Cheyletiellosis

Cheyletiellosis is a skin condition caused by Cheyletiella mites. It is often called "walking dandruff" because when you examine an infested dog, you may see that the "dandruff" is moving due to the activity of the mites.

This condition is very contagious and can be passed not only dog to dog, but also from dog to human.

Scaly or flakey skin is the key identifying symptom. The skin condition may or may not be accompanied by itchiness or other skin discomfort. The mites can be nearly impossible to see with the naked eye, so a veterinarian will often make a diagnosis with an aid of a microscope.

The best treatments for this condition (besides prevention) is one of a number of available dip products on the market.

These can be lime sulphur or Amitraz dips. Ask your vet.

There is a drug called Ivermeticin that has shown positive results in the treatment. It is admisnistered either orally or by injection.

However, Ivermeticin is a toxin that can be deadly in some breeds. We would ask our vet to start with one of the more gentle topical solutions to treat this condition first.

Since the condition is highly contagious it is key to treat all animals in the household, or any other animals the dog may have contact with, concurrently.

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