Nose, or nasal, mites are small parasites that live inside a dog’s nose and airways. This mite can affect all dogs, with some showing no symptoms at all. Continue reading to learn about the signs, diagnosis, and treatment of nasal mites in dogs!
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Pneumonyssoides or Pneumonyssus caninum is a small mite that lives in the nasal sinuses and passages of dogs. Nasal mites can affect all breeds, ages, and sexes of dogs worldwide, with a possible predilection for large breed dogs and dogs over 3 years old. Nasal mites are only 1-1.5 mm in length and can live in the environment for up to 19 days. It is believed that they’re transmitted between dogs both via direct and indirect contact. This mite has not been shown to infest or affect humans.
Clinical signs of nasal mite infections may vary and range in severity. Sometimes, dogs carry mites in their nasal passages with no signs at all. Symptoms may include:
Nasal mites often live far into the nasal passages; however, they can sometimes be seen on the outside of the nostrils or the muzzle. If your vet suspects nasal mites but can’t see them, further diagnostics will be recommended.
Rhinoscopy (endoscopy of the nasal passages) and nasal flushing are often performed if nasal mites are suspected. Your vet will use a flexible scope with a camera to visualize and obtain nasal fluid and samples, which are then examined for the presence of nasal mites. This procedure must be done under general anesthesia.
Nasal mites can be present on their own (primary) or as a result of a compromised respiratory tract due to a separate disease process (secondary). Because of this, other helpful diagnostics are often performed (before endoscopy) to help rule out other more common causes of respiratory disease. These include:
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