Tis’ the Season for Harvest Mites

Harvest mites, also knows as “chiggers”, are the larvae of the mite Trombicula alfreddugesi. They are an orange-red, eight-legged mite that can cause considerable itchiness and dermatitis in all animals, including humans. These little buggers come out end of summer or beginning of fall in this area. We predominantly have been seeing infestations in horses, cat, and dogs. Harvest mites are scavengers that live on decaying vegetable material and plants.  The eggs are laid on moist ground and hatch into larvae that dig the hooks of their mouths into the animal’s skin to feed. They feed for three to four days before dropping off of the host to develop into adults. The larvae are the only parasitic form. The mites cause problems is during their feeding process on the host. They inject fluid into the skin that causes inflammation and intense itchiness, which can also lead to secondary bacterial infections if unrecognized early.

Harvest mites search for areas of warmth, which they find with their hosts (animals or people). They move all over the host until they find a site that they can hide and feed for a few days. Most often, these are areas of thin skin. In horses, the mites seem to prefer the area under the chin, belly, along the neck, and legs.  You can almost never see the mite, but instead notice hives and areas of scabs with serum discharge. Dogs most commonly develop hair loss, redness of skin, and secondary infections on their chest and belly. Cats can sometime show no clinical signs because they are so good at grooming themselves and mechanically removing the mites themselves. By far, the most common site for harvest mites in cats is inside their ears. You may notice your kitty scratching at their ears, shaking their head, or showing no signs at all. It is easy to diagnose because we can see the orange mites in their ears.

To treat harvest mites, there are a variety of insecticides that are recommended. However, the most effective one we have found is Frontline Spray, which can be used in all animals except rabbits. We suggest using this spray once monthly to kill those mites currently on your animal as well as preventing reinfestation. Other treatments include corticosteroids to relieve the intense itchiness and antibiotics, if needed.

Now is the season of the harvest mites and we are seeing several cases every day. We often find mites during pets’ annual physical examination that the owner had not even noticed! So be on the look out! If your pet is getting itchy during harvest season, make an appointment with your veterinarian.

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Meet the Veterinarians from Middletown Animal Hospital:

Dr. Brie Taylor was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, with loving and supportive parents, family, and friends. She and her two brothers had many pets growing up which helped cultivate her love of animals and her dream to become a veterinarian. After receiving a B.S. in Biology from Oregon State University in 2002, she again attended Oregon State University where she obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. She is excited to be a new edition to the veterinary team at Middletown Animal Hospital and enjoys working on a variety of animals. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, two cats, Toledo and Gracie, and family Golden Retriever dogs, Kalli, Bailey, and Donovan. She also loves to explore the outdoors and can’t wait to experience the diverse natural beauty California has to offer.

Dr. Jeffrey J Smith , DVM graduated from Cornell University in 1986. He completed an internship in Thousand Oaks, California in 1987, and stayed on for another year as an associate. Before opening MAH in 1991, he worked in a small animal clinic, in an equine practice, and in an emergency clinic. In 1990 Dr. Smith came to Middletown with the goal of building a veterinary hospital that the community could be proud of. Little by little he cleaned up the property, added staff and equipment, and built-up the reputation of the hospital. The mission of the hospital is simple: Provide the best possible care to each patient and client. Dr. Smith places a high value on continuing education and medical technology in order to offer the best care available. His biggest challenge on a day to day basis is to keep the small business running smoothly--- unfortunately that sometimes means cutting into his time as a veterinarian!

Dr. Sarah Mason was raised in rural southern Oregon on her grandfather and her father’s cattle ranches. Growing up around livestock and horses fostered her desire to become a veterinarian from a young age. In 2002 she graduated from the Oregon State University agriculture program with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business and then completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, also at OSU, in June of 2007. Dr. Mason has spent the last year in large animal ambulatory practice in the North Bay area, gaining invaluable experience in equine and small ruminant medicine and field surgery. She is looking forward to broadening her horizons and taking on new challenges with the doctors and staff at Middletown Animal Hospital. She enjoys trail running, hiking, knitting, and watching movies in her spare time. Her current project is training her 11 month-old terrier mix puppy named “Patti” to come when she is called.

Middletown Animal Hospital
21503 Highway 29
Middletown, CA 95461
707-987-2000

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