinarian regardless of cost and circumstance for a closer look. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Nov. 26, 2017
Was this question and answer helpful?
Blue Heeler-Shepard (Texas Heeler)
Zelda
5 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Itching; Sores; Visible Mites
After my last trip to the vet I am in tears! My poor pupper cannot stop itching, she cant sleep, shes got sores, she cant even concentrate during training! DIET: Her vet said the itching was likely allergies, to chicken or something else I had been feeding her, and I immediately started switching her to a limited diet food, hypo-allergenic for all ages. MEDS: She will be receiving her last boosters and her first rabies shot in 2 weeks, up to date on all shots. I treated her at home with flea medication within days of bringing her home, and have continued to treat her monthly with the same medication. I use an anti itch ointment on her sores and red bumpy areas, her ears, stomach, and legs. I also have used a medicated spray for itch relief on her hotspots. I do have oral Benadryl tablets on hand for her but have not administered any yet. GROOMING: I have only given her baths as needed, but I am unsure if I should be bathing her more, I clean her genitals and bum, face, paws, and affected (sores and red bumpy areas) with plain warm water, and I use a hypo-allergenic coconut puppy shampoo as needed, when she is smelly. I brush her with both a bristle brush and a toothed brush. EXERCISE: We walk every day, sometimes multiple times a day, and I give her lots of challenges and toys to keep her distracted and busy.
History that I know of: I was recently informed, by the person who gave Zelda to me, that her own 4 dogs, 1 pig, and 3 rabbits had to be treated for mites, and she confirmed that the pup was confined with these animals for a number of days and likely ate a bit of their feces as well. The vet seemed unconcerned with this when I explained it. Basically... I have done everything in my power to ease my puppys suffering, and have failed. So I am ready to treat her with store bought medicine. I am concerned about her having sensitivities to certain medications used to treat mites so I am looking for advice. I think probably a shampoo would be best, are there any concerns with those being used on herding breeds, like oral Ivermectin or Milbemycin? I really dislike that my vet is acting like theres an underlying problem when its visibly apparent and the dog meets every criteria for having mites, I just want to give my little girl some relief already!
