Always follow label directions and if you have any doubts or questions discuss them with a qualified veterinarian or a pest control operator.
Hot Shot has come out with a bug bomb that contains perethrins and the Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) Nylar. It is in a purple box and is labeled for Bed Bugs and Fleas. The Perethrins are a contact killer for mites (as long as they are not immune) and the Nylar helps keep them from reproducing. It seems to help a bit from our experience.
Right now, the best things seem to be the Borax and salt mixture on the floor and especially along the edges and corners. I use Cedarcide cedar oil and saline solution every night on myself. During the day, any crawling or itching can be helped with hand sanitizer. I still soak the bedding with the witch hazel and a few drops of tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil mixture every now and then. Diatomaceous earth is also a good treatment for the environment.
I usually vacuum once every two weeks with a hepa filter vacuum. I waited about three weeks last time and the cats and people got a lot more itchy. Cats are due for Revolution again in about 5 days.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Dermatologists discussing Cheyletiella
Interestingly, the Cheyletiella mite can become internal. It has been recognised as going in and out of the nostrils in some animals, getting in the eyes, and being passed in the stool of both dogs and cats. Some people who have large mite infestations in their homes report the mites doing the same things to them. One vet recommended systemic treatment (such as Selamectin--Revolution--or Ivermectin--Heartgard) because of the possibility that the mites may survive through the digestive track of the animal.
Some people who ask for advice on the net after obtaining an affirmative diagnosis of Cheyletiella from their vet report a crawling sensation and that the mite affects only one person in a household of many people (such as five people). The mite bites appear papular, like small zits, in some cases.
One instruction for controlling Cheyletiella in kennels was to put fly tape hanging in the kennel. Why is this? Apparently the mites can become airborn. Another aspect noted by people who have suspected their afliction to be bird mites.
Another point is that a man whose dog was diagnosed with Cheyletiella reported that a normal vacuum bag did not work, that a hepa filter was needed. He had found that the mites would be blown about and respread without a proper filter. This is another aspect that we have experienced and that appears consistent with Cheyletiella.
The following is a link to a somewhat recent article, "Cheyletiella: The Underdiagnosed Mite": http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Veterinary+news/Cheyletiella-the-under-diagnosed-mite/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/363975
This article is posted on the net and apparently first appeared in Boxer Parade Magazine, it mentions that it has been reported in birds and squirrels and has a lot of good information: http://www.showboxer-l.com/mites.html
The following discussion and partial bibliography can be found on the following Dermatology discussion board, note that contact with the infested animal is not necessary. There is one report of a child sleeping in the dog's bed and being covered in bites--while the rest of the family received smaller quantities of bites during the day and another of a person working in a cubicle next to where the infested dog slept during the night--since these parasites can infest squirrels and birds, it would make sense that the presence of these animals can cause this parasite to attack humans in the building. The following discussion also notes that middle aged women tend to be the ones affected the most in families by this mite, a correlation with suspected delusional parasitosis statistics: http://dermatology.cdlib.org/rxderm-archives/itchy-red-bump-disease
think Cheyletiella!
I hate to become the pied piper of this little critter, but I've made this post before and heard no replies. Please see the excellent article: Lee BW, Cheyletiella dermatitis: a report of fourteen cases, Cutis (1991 Feb) 47(2):111-4.
This annoying little pest is more widespread than previously thought (reports from Europe, Asia and the Americas). It lives on our mammalian pets and is easily transmittable if your pet leaves home even briefly or is kenneled. It isfairly common in kennel animals and strays. The pet may not be symptomatic and only a few vets can diagnose it, or are even aware of it. It only causes trouble when it falls off the host animal and finds a human--which it bites repeatedly before dying or falling off. They do not burrow and won't be found on path. The reaction is most often seen in the middle aged woman in the family(?more reactive/intolerant immune systems), but if present long enough will appear in other family members (the older males in the family react the last). The lesions look like small isolated insect bites and excoriations on the trunk and proximal extremities and the path report routinely contains insect bite in the differential. The itch is global, intense (similar to scabies and in excessof findings) and the patient has usually been given Kwell by their primary MD, and sometimes Dapsone by their dermatologist (with some improvement in the itch with Dapsone). The eruption is most common in the fall and winter, but can happen any time. The infected pet may not be at home, but instead might be at aplace the patient frequents (one of my cases was from a security dog at the patient's place of employment...it slept near her cubicle at night!!).
Some vets are very helpful with this suspected condition, but others will ignoreyour concerns due to their lack of knowledge of the parasite. I've had phenomenal and quick "cures" and many very grateful patients by insisting the suspect animals be treated with ivermectin whether the vet can confirm the diagnosis or not. I now give these patients copies of Dr. Lee's article for themselves and to take to their vet. I also keep a list of vets in my area who are "believers."
Please consider this diagnosis strongly in the future--you'll save your patient and yourself a lot of grief.
REFERENCES:
Lee BW
Cheyletiella dermatitis.
In: Arch Dermatol (1981 Oct) 117(10):677-8
Cohen SR
Cheyletiella dermatitis. A mite infestation of rabbit, cat, dog, and man.
In: Arch Dermatol (1980 Apr) 116(4):435-7Two patients with recurrent, intensely pruritic, grouped red papules on the chest, abdomen, and thighs were examined and found to have Cheyletiella dermatitis. Cheyletiella, a nonburrowing species of mite, was isolated from fur brushings of the household pets, including one dog and two cats. Treatment of the affected pets resulted in complete resolution of symptoms and signs in both animals and patients. This appears to be the third instance of human Cheyletiella dermatitis recorded in North America.
Bakkers EJ Fain A
Dermatitis in man and in a dog caused by the mite Cheyletiella yasguri Smiley.
In: Br J Dermatol (1972 Sep) 87(3):245-7Rivers JK Martin J Pukay B Walking dandruff and Cheyletiella dermatitis.In: J Am Acad Dermatol (1986 Nov) 15(5 Pt 2):1130-3Two patients presented with pruritus and rash caused by Cheyletiella mites that lived on our patients' cats. Only with veterinary assistance was the correct diagnosis made and effective therapy instituted.Shelley ED
Shelley WB Pula JF McDonald SG
The diagnostic challenge of nonburrowing mite bites. Cheyletiella yasguri.
In: JAMA (1984 May 25) 251(20):2690-1Endemic pruritus in a family of four proved to be caused by the "bite and run" habits of the Cheyletiella yasguri mites that lived on the family dog. The mystery was solved only after the 6-year-old daughter experienced an explosive attack of pruritic papules after taking a nap in the dog's sleeping box. Virtually invisible ectoparasites remain a common cause of endemic pruritus within families. Since these patients show no acarologic, clinical, or laboratory evidence for the cause fo their itch, a good rule remains, cherchez le chien.
Lee BW
Cheyletiella dermatitis: a report of fourteen cases.
In: Cutis (1991 Feb) 47(2):111-4Cheyletiella dermatitis is an infrequently reported eruption caused by an ectoparasite whose normal hosts are household pets. Fourteen cases, documented over an eight-year period, are reported. All cases were found in one practice in a small community. Typical patients are female, aged forty years or younger, who experience pruritic papules in the winter months. Cheyletiella dermatitis is not a rare problem.
Dal Tio R Tara Vercelli A
[Dermatitis caused by Cheyletiella. Description of 8 cases and review of the literature]Dermatite da Cheyletiella. Descrizione di otto casi e revisione della letteratura.In: G Ital Dermatol Venereol (1990 Feb) 125(1-2):19-24 (Published in Italian)The Authors report eight cases of Cheyletiella dermatitis, parasite mite of domestic animals but also known as pathogenic for man. This animal parasitosis mentioned many times in other countries, seems to be very diffused in Italy, too. Nevertheless, the literature tells that normally, in our country, Cheyletiella dermatitis is a pathology completely underestimated and almost unknown. The Authors, because of the aspecificity of the clinical and histopathological data, lay special stress on the differential diagnosis pro OF 15)8013675und mit der Milb6 persons exposeation is reported. Two of the dogs appeared to have been infected during a stay in a kennel. The dogs presented with moderate itching and slight to massive floury squamack. In the infeogs had been remIENCE*****
Niiyama M Ohbayashi M
Cheyletiella blakei in a cat.
In: Nippon Juigaku Zasshi (1979 Aug) 41(4):395-9
Fain A Scheepers L De Groot W
[Long-lasting pruriginous dermatitis in a woman caused by an acarian dog parasite, Cheyletiella yasguri Smiley]Dermatite prurigineuse de longue duree chez une femme, produite par l'acarien parasite du chien Cheyletiella yasguri Smiley.
In: Rev Med Liege (1982 Sep 15) 37(18):623-5 (Published in French)
McGarry JW
Identification of Cheyletiella eggs in dog faeces.
In: Vet Rec (1993 Apr 3) 132(14):359-60 Biomedical Science Division (Veterinary Parasitology) Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Kip Cullimore, MD
--------------------
Another kitty dandruff incognito sleuth! I have one, and onlyone, vet who assumes the infestation is endemic, and will treat empiricallyif I send the patient. There is another great reference in the fabulousBritish book on Arthropods-I will check my shelf tomorrow. It is a musthave book along with Art's book and Wolverton's book and Shelley's book anddu Vivier's. They do bite several times in a pretty well circumscribedarea, may be evanescent, and lots of times have central vesico-pustules.Patients like this diagnosis much better than fleas, which is akin totelling them (they feel) that they keep a dirty house , don't wash, andare covered by coodies.I am glad someone else out there practices veterinary medicine! Yes, Iknow there are veterinary dermatologists.......but have you ever been totheir meeting at the academy. I could barely stay quiet, let alone seated.They call everything "pemphigus" or staph.Diane Thaler--------------------
Some people who ask for advice on the net after obtaining an affirmative diagnosis of Cheyletiella from their vet report a crawling sensation and that the mite affects only one person in a household of many people (such as five people). The mite bites appear papular, like small zits, in some cases.
One instruction for controlling Cheyletiella in kennels was to put fly tape hanging in the kennel. Why is this? Apparently the mites can become airborn. Another aspect noted by people who have suspected their afliction to be bird mites.
Another point is that a man whose dog was diagnosed with Cheyletiella reported that a normal vacuum bag did not work, that a hepa filter was needed. He had found that the mites would be blown about and respread without a proper filter. This is another aspect that we have experienced and that appears consistent with Cheyletiella.
The following is a link to a somewhat recent article, "Cheyletiella: The Underdiagnosed Mite": http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Veterinary+news/Cheyletiella-the-under-diagnosed-mite/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/363975
This article is posted on the net and apparently first appeared in Boxer Parade Magazine, it mentions that it has been reported in birds and squirrels and has a lot of good information: http://www.showboxer-l.com/mites.html
The following discussion and partial bibliography can be found on the following Dermatology discussion board, note that contact with the infested animal is not necessary. There is one report of a child sleeping in the dog's bed and being covered in bites--while the rest of the family received smaller quantities of bites during the day and another of a person working in a cubicle next to where the infested dog slept during the night--since these parasites can infest squirrels and birds, it would make sense that the presence of these animals can cause this parasite to attack humans in the building. The following discussion also notes that middle aged women tend to be the ones affected the most in families by this mite, a correlation with suspected delusional parasitosis statistics: http://dermatology.cdlib.org/rxderm-archives/itchy-red-bump-disease
think Cheyletiella!
I hate to become the pied piper of this little critter, but I've made this post before and heard no replies. Please see the excellent article: Lee BW, Cheyletiella dermatitis: a report of fourteen cases, Cutis (1991 Feb) 47(2):111-4.
This annoying little pest is more widespread than previously thought (reports from Europe, Asia and the Americas). It lives on our mammalian pets and is easily transmittable if your pet leaves home even briefly or is kenneled. It isfairly common in kennel animals and strays. The pet may not be symptomatic and only a few vets can diagnose it, or are even aware of it. It only causes trouble when it falls off the host animal and finds a human--which it bites repeatedly before dying or falling off. They do not burrow and won't be found on path. The reaction is most often seen in the middle aged woman in the family(?more reactive/intolerant immune systems), but if present long enough will appear in other family members (the older males in the family react the last). The lesions look like small isolated insect bites and excoriations on the trunk and proximal extremities and the path report routinely contains insect bite in the differential. The itch is global, intense (similar to scabies and in excessof findings) and the patient has usually been given Kwell by their primary MD, and sometimes Dapsone by their dermatologist (with some improvement in the itch with Dapsone). The eruption is most common in the fall and winter, but can happen any time. The infected pet may not be at home, but instead might be at aplace the patient frequents (one of my cases was from a security dog at the patient's place of employment...it slept near her cubicle at night!!).
Some vets are very helpful with this suspected condition, but others will ignoreyour concerns due to their lack of knowledge of the parasite. I've had phenomenal and quick "cures" and many very grateful patients by insisting the suspect animals be treated with ivermectin whether the vet can confirm the diagnosis or not. I now give these patients copies of Dr. Lee's article for themselves and to take to their vet. I also keep a list of vets in my area who are "believers."
Please consider this diagnosis strongly in the future--you'll save your patient and yourself a lot of grief.
REFERENCES:
Lee BW
Cheyletiella dermatitis.
In: Arch Dermatol (1981 Oct) 117(10):677-8
Cohen SR
Cheyletiella dermatitis. A mite infestation of rabbit, cat, dog, and man.
In: Arch Dermatol (1980 Apr) 116(4):435-7Two patients with recurrent, intensely pruritic, grouped red papules on the chest, abdomen, and thighs were examined and found to have Cheyletiella dermatitis. Cheyletiella, a nonburrowing species of mite, was isolated from fur brushings of the household pets, including one dog and two cats. Treatment of the affected pets resulted in complete resolution of symptoms and signs in both animals and patients. This appears to be the third instance of human Cheyletiella dermatitis recorded in North America.
Bakkers EJ Fain A
Dermatitis in man and in a dog caused by the mite Cheyletiella yasguri Smiley.
In: Br J Dermatol (1972 Sep) 87(3):245-7Rivers JK Martin J Pukay B Walking dandruff and Cheyletiella dermatitis.In: J Am Acad Dermatol (1986 Nov) 15(5 Pt 2):1130-3Two patients presented with pruritus and rash caused by Cheyletiella mites that lived on our patients' cats. Only with veterinary assistance was the correct diagnosis made and effective therapy instituted.Shelley ED
Shelley WB Pula JF McDonald SG
The diagnostic challenge of nonburrowing mite bites. Cheyletiella yasguri.
In: JAMA (1984 May 25) 251(20):2690-1Endemic pruritus in a family of four proved to be caused by the "bite and run" habits of the Cheyletiella yasguri mites that lived on the family dog. The mystery was solved only after the 6-year-old daughter experienced an explosive attack of pruritic papules after taking a nap in the dog's sleeping box. Virtually invisible ectoparasites remain a common cause of endemic pruritus within families. Since these patients show no acarologic, clinical, or laboratory evidence for the cause fo their itch, a good rule remains, cherchez le chien.
Lee BW
Cheyletiella dermatitis: a report of fourteen cases.
In: Cutis (1991 Feb) 47(2):111-4Cheyletiella dermatitis is an infrequently reported eruption caused by an ectoparasite whose normal hosts are household pets. Fourteen cases, documented over an eight-year period, are reported. All cases were found in one practice in a small community. Typical patients are female, aged forty years or younger, who experience pruritic papules in the winter months. Cheyletiella dermatitis is not a rare problem.
Dal Tio R Tara Vercelli A
[Dermatitis caused by Cheyletiella. Description of 8 cases and review of the literature]Dermatite da Cheyletiella. Descrizione di otto casi e revisione della letteratura.In: G Ital Dermatol Venereol (1990 Feb) 125(1-2):19-24 (Published in Italian)The Authors report eight cases of Cheyletiella dermatitis, parasite mite of domestic animals but also known as pathogenic for man. This animal parasitosis mentioned many times in other countries, seems to be very diffused in Italy, too. Nevertheless, the literature tells that normally, in our country, Cheyletiella dermatitis is a pathology completely underestimated and almost unknown. The Authors, because of the aspecificity of the clinical and histopathological data, lay special stress on the differential diagnosis pro OF 15)8013675und mit der Milb6 persons exposeation is reported. Two of the dogs appeared to have been infected during a stay in a kennel. The dogs presented with moderate itching and slight to massive floury squamack. In the infeogs had been remIENCE*****
Niiyama M Ohbayashi M
Cheyletiella blakei in a cat.
In: Nippon Juigaku Zasshi (1979 Aug) 41(4):395-9
Fain A Scheepers L De Groot W
[Long-lasting pruriginous dermatitis in a woman caused by an acarian dog parasite, Cheyletiella yasguri Smiley]Dermatite prurigineuse de longue duree chez une femme, produite par l'acarien parasite du chien Cheyletiella yasguri Smiley.
In: Rev Med Liege (1982 Sep 15) 37(18):623-5 (Published in French)
McGarry JW
Identification of Cheyletiella eggs in dog faeces.
In: Vet Rec (1993 Apr 3) 132(14):359-60 Biomedical Science Division (Veterinary Parasitology) Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Kip Cullimore, MD
--------------------
Another kitty dandruff incognito sleuth! I have one, and onlyone, vet who assumes the infestation is endemic, and will treat empiricallyif I send the patient. There is another great reference in the fabulousBritish book on Arthropods-I will check my shelf tomorrow. It is a musthave book along with Art's book and Wolverton's book and Shelley's book anddu Vivier's. They do bite several times in a pretty well circumscribedarea, may be evanescent, and lots of times have central vesico-pustules.Patients like this diagnosis much better than fleas, which is akin totelling them (they feel) that they keep a dirty house , don't wash, andare covered by coodies.I am glad someone else out there practices veterinary medicine! Yes, Iknow there are veterinary dermatologists.......but have you ever been totheir meeting at the academy. I could barely stay quiet, let alone seated.They call everything "pemphigus" or staph.Diane Thaler--------------------
Monday, November 16, 2009
Cats and Mites III
Our kitten had the following symptoms: Constant sneezing, rubbing the eyes, itchiness, and dandruff on the back. These are all symptoms of cheyletiella mites. Apparently 58% of cats with cheyletiella mites come up with a negative result. Chipmunks, birds, and squirrels can carry this mite. They can live for up to 14 days in the environment without a hoste. They can infest humans, usually transiently but one scientifically documented case exists where the human retained the lifecycle of the mites. They can cause itchy rashes in humans and macular papules similar to what I have had. Sometimes when the cats are very itchy, I get covered in small bites just by carrying them or holding them. This is also common with cheyletiella. Considering that they have such a wide range of hosts, this is very possibly the mite that my small family has been dealing with. One scientific paper I read said that Selamectin (Revolution) over a period of three months once a month got rid of them. Another vet site recommended Selamectin every 15 days or ivermectin (Heartgard) once a week. The environment would also have to be treated. These mites are also small enough that they easily escape the eyes and usually the dandruff is the teltale mark. So, it may be that I have dealt with this for two years and it is a somewhat common parasite. We'll see.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Taking care of cats II
Always follow label directions and if you have any doubts or questions talk to a qualified veterinarian or a pest control operator.
We now have a kitten along with the adult cat. This poses challenges as I cannot use the same chemicals or doses for the adult cat and the kitten. We had a three pronged approach with the adult cat in addition to treating our own environment.
We would wash him once a month with Sergeant's Gold Flea and Tick Shampoo for Cats and Kittens (which contains insect growth regulator), put Frontline Plus on him the day after, and then give him Heartguard (Ivermectin) about a week before his bath when the effects of the bath and Frontline were wearing off. This worked just fine. We even had an infestation from an abandoned bird nest and while the cat was bitten often, it was clear they were not thriving on him. I almost suspect that the pesticide regime on the cat did away the infestation from the entire apartment.
Now, with the kitten, things are much more difficult. We cannot use the Sergeant's Gold as it is for cats 8 months and older. We used Sergeant's Skip Flea that requires that it be used every two weeks. It has no insect growth regulator and I suspect that the pyrethrins do not have a residual effect, or it is a weak repellant effect. The vet prescribed 3 doses (over 3 months) of kitten Revolution and then moving on to adult revolution.
However, kitten revolution is for cats under 5.1 lb. The dosage is 1/3 that of the adult dose for cats from 5.1 lb. to 15 lb. It turns out that our kitten has grown so rapidly in the last two weeks since we gave him a kitten dose that he may be 6 lb (we weighed him and he was either over 5 lb. or over 6 lb., even though we had a result of just over 3 lb., that would mean he hasn't grown in over a month, which is visibly not true--over 5 lb. is the most likely weight). He is very itchy and it appears he does not have enough Revolution in his sytem to be of any use.
I am now looking forward to his next bath and very much looking forward to his next dose, which will probably be the adult dose per his weight. The annoying thing is that he makes us humans itchy and the mites seem to survive on him enough that even the adult cat is more itchy. When we gave him his kitten dose, we did not realize he had grown so much and that the kitten dose was so inadequate for the situation, but we are afraid of giving him more as we do not want to poison him.
The increased itchiness may be the result of rodents moving into the building as the weather cools and the fact that the last time we washed the adult cat, we accidently used the Sergeant's Skip Flea, which as I described has limited benefits. We washed the adult with Gold a couple days ago, and I hope it helps us and the environment--and the kitten. The adult is still on his old regime as it seemed to work and we have a number of doses left of his medicines.
We now have a kitten along with the adult cat. This poses challenges as I cannot use the same chemicals or doses for the adult cat and the kitten. We had a three pronged approach with the adult cat in addition to treating our own environment.
We would wash him once a month with Sergeant's Gold Flea and Tick Shampoo for Cats and Kittens (which contains insect growth regulator), put Frontline Plus on him the day after, and then give him Heartguard (Ivermectin) about a week before his bath when the effects of the bath and Frontline were wearing off. This worked just fine. We even had an infestation from an abandoned bird nest and while the cat was bitten often, it was clear they were not thriving on him. I almost suspect that the pesticide regime on the cat did away the infestation from the entire apartment.
Now, with the kitten, things are much more difficult. We cannot use the Sergeant's Gold as it is for cats 8 months and older. We used Sergeant's Skip Flea that requires that it be used every two weeks. It has no insect growth regulator and I suspect that the pyrethrins do not have a residual effect, or it is a weak repellant effect. The vet prescribed 3 doses (over 3 months) of kitten Revolution and then moving on to adult revolution.
However, kitten revolution is for cats under 5.1 lb. The dosage is 1/3 that of the adult dose for cats from 5.1 lb. to 15 lb. It turns out that our kitten has grown so rapidly in the last two weeks since we gave him a kitten dose that he may be 6 lb (we weighed him and he was either over 5 lb. or over 6 lb., even though we had a result of just over 3 lb., that would mean he hasn't grown in over a month, which is visibly not true--over 5 lb. is the most likely weight). He is very itchy and it appears he does not have enough Revolution in his sytem to be of any use.
I am now looking forward to his next bath and very much looking forward to his next dose, which will probably be the adult dose per his weight. The annoying thing is that he makes us humans itchy and the mites seem to survive on him enough that even the adult cat is more itchy. When we gave him his kitten dose, we did not realize he had grown so much and that the kitten dose was so inadequate for the situation, but we are afraid of giving him more as we do not want to poison him.
The increased itchiness may be the result of rodents moving into the building as the weather cools and the fact that the last time we washed the adult cat, we accidently used the Sergeant's Skip Flea, which as I described has limited benefits. We washed the adult with Gold a couple days ago, and I hope it helps us and the environment--and the kitten. The adult is still on his old regime as it seemed to work and we have a number of doses left of his medicines.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
What is causing these mites to spread?
In the past I have pointed to the warming climate as a possible source of the increase in biting mite infestations. Some other interesting ecological changes are record size crocodiles around the world, MonsterQuest on History Channel documented record size crocs in India, the Everglades etc.
Another is the moving of a species of giant squid to off the coast of San Francisco in a recent BBC article. These squids used to be found in warmer waters off of Central America, but scientists now believe they have created a permanent presence off of California.
A third climate related issue with changing ecology was reported on livescience.com, large trees in Yosemite have decreased by 24% in a recent period.
The book, Unstoppable Global Warming documented changes in the north-south ranges of plants and animals during various climate shifts from the past. Apparently Ontario, Canada, had trees in the past that now grow in the American South. This may well be why cases of bird and rodent mites are "apparently increasing," increased levels of humidity and a warmer climate.
On the other hand, the same changes in the pest control industry that have affected bed bug increases may be responsible. They used to use much stronger chemicals and sprayed residual pesticides to control ants and cockroaches that may have also affected mite populations. For example, Malathion is no longer permitted indoors and it is an effective miticide, as was DDT banned much earlier.
An interesting connection is that both bed bugs and parasitic mites appear to have a connection to the commercial poultry industry. Scientists from a variety of universities, including Texas A&M have found that bed bugs never left the US, they persisted in major poultry facilities in Texas, Arkansas, and Delaware. Thus, the bed bugs found in the US are genetic descendants of the bed bugs from before the 1950's and lack the expected genetic bottle neck.
Apparently international travel is not as much responsible for bed bugs as a switch to bait pesticides, prohibition of effective pesticides, and unhealthy conditions in poultry houses. Both parasitic anthropoids, mites and bed bugs, have thrived on poultry and are making a come back side by side.
In effect, what we have done is coming back to us. In the past, people might have been exposed to bird mites from a backyard chicken coup. If they wanted to eat chickens, they took the risk of being infested by their parasites. Now, we eat chickens without the responsibility of keeping them healthy in our backyard, so by eating the chickens that have been raised in cramped conditions has increased our likelihood of contracting their parasites in urban and suburban settings.
Nature is keeping us accountable for how we treat our animals. Most people won't draw a connection between what bites them at night and what they eat at lunch.
Another is the moving of a species of giant squid to off the coast of San Francisco in a recent BBC article. These squids used to be found in warmer waters off of Central America, but scientists now believe they have created a permanent presence off of California.
A third climate related issue with changing ecology was reported on livescience.com, large trees in Yosemite have decreased by 24% in a recent period.
The book, Unstoppable Global Warming documented changes in the north-south ranges of plants and animals during various climate shifts from the past. Apparently Ontario, Canada, had trees in the past that now grow in the American South. This may well be why cases of bird and rodent mites are "apparently increasing," increased levels of humidity and a warmer climate.
On the other hand, the same changes in the pest control industry that have affected bed bug increases may be responsible. They used to use much stronger chemicals and sprayed residual pesticides to control ants and cockroaches that may have also affected mite populations. For example, Malathion is no longer permitted indoors and it is an effective miticide, as was DDT banned much earlier.
An interesting connection is that both bed bugs and parasitic mites appear to have a connection to the commercial poultry industry. Scientists from a variety of universities, including Texas A&M have found that bed bugs never left the US, they persisted in major poultry facilities in Texas, Arkansas, and Delaware. Thus, the bed bugs found in the US are genetic descendants of the bed bugs from before the 1950's and lack the expected genetic bottle neck.
Apparently international travel is not as much responsible for bed bugs as a switch to bait pesticides, prohibition of effective pesticides, and unhealthy conditions in poultry houses. Both parasitic anthropoids, mites and bed bugs, have thrived on poultry and are making a come back side by side.
In effect, what we have done is coming back to us. In the past, people might have been exposed to bird mites from a backyard chicken coup. If they wanted to eat chickens, they took the risk of being infested by their parasites. Now, we eat chickens without the responsibility of keeping them healthy in our backyard, so by eating the chickens that have been raised in cramped conditions has increased our likelihood of contracting their parasites in urban and suburban settings.
Nature is keeping us accountable for how we treat our animals. Most people won't draw a connection between what bites them at night and what they eat at lunch.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Taking Care of Cats During a Mite Infestation
Always follow label directions when using pesticides, if you have doubts or questions, discuss them with a qualified veterinarian or a pest control operator.
Our cat got sick again recently when I was taking care of our environment, vacuuming and then powdering our apartment. He really likes to stay in corners and on the edges of the room--places that I was treating with pesticide dust in order to kill the mites that sought shelter or wanted on the walls (along with the salt and borax sprinkled all over the floor--this time, I made sure the borax mix didn't get in his food or water).
So, I was convinced that he sat in the corner as he always does when we prepare for bed and then groomed himself--licking up the pesticide dust. He looked lethargic and depressed and vomited. Apparently the pesticide's active ingredient is only mildly toxic but due to a cat's small/poorly functioning liver, cat's are the most sensitive species to pesticide dust.
I vacuumed the pesticide dust and replaced it with Sergeant's Nature's Guardian carpet powder. This powder is even more pet safe than most flea powders marked for cats, so I knew my cat could still rest in the corners and he'd be fine.
If your cat gets a mild poisoning from pesticides, remove the pesticide from the environment, do not apply again. If it is in the cat's coat, wash the cat with non-flea cat shampoo (flea shampoo gives him more poisons to deal with). Give him plenty of water to work the stuff out of his system. Our cat vomited out the poison on his own. It is also a good idea to call a vet. Different poisons have different procedures. You could kill your cat with non-cat flea products--dog flea products often result in the death of a cat. I learned my lesson. I think that Nature's Guardian flea powder is probably the safest for both us and the cat.
One thing we tried was Sergeant's Nature's Guardian spot treatment for cats (putting it on the back of the neck). It is composed of essential oils and is not toxic to cats. The package said that a heavily flea infested environment may require more than one treatment during a month and it was safe to put the stuff on the cat several times a month, although a maintenance dose was once a month. After about three days, the cat was itchy again. Apparently the stuff only worked as long as it was drying into the coat (which makes the cat look greasy and scruffy--he is a long haired cat). So, this product did not work well for bird mites.
I also tried Nature's Guardian cat spray (you spray it all over the coat). It had the same results, plus the cat was very irritated at the spraying noise which is similar to a mother cat hissing.
According to the Nature's Guardian website all their products are the same for cats and dogs except the spot-on treatment for dogs has more of the substance than that for the cats. It says on the website that if you accidentally use the spot-on meant for a dog on a cat, the cat is safe, it's just extra greasy. So, it is safe to buy the powder and sprays from the dog aisle for a cat, just avoid using the dog spot-on on the cat (in any case, the spot-ons don't seem to work well for this line of products against bird mites). The two things I recommend buying that are Nature's Guardian are the carpet powder and carpet/furniture spray that works like an aerosol. Both of these are to treat the environment and are not intended to be applied to the cat itself. This is unusual for a flea product, to be interchangeable and safe for both cat's and dogs.
Today, I went to the vet and got him ivermectin (Heartgard-$35 for six doses in "kitty treat" form for one dose a month--also available for dogs, follow weight and species specific labeling). I used to take ivermectin myself during a time of high bird mite infestation. Even though the birdmites.org site says that it is not effective in killing the mites or is ineffective in preventing bites, my wife and I found that the mites did not like us at all when we were on ivermectin. We stopped treating ourselves in this way as it cost about $100 every month and the doctor said that it had never been tested on humans for such a long time, usually humans only take one or two doses in their entire life for scabies or lice. When my wife had blood work done, I was nervous about her liver and kidney function, but they were normal. Of course, cats and dogs can take a specified dose each month with no problem, it's just that it is not labeled for humans to use it in this way.
Heartgard is given cats to prevent heartworm. Heartworm is carried by mosquitoes and allows for a round worm to lodge itself in the lungs or heart of the cat. Heartworm can be deadly to cats. Ivermectin apparently can kill mosquitoes and roundworms. So all you need to do is go into the vet's office, tell the receptionist you would like to prevent heartworm in your cat and that you would like to buy some Heartgard.
The Heartgard can be bought in six doses a package (one dose per month) and can be used at the same time as Frontline. I also purchased some Frontline from a pet shop and will use it if the cat gets itchy again. A spot-on type product helped the cat get through last summer without itching to death.
I found that the cheaper spot-on treatments were not effective against mites last summer. The lady at the pet store took the three months of doses of Frontline from inside a locked cabinet and it cost about $70.
This is different for the Nature's Guardian essential oil spot-on. The package asks that you not use more than one flea treatment at one time, but the lady at the pet shop said that the cat should be fine if we washed it with a non-flea cat bath before applying the chemical pesticide. Nature's Guardian appears to be the least toxic spot-on, but as I said, it doesn't work well against mites. Of course, use your best judgement and ask a vet if you have questions concerning the dangers to your cats from different treatments.
Of course, if the cat gets into a poison and you need your vet's help, tell her exactly what the cat ate and if possible tell her the name of the product and the active ingredient in the product. She needs this info to save your cat.
When I went to the pet shop, the lady was skeptical that an indoor cat would have fleas, so I told her that we are being bitten by something and the cat is super itchy--this description sounds like it could be fleas, but it is also true for these mites. If you tell them you and your cat have a bird mite problem, they will look at you like you're from outer space and may be unlikely to cooperate in purchasing flea products. In any case, if fleas or heartworms decide to cross your cat's path, you will have done plenty to prevent them--prevention is a perfectly legitimate and on-label use of these products. In the mean time, hopefully they're helping you with bird mites--incidentally.
If you actually take your cat to see the vet, you can explain that you believe he has mites and tell him you are also affected. Many vets are familiar with mite problems and they may help you identify your mite if you do not know the original host. A knowledgeable vet may be your best bet at identifying the problem. It may be a mite problem specific to cats or dogs such as sarcoptic mites (scabies/mange), cheyletiella (walking dandruff mites), or some other external parasite that the vet knows and can treat. The treatment for many cat external parasites is similar to fleas, although the mites will show more immunity to chemical treatments than fleas would. Vets have a number of methods for obtaining samples of external parasites from a cat's coat and can analyze what they find.
It seems the Heartgard is working at the moment as the cat is not scratching or trying to eat something out of its fur, which it does when mites are attacking him. I am curious to see if he will be OK the entire month till the next dose. If not, I am prepared with Frontline. If this doesn't work, I'll look into something else. In any case, he seems very happy and purry with Nature's Guardian powder along the walls and salt and borax on the floors. I brushed him today and played with him--a happy healthy cat.
Our cat got sick again recently when I was taking care of our environment, vacuuming and then powdering our apartment. He really likes to stay in corners and on the edges of the room--places that I was treating with pesticide dust in order to kill the mites that sought shelter or wanted on the walls (along with the salt and borax sprinkled all over the floor--this time, I made sure the borax mix didn't get in his food or water).
So, I was convinced that he sat in the corner as he always does when we prepare for bed and then groomed himself--licking up the pesticide dust. He looked lethargic and depressed and vomited. Apparently the pesticide's active ingredient is only mildly toxic but due to a cat's small/poorly functioning liver, cat's are the most sensitive species to pesticide dust.
I vacuumed the pesticide dust and replaced it with Sergeant's Nature's Guardian carpet powder. This powder is even more pet safe than most flea powders marked for cats, so I knew my cat could still rest in the corners and he'd be fine.
If your cat gets a mild poisoning from pesticides, remove the pesticide from the environment, do not apply again. If it is in the cat's coat, wash the cat with non-flea cat shampoo (flea shampoo gives him more poisons to deal with). Give him plenty of water to work the stuff out of his system. Our cat vomited out the poison on his own. It is also a good idea to call a vet. Different poisons have different procedures. You could kill your cat with non-cat flea products--dog flea products often result in the death of a cat. I learned my lesson. I think that Nature's Guardian flea powder is probably the safest for both us and the cat.
One thing we tried was Sergeant's Nature's Guardian spot treatment for cats (putting it on the back of the neck). It is composed of essential oils and is not toxic to cats. The package said that a heavily flea infested environment may require more than one treatment during a month and it was safe to put the stuff on the cat several times a month, although a maintenance dose was once a month. After about three days, the cat was itchy again. Apparently the stuff only worked as long as it was drying into the coat (which makes the cat look greasy and scruffy--he is a long haired cat). So, this product did not work well for bird mites.
I also tried Nature's Guardian cat spray (you spray it all over the coat). It had the same results, plus the cat was very irritated at the spraying noise which is similar to a mother cat hissing.
According to the Nature's Guardian website all their products are the same for cats and dogs except the spot-on treatment for dogs has more of the substance than that for the cats. It says on the website that if you accidentally use the spot-on meant for a dog on a cat, the cat is safe, it's just extra greasy. So, it is safe to buy the powder and sprays from the dog aisle for a cat, just avoid using the dog spot-on on the cat (in any case, the spot-ons don't seem to work well for this line of products against bird mites). The two things I recommend buying that are Nature's Guardian are the carpet powder and carpet/furniture spray that works like an aerosol. Both of these are to treat the environment and are not intended to be applied to the cat itself. This is unusual for a flea product, to be interchangeable and safe for both cat's and dogs.
Today, I went to the vet and got him ivermectin (Heartgard-$35 for six doses in "kitty treat" form for one dose a month--also available for dogs, follow weight and species specific labeling). I used to take ivermectin myself during a time of high bird mite infestation. Even though the birdmites.org site says that it is not effective in killing the mites or is ineffective in preventing bites, my wife and I found that the mites did not like us at all when we were on ivermectin. We stopped treating ourselves in this way as it cost about $100 every month and the doctor said that it had never been tested on humans for such a long time, usually humans only take one or two doses in their entire life for scabies or lice. When my wife had blood work done, I was nervous about her liver and kidney function, but they were normal. Of course, cats and dogs can take a specified dose each month with no problem, it's just that it is not labeled for humans to use it in this way.
Heartgard is given cats to prevent heartworm. Heartworm is carried by mosquitoes and allows for a round worm to lodge itself in the lungs or heart of the cat. Heartworm can be deadly to cats. Ivermectin apparently can kill mosquitoes and roundworms. So all you need to do is go into the vet's office, tell the receptionist you would like to prevent heartworm in your cat and that you would like to buy some Heartgard.
The Heartgard can be bought in six doses a package (one dose per month) and can be used at the same time as Frontline. I also purchased some Frontline from a pet shop and will use it if the cat gets itchy again. A spot-on type product helped the cat get through last summer without itching to death.
I found that the cheaper spot-on treatments were not effective against mites last summer. The lady at the pet store took the three months of doses of Frontline from inside a locked cabinet and it cost about $70.
This is different for the Nature's Guardian essential oil spot-on. The package asks that you not use more than one flea treatment at one time, but the lady at the pet shop said that the cat should be fine if we washed it with a non-flea cat bath before applying the chemical pesticide. Nature's Guardian appears to be the least toxic spot-on, but as I said, it doesn't work well against mites. Of course, use your best judgement and ask a vet if you have questions concerning the dangers to your cats from different treatments.
Of course, if the cat gets into a poison and you need your vet's help, tell her exactly what the cat ate and if possible tell her the name of the product and the active ingredient in the product. She needs this info to save your cat.
When I went to the pet shop, the lady was skeptical that an indoor cat would have fleas, so I told her that we are being bitten by something and the cat is super itchy--this description sounds like it could be fleas, but it is also true for these mites. If you tell them you and your cat have a bird mite problem, they will look at you like you're from outer space and may be unlikely to cooperate in purchasing flea products. In any case, if fleas or heartworms decide to cross your cat's path, you will have done plenty to prevent them--prevention is a perfectly legitimate and on-label use of these products. In the mean time, hopefully they're helping you with bird mites--incidentally.
If you actually take your cat to see the vet, you can explain that you believe he has mites and tell him you are also affected. Many vets are familiar with mite problems and they may help you identify your mite if you do not know the original host. A knowledgeable vet may be your best bet at identifying the problem. It may be a mite problem specific to cats or dogs such as sarcoptic mites (scabies/mange), cheyletiella (walking dandruff mites), or some other external parasite that the vet knows and can treat. The treatment for many cat external parasites is similar to fleas, although the mites will show more immunity to chemical treatments than fleas would. Vets have a number of methods for obtaining samples of external parasites from a cat's coat and can analyze what they find.
It seems the Heartgard is working at the moment as the cat is not scratching or trying to eat something out of its fur, which it does when mites are attacking him. I am curious to see if he will be OK the entire month till the next dose. If not, I am prepared with Frontline. If this doesn't work, I'll look into something else. In any case, he seems very happy and purry with Nature's Guardian powder along the walls and salt and borax on the floors. I brushed him today and played with him--a happy healthy cat.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Responding to past comments
Ahopeful-I haven't tried the permethrin blitz but I do know someone who beat the mites with Zodiac, which someone else in the comments had used. I think my cat has used flea collars with the other ingredient from Zodiac. The flea collars seem to help him a lot. It seems the mites adapt to pesticides quickly, so the best way would be to kill all of them at once as you did. If you still have pigeons nesting on the roof above, this needs to be taken care of to finish them off for good.
I've been considering buying a pesticide powder to see if it might help further. So far, the best thing has been a salt and borax powder mix that I have used on the carpets. This has worked so well that we have stopped vacuuming the carpet regularly and we have not used the ozone generator.
Someone in the comments was talking about treating the car. The best solution I have found is to have the car professionally vacuumed. Steam cleaning was $100 per cleaning, but a professional vacuuming was about $10 a time, so it is chemical free and it can be done often. If you vacuum it yourself you might pay $1, which is cheap. I put the seats in large plastic bags (so I sit on a big bagged seat) and lots of borax on the floors.
Recently a friend of mine who has struggled with mites for some time found that he probably had a squirrel living in his attic and mice living in his walls. Any treatment for these is likely not to work so long as you have some small animals or birds living in your building.
Never use a flea collar meant for a dog on a cat. Some dog collars contain Amitraz. While Amitraz is the most effective pesticide for chicken mites (and likely for other types), never use it for a cat.
Another friend who is struggling with them has found that Ortho Home Defense really helps. He sprays his house and car with it often, but the constant use of strong chemicals may not be very healthy.
I'm very glad to read about people getting rid of this! It gives me hope and makes me glad.
I've been considering buying a pesticide powder to see if it might help further. So far, the best thing has been a salt and borax powder mix that I have used on the carpets. This has worked so well that we have stopped vacuuming the carpet regularly and we have not used the ozone generator.
Someone in the comments was talking about treating the car. The best solution I have found is to have the car professionally vacuumed. Steam cleaning was $100 per cleaning, but a professional vacuuming was about $10 a time, so it is chemical free and it can be done often. If you vacuum it yourself you might pay $1, which is cheap. I put the seats in large plastic bags (so I sit on a big bagged seat) and lots of borax on the floors.
Recently a friend of mine who has struggled with mites for some time found that he probably had a squirrel living in his attic and mice living in his walls. Any treatment for these is likely not to work so long as you have some small animals or birds living in your building.
Never use a flea collar meant for a dog on a cat. Some dog collars contain Amitraz. While Amitraz is the most effective pesticide for chicken mites (and likely for other types), never use it for a cat.
Another friend who is struggling with them has found that Ortho Home Defense really helps. He sprays his house and car with it often, but the constant use of strong chemicals may not be very healthy.
I'm very glad to read about people getting rid of this! It gives me hope and makes me glad.
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