What does a subcutaneous mite look like in cats?

There are 2 types of ticks in cats:

• Demodex cati.

Demodex cati is a permanent inhabitant of the cat’s body and is generally a peaceful resident. The variety can be transmitted from mother to kittens in the first days after birth. Not contagious to other animals. The body is narrow, elongated in length, approximately 0.5 mm. Habitat: hair follicles. This is the most favorable place for the parasite: there is food in the form of lymph, blood, dead cells, and optimal temperature.

D.cati is a cat's friend, as it eats dead skin cells and sebaceous secretions. But he becomes an enemy when his food turns out to be of “poor quality” due to the animal’s health problems.

A tick attack by D. cati begins when the pet’s immunity is weakened, under poor living conditions, or when taking drugs to artificially suppress the immune system. Therefore, demodicosis cati is almost always accompanied by chronic viral infections: peritonitis, immunodeficiency, leukemia. The tick in a cat can become more active against the background of diabetes mellitus and lupus erythematosus.

• Demodex gatoi.

Demodex gatoi are highly contagious. They live in the stratum corneum of the skin and do not affect the hair follicle. The body is short and wide. Infection occurs through contact with a sick animal. But a person can also bring a dangerous “fragment” of fur with parasites into the house. This is how completely domestic pets that do not walk on the street become infected. It is noted that the activation of this type of parasite is not associated with weakened immunity.

Causes of subcutaneous mites in cats

Ticks are part of animal life. Some live in hair follicles for years, feeding on dead epithelial cells. The predator's immune system controls the parasite population. If the pet is weakened, the body's protective functions reduce the ability to regulate the number of arachnids. Arthropods multiply rapidly, attacking healthy cells.

Factors influencing weakened immunity:

• helminthic infestations;
• hereditary or chronic diseases;
• unbalanced diet, lack of vitamins and minerals;
• improper maintenance and care (dirty litter);
• rare or lack of water procedures using antiparasitic agents.

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Stress also reduces the body's protective functions.

Causes of red scabies

Subcutaneous mites in cats occur in all breeds. There are no restrictions by gender or age. However, it has been noted that Siamese and Burmese breeds are more often affected.

At risk:

• Animals with weakened immunity due to genetic diseases, previous infections, infection with worms, fleas, and those who have been treated with antibiotics for a long time.
• Pets up to 1-2 years old and over 5 years old.
• Kittens are artificial or taken from their mother early.
• Cats with skin diseases, wounds, abrasions.

No less influence on the immune system is exerted by nutrition, living conditions, and exposure to stress.

What it is?

If you carefully study veterinary reference books, you will probably be surprised - such a disease is not there. It's simple - cases of demodicosis are popularly called "hair mites". This is a very unpleasant and not fully understood pathology, which in some cases can lead to death.

The causative agent is the Demodex cati mite. This is a very “mysterious” parasite. The problem is that pathogens are often found in cats that have never had, do not have (and are unlikely to get) demodicosis. Because of this, a number of prominent foreign scientists believe that Demodex cati is a conditionally pathogenic organism, or even classify these mites as part of the normal microflora of cat skin.

The last statement is hotly disputed by many domestic and a number of Western experts, and they are all far from agreeing. There are also researchers who suggest that mites from the genus Demodex (of which there are more than 140 species) are still “originally” pathogenic, but can cause disease only in initially predisposed breeds and individual, susceptible cats.

Signs and symptoms

If subcutaneous mites are suspected in cats, symptoms and treatment depend on the form of the disease. There are 3 of them in total.

Localized form

When the parasite penetrates the skin, inflammation occurs at the site of penetration. The skin swells and turns red. Small tubercles (3 mm in diameter) with blood or pus form. There are a lot of such elements, especially if timely treatment is not undertaken. The danger is that an infection occurs, causing the animal’s condition to worsen. Otitis media develops, focal baldness develops, the skin turns red, becomes covered with ulcers and scales. Therefore, this form is also called “scaly”.

With local demodicosis in cats, symptoms appear primarily in the area around the eyes, ears, head, and neck. There are no more than 5 lesions. The hair on them noticeably thins. The paws and back remain unaffected. D. cati does not cause concern to the animal, while D. gatoi causes severe itching. The localized form often goes away on its own in 1-1.5 months.

Generalized demodicosis

When the disease process spreads throughout the body, the following manifestations are observed:

• Areas of hair loss throughout the body.
• Redness, hyperpigmentation of the skin.
• Acne, pustular rashes.
• Inflammation of the outer ear.
• The skin peels severely, bleeds, and itches unbearably.
• Fungal and bacterial infections are added.

The head, muzzle, neck, lower and lateral sides of the torso, and limbs are most often affected. With D. gatoi, complete baldness of the affected part of the body occurs. The animal may look untidy. The wool is dull, as if sprinkled with flour, sticks together. Many owners mistakenly believe that it is dandruff. The skin becomes shiny, sticky, and an unpleasant odor begins to emanate from the cat.

The disease progresses quickly. Separate foci are connected. Most of the body is affected by Demodex. The skin becomes thicker and gathers into folds, making the head seem prohibitively large compared to the body. The eye shape narrows. Lymph nodes become inflamed - this symptom is characteristic of demodicosis.

The general condition is depressed. The cat may refuse food and not be active. Possible increase in body temperature. The disease spreads throughout the body, and signs of intoxication begin to appear.

Juvenile demodicosis

It differs from generalized only in that it is inherited. The kitten becomes infected while still in the womb. This is a very severe form, as the entire cat’s body is affected.

Drugs and medications

Localized forms with complications and generalized forms are treated comprehensively. Medicines are selected individually, taking into account concomitant diseases and the condition of the predator.

In case of infection with D. cati and D. gatoi, use the following treatment regimen:

• Amitraz 0.25%. The oil solution is applied to the affected areas once a day every 3 days. Course 4-6 weeks.
• Invec spray is applied to the affected areas. Treat 2-4 times with an interval of 3-5 days.
• Doramectin orally once a day at a dosage of 40-60 mg per kg of body weight. Therapy is carried out for no more than a month.
• Antiparasitic drugs for parenteral administration (s.c.): Dectomax, Baymek, Cydectin.
• Antibacterial drugs Betamox (active ingredient amoxicillin), Kanamycin (amikacin), Ciprovet drops (ciprofloxacin).

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Since the fundamental ethological factor is weakened immunity, biogenic stimulants are prescribed: Gamavit, Baksin.

How to treat demodicosis in cats

The main goal of therapy is to eliminate the pathogen. For this purpose, injections, ointments, solutions for internal use, sprays, and bathing are prescribed. Be sure to use products to strengthen the immune system, restore the condition of the skin, and adjust the diet for vitamins and proteins. Treatment of demodicosis in cats is complex.

There is no one universal remedy that can remove the parasite. Having discovered a tick in cats, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive treatment, combining medications.

Therapy for local form

The disease caused by D. cati and characterized by local damage can go away on its own, but not if the immune system is weakened.

The main treatment for cats with demodicosis:

1. Use of Amitrazine solution once a day with an interval of 3 days. In this case, it is important to treat not only the affected area, but also the area a centimeter nearby. On average, 6-8 treatments are required for the signs of demodicosis to disappear. The drug is well tolerated by animals. However, if there is scratching, the pet experiences a burning sensation. To prevent the cat from licking the product, the jaw is closed using a loop. Amitrazine is not only destructive to parasites, but also has an anti-inflammatory and softening effect.
2. An effective method of treating subcutaneous mites is considered to be feeding the animal with a 1% Ivermek solution at a rate of 0.3-0.5 mg/kg.
3. To get rid of the cat mite D. gatoi, use the medicinal solution Lime Sulfur (lime sulfur). The wool is wetted every 3 days or a week. Duration of treatment is 1-2 months. The first signs of improvement are observed after 3-4 weeks of therapy.

Generalized form

In case of extensive demodicosis caused by D. cati, the following treatment regimen is considered effective:

1. Treatment of the entire body with Lime Sulfur solution. The interval is a week.
2. Subcutaneous administration of the drug Doramectin. The dosage is calculated strictly under the supervision of a doctor.
3. Lubricate the body completely with Amitrazine every 1-2 weeks. The drug should be used with caution in the generalized form, and should not be used at all in animals with diabetes.

In severely advanced cases, treatment of the generalized form is often ineffective.

For any type of disease, treatment of subcutaneous mites in cats requires up to two negative scrapings with an interval of 1 month and elimination of lesions. Therefore, it is possible to cure subcutaneous mites in a cat no earlier than 2 months. Some veterinarians perform 3 control scrapings 2-3 weeks apart.

“Eye mites” (demodex) in cats: features of the disease

Hygiene for sour eyes

Eyes that are sour after sleep are wiped with tampons soaked in a decoction of medicinal herbs (for example, chamomile or calendula) or an antiseptic solution (chlorhexidine). Compresses made from damp cloth are applied to closed eyelids at a temperature of approximately 50°C and left for 2-3 minutes. This leads to stimulation of blood flow, release of meibomian gland secretions into the eye cavity and restoration of the natural hydration mechanism.

Massage

Using gentle rubbing movements in the direction from the outer corner to the inner, a massage of the eyelids is performed, aimed at improving patency in the ducts of the meibomian glands and reducing inflammation associated with blockage. The edges of the eyelids are treated with antiseptic and antiparasitic drugs prescribed by the veterinarian. In this case, the cat may need to be restrained, for example, it can be swaddled in a towel.

Antiparasitic therapy

The resistance of demodectic mites to pharmacological effects is explained by the structure of their chitinous cover, through which the penetration of large molecules of acaricides is practically impossible. But even if the drug passes through the outer shell of the mite, the demodex eggs still remain intact, which requires repeated treatment of the affected areas of the body over time.

In addition to being highly effective relative to Demodex, the drugs should have low toxicity and hypoallergenicity for cats.

We should not forget about the sensitivity of the eye area to substances usually prescribed for local treatment against parasites. This narrows the choice of remedies for blepharitis and blepharoconjunctivitis of demodectic etiology. In particular, Davis Lime Sulfur Dip, an antimicrobial and antiparasitic solution used to combat microscopic mites on the skin, is recommended to be applied to the eyelids with caution due to the strong irritant effect. The same applies to acaricidal agents based on ivermectin (for example, Ivermek-gel), chlorophos (for example, Mycodemocid) and others.

Relatively safe means for treating demodicosis of the eyelids in cats include benzyl benzoate in the form of ointment, sulfur ointment, zinc ointment, and tar-based preparations. It is possible to use the following medicines from a human pharmacy for animals: “Blefarogel-2” (eye ointment for demodex mites based on sulfur with anti-inflammatory and antiparasitic effects), tea tree oil (a natural remedy used to cleanse and treat the skin of the eyelids), alcohol solutions calendula, wormwood and tansy. But do not choose the drug yourself - it can harm the animal. Only a veterinarian should make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

The effectiveness and safety of the products also depends on correct application: a thin layer of the drug is applied to the hairy edges of the eyelids, trying to minimize the contact of the ointment, gel or solution on the eyeball. In addition, it is prohibited to use acaricidal emulsions and alcohol solutions as regular eye drops to avoid eye burns. In case of demodicosis of the eyelids, it is also necessary to strictly observe the frequency of application of the drug prescribed by the doctor.

Symptomatic treatment

To relieve unpleasant symptoms, desensitizing and tear replacement therapy is used. Mite waste products cause inflammation, swelling, itching and other allergic manifestations, which can be reduced by hormonal and antihistamines. And tear replacement therapy comes down to the use of local moisturizing preparations (drops, gels and ointments) that eliminate dry eyes.

Antibacterial therapy

During their life, demodexes gnaw microchannels in tissues, which opens the gates for pathogenic bacterial microflora. That is why in the complex treatment of demodicosis of the eyelids, the use of antiseptic and bactericidal drops, gels and ointments is indicated. Due to the reduction of discomfort and improvement of the patient’s condition, such preparations are called demodex eye drops, although they cannot destroy the mites themselves.

Immuno- and biostimulants

In order to activate the cat's body's defenses, injections of drugs that strengthen the immune system and activate metabolism, for example, Gamavit, Katozal (Vetozal), as well as vitamin and mineral complexes, are used to combat demodectic mites. But you cannot prescribe such drugs yourself, because there are contraindications.