Mites

Demodex mites are tiny cigar-shaped parasites with 8 tiny legs which live within the hair follicles of the skin of dogs. They are generally considered to be part of the normal skin flora (that is, found in the skin of healthy dogs) but in some cases can cause disease.

While most dogs develop a normal immune response to these mites so that skin disease is not seen, there are some dogs that have an inherited inability to create an adequate immune response and these dogs will develop “demodectic mange”.