How can I tell if my dog has mites?

Mites are tiny parasites you can’t see, living on soft, thin skin. Common types are sarcoptic and demodectic mange. Sarcoptic mites cause itching, hair loss, redness, and eczema.

Demodectic mites cause hair loss, eczema, thickened skin, pyoderma, and chronic dermatitis, with little itch.

For skin problems, get a vet skin scraping. If mites are confirmed, use parasite-control medicine with selamectin or ivermectin, plus an antibacterial topical spray for itch and inflammation.