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Harvest Mites

(41 Posts)
Whitewavemark2 Sat 18-Sep-21 19:57:12

I reckon our dog has picked some up whilst we were on holiday walking in woods.

They are driving him and us mad, so I will potter him to the vets on Monday.

Meantime does anyone have a suggested remedy for terrible itching 24/7? ?

Nonogran Sat 18-Sep-21 20:00:10

Bath him?
Take to the nearest Petsathome before Monday?
Antihistamine tablet? Google if ok to administer.

ExDancer Sat 18-Sep-21 20:01:57

Anthistan cream from chemists and supermarket or Amazon works for me BUT ask the vet before you use it on the dog in case he licks it off and poisons himself

Whitewavemark2 Sat 18-Sep-21 20:05:02

Yes I’ve bathed him with no luck today.

I’ll google antihistamine

Thanks

Whitewavemark2 Sat 18-Sep-21 20:08:28

Oh I’m not sure about antihistamine now that I’ve googled it. There may be ingredients not suitable.

Josianne Sat 18-Sep-21 20:10:32

Piriton, the proper thing, is ok for dogs.

emmasnan Sat 18-Sep-21 20:13:37

You and your dog have my sympathy, our cat had this problem recently. The vet gave a steroid injection and the itching eased within a couple of days, much to everyone's relief!

Whitewavemark2 Sat 18-Sep-21 20:15:46

The trouble is he takes medication for his gall bladder so I’m not sure it would be safe.

I think he’s going to have to itch until first thing Monday, as I can’t really say it is an emergency and take him to his hospital tomorrow.

Pets eh!!

MayBee70 Sat 18-Sep-21 20:17:20

Josianne

Piriton, the proper thing, is ok for dogs.

Yes. One tablet twice a day for a whippet sized dog. We were prescribed that by a vet.There was a thread about it in facebook that mentioned something else. I’ll try to find it.

Josianne Sat 18-Sep-21 20:20:50

I agree, you may need to be careful not to mix drugs if he already has a problem. Have you any sudocreme to hand? We used it on occasions to calm things down.

Whitewavemark2 Sat 18-Sep-21 20:22:49

I’ve been turning out the kitchen for bicarbonate but no luck.

25Avalon Sat 18-Sep-21 20:28:12

Piriton tablet or half depending on the size of the dog was recommended to me by an holistic but conventionally trained vet. If you have any hibiscrub water it down and apply to the itchy spots especially if the skin is torn. If you buy hibiscrub from the pharmacy so it is for you. If you say it’s for a dog they won’t let you have it.

25Avalon Sat 18-Sep-21 20:28:35

Say it is for you

Whitewavemark2 Sat 18-Sep-21 20:32:50

Oh thanks I have some hibiscrub in the dogs stuff. I’ll give that a go.

MayBee70 Sat 18-Sep-21 20:32:58

It said on one site to use white vinegar.

Whitewavemark2 Sat 18-Sep-21 20:35:41

MayBee70

It said on one site to use white vinegar.

Tried that used 50/50.

He’s asleep at the moment - I think he’s exhausted. So are we!!

seacliff Sat 18-Sep-21 21:25:19

Sudocreme works for our poor cat. I put it on the bad area, not too liberally, it seems to relieve itching. Just one of our cats get affected so badly every year.

There is no real drug that stops it properly. We spray fipronil flea spray on a glove and rub around his ears and neck.

MiniMoon Sat 18-Sep-21 21:34:42

The Vet thought our terrier was allergic to harvest mites. Spot On helped, but his advice was to keep away from the fields in the summer.
We walked her around the Town or along by the river, using the walkers footpath and keeping away from the grass.

seacliff Sat 18-Sep-21 21:35:21

We were advised not to use hibiscrub, especially on open wounds like you get with Harvest Mites. www.kbis.co.uk/veterinary-advice/rethinking-hibiscrub/m.

The Sudocreme is better in my opinion.

MayBee70 Sat 18-Sep-21 21:36:40

I’d never heard of problems with harvest mites till I read about them a couple of days ago. It said to use Stinky Stuff but I think that was as a preventative. They sound really nasty.

25Avalon Sat 18-Sep-21 21:49:57

Seacliff had to ferret around on the link to find the article you refer to. It is all about horses and treatment but I guess there isn’t a great deal of difference. You use Sudacreme on your cat but it says NOT to use it. Regarding hibiscrub the problem is where it is not watered down sufficiently. It should be so dilute the colour disappears. This concurs with what my holistic vet told me.

If worried witchhazel is another substance that can be applied.you can also mix a little turmeric with water to form a paste. It is unlikely your dog will eat this but if it does it is good for boosting their internal immune system.

Fennel Sat 18-Sep-21 22:02:31

This brough back memories of when we were in France. Les Auoutats !
IE the august bugs. they attack humans too. and make extremely itchy spots.
For us, the only protection is to cover up outside and avoid long grass. But dogs won't like that.
I think there are preventative sprays.

Fennel Sat 18-Sep-21 22:10:27

ps @ Whitewave where we you walking?
If further north than SW France it seems to be another result of global warming.

Fridayschild Sat 18-Sep-21 22:17:10

This may be of help

25Avalon Sat 18-Sep-21 22:31:50

I had never heard of it until my Belgian vet told me it was very common in France. My dog scratched herself to bits so I let her sleep in my room and yelled at her every time she started to scratch. Poor dear didn’t want to disobey. I didn’t get much sleep. She is no longer with us sadly. I had such a rapport with her.