Harvest mites in dogs – signs and what to do
Contact a vet todayContact your vet today if you think your dog has this – it can become serious. Harvest mites are tiny, bright orange mites that bite dogs and can cause intensely itchy, red, inflamed skin.
What you can do now
- Contact your vet today.
- Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
- Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
- Let your dog rest somewhere calm.
Don't
- Do not give any human medicine.
- Do not wait if it gets worse.
What it is
Harvest mites can cause intensely itchy, red, inflamed skin in dogs.[1] Harvest mite infestations are most common on the feet, legs and sometimes in the ears.[1]
Signs
How a vet finds out
- Skin scrape/cytology
How vets treat it
- Antiparasitic treatment
- Medication
- Anti-inflammatories
- Antibiotics
- Steroids
What the experts say
“Harvest mites can usually be seen with the naked eye, especially if there is lots of them! However, if the mites can’t be seen, or your dog has unusual symptoms, your vet may need to send off some skin scrape samples for analysis.”
Not sure how serious it is?
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Common questions
What are harvest mites?
They are tiny, bright orange mites that bite dogs and can cause intensely itchy, red, inflamed skin.[1]
What signs can harvest mites cause?
Signs can include itchy skin, red and inflamed patches, stained fur from licking and biting, red or orange dots, yellow scabs and pus.[1]
How might a vet treat harvest mites?
A vet may prescribe medication to kill the mites and, if necessary, anti-inflammatories to calm the skin.[1]
Sources
How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages
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