What harvest mites are and when they are active
This article is part of our seasonal calendar of dog health, which shows you the dangers your dog faces over the year.
Harvest mites are not a separate species in their adult stage that becomes dangerous to your dog, but the larvae of the autumn harvest mite. Only this larval form lives parasitically. At around 0.2 to 0.3 millimetres they are barely visible and shimmer orange-red; often you only see them as fine dots in groups.
Unlike ticks, they do not burrow in and do not suck blood. They scratch the top layer of skin, release saliva and feed on dissolved tissue and lymph. After a few hours to days they let go again. The released saliva strongly irritates the skin, and that is exactly what triggers the fierce itching, which often lasts up to two weeks, so considerably longer than the infestation itself.
The larvae are active in warm, dry weather in late summer and autumn, usually from July to October. This matches our data: of around 23,700 evaluated treatment incidents of 50 euros and above, 27 were harvest mites, which clearly concentrate in late summer and early autumn. The case count is small, but the seasonal pattern is clear.
Where harvest mites sit on the dog
Harvest mites sit where your dog has ground contact and the skin is thin. Most often affected are:
- the paws, above all the skin between the toes
- the belly and the inner thighs
- the ears and the ear rim
- the head around the eyes, lips and muzzle
Because the paws are so often affected, constant nibbling and licking at the paws after walks is a classic first warning sign.
Focus on the cuddles, we'll focus on the costs.
Recognising harvest mites, signs and the early stage
In the early stage there is often only a sudden, strong itch after walks across meadows, before the skin has visibly changed. Your dog licks, nibbles or scratches noticeably, is restless and cannot settle.
Then look closely at the typical spots. On the skin you find tiny orange-red dots, often close together, almost like fine paprika powder. Added to this are reddened skin, small pustules and, later, scabs or bald patches from the scratching. These mite bites itch strongly but are not dangerous in themselves.
With the following check you can quickly sort the signs:
Harvest mites or something else, telling them apart
Itching has many causes, and not every bout of scratching is down to harvest mites. What points to harvest mites is above all the combination of late summer or autumn, the sudden start after meadow visits and the infestation on the paws and belly.
By contrast, allergies often occur all year or recur, a flea infestation frequently shows at the base of the tail and with flea dirt in the coat, and a food intolerance comes regardless of the season. If in doubt, the vet clarifies the cause, often with a simple skin scraping under the microscope.
What to do about harvest mites, the treatment
The most important thing is to remove the larvae and relieve the itching so your dog does not scratch itself raw. This is how to proceed:
- Rinse the affected areas with lukewarm water after the walk; that removes some of the larvae. For the paws a short paw bath is often enough.
- Have the itching treated by the vet if it is severe. There are itch-relieving remedies and, for a skin inflammation, a suitable treatment.
- Ask at the practice about a suitable spray or spot-on. Some products against ticks and fleas can reduce the infestation, but there is no product specifically licensed against harvest mites.
- Keep your dog away from the spot where it got infested, otherwise the cycle starts again.
If your dog scratches its skin raw or weeping, inflamed areas form, that belongs at the vet quickly, because it can soon turn into a bacterial infection.
Home remedies against harvest mites, what helps and what does not
With home remedies a sober look pays off. Sensible and safe is above all rinsing the paws and the affected skin after the walk, which mechanically removes larvae. Cool water can also relieve the itching briefly.
By contrast, caution is advised with many of the tips going around. Essential oils, kitchen home remedies or products for humans can additionally burden the irritated skin or even be harmful to dogs. If rinsing is not enough and your dog is suffering badly, the vet is the better route than the next experiment.
Focus on the cuddles, we'll focus on the costs.
Preventing harvest mites
There is no complete protection, but you can clearly lower the risk in the high season:
- In the high season from August to October, avoid dry, sunny meadows, especially around midday when the larvae are active.
- Switch to paved paths, shady routes or forest floor.
- Rinse the paws and belly after the walk and check the skin folds.
- Keep your own lawn short and moist, because the larvae like it dry and warm.
Possible complications from scratching
Harvest mites themselves are harmless, the constant scratching is not always. Through constant licking and nibbling the skin can break open, and weeping, inflamed areas form, so-called hot spots. If the mites sit in the ears, the ear canal can become inflamed.
Such secondary damage can be avoided if you take the itching seriously early and have it treated. The calmer your dog stays, the faster the skin heals.
What the treatment costs and how Dalma protects you
A harvest mite infestation is usually easy to treat and manageable in cost. In our data the reimbursement for the corresponding incidents is a median of around 90 euros, with single cases involving a skin inflammation or further treatment reaching around 520 euros.
With Dalma's pet health insurance the treatment is reimbursed within your tariff up to 4 times the GOT rate. You choose a reimbursement of 80 or 100 percent and an annual benefit limit from 1,500 euros to unlimited. That way the focus stays on your dog being freed from the itching quickly.
Sources
- Dalma consumer information
- Dalma table of benefits
- ESCCAP Germany, the autumn harvest mite, tips for protection against the itchy nuisance (German)
- FOUR PAWS, harvest mites and pets (German)
- Internal Dalma DE claims database, dog, cases of 50 euros and above, evaluated at incident level (27 harvest mite incidents, small case count, aggregated analysis, reproducibly documented)
Sources
- Dalma consumer information
- Dalma table of benefits
- ESCCAP Germany, the autumn harvest mite, tips for protection against the itchy nuisance (German)
- FOUR PAWS, harvest mites and pets (German)
- Internal Dalma DE claims database, dog, cases of 50 euros and above, evaluated at incident level (27 harvest mite incidents, small case count, aggregated analysis, reproducibly documented)
