Chiggers

[Leslie]

Anyone have experience with them? We went camping last weekend and by Tuesday, the side of Stoli's face was swollen and he had what felt like mosquito bites with a little point on them all over the side of his head. Vet says it's chiggers and gave us some medicine that is helping. At least the swelling went down and he's not grinding his face in the cement anymore.

Just wanted to know if anyone experienced this and what to expect during recovery.

 

[M & M's Mom Linda]

Leslie,
What are chiggers? I think we have every bug imaginable on the East coast and have heard of chiggers but they were more like bedbugs.

 

[sarnewfie]

oh boy leslie, i think my vet compared them to dog lice? is that so?
if so, it takes a bath once a week for six weeks to kill them off, using a flea shampoo, i used the saflea shampoo made by spectrum labs.
it is hard to, becouse i had six newfs to bath weekly! LOL
someone brought it to us at the kennel club from a shelter dog.
ARRGGGGGG
they fall easily on the floor wich is why we had a mild break out here.

 

[ardeagold]

We have them here. They live on/in wood and are tiny tiny little red bugs that burrow in the skin. You can barely see them..but when you get them, you know it!

One thing kills em...flea/tick dip or shampoo. You have to let it sit for a while, but it works.

Humans even use flea/tick dip/shampoo if they get them. Put it on the spot, and let it sit for a little while. Chiggers will die.

I'm sure once the bugs are dead, that Stoli will heal just fine. The only issue would be where he was scratching the skin. As long as that doesn't get infected, he'll be okay and should be good as new soon.

I hope Stoli is feeling better soon!!

[ 07-23-2006, 05:53 PM: Message edited by: Ardeagold ]

 

[Leslie]

Our vet gave us an Ivermectin Shampoo to use every day on his head and cheek. She's holistic but she still brought out the big guns. She won't use the injection on the giant breeds because of the potential for neurological side effects. Once a day every day for 10 days.

She also said they aren't contagious. BUT, his face has big bumps so I was wondering if his hair would fall out or anything. So I don't think this is the dog lice.

 

[ardeagold]

Yep, the Ivermectin is an insecticide. I don't think he would need the injection...usually the topical application works (or it sure does for humans).

The hair might fall out, but it'll grow back if it does. Usually chigger "attacks" don't leave scars or anything.

 

[Elly May]

How's the pupper doing today?

 

[Nasus]

Oh Yuck... How they work, what they do..
http://science.howstuffworks.com/question488.htm

 

[ardeagold]

Interesting, Susan. They're miserable little suckers!!

Jacques' nephew got them at our house a few years ago. The nail polish didn't work...nor did the calamine, and the cortisone cream didn't stop the itch either. They're hardy things!!

 

[Dina]

My husband is a chigger magnet. No one else in the family has eer had a bite. He puts clear nail polish on the affected area and that kills them.

 

[charlieinnj]

They are the worst! I'm a chigger magnet, too. However, as mentioned in the link above, "One commonly known remedy for chigger bites is to apply nail polish to reduce itchiness. This does not kill the chigger or treat the bite in any way. It simply seals the area off from the air, which keeps the sore from itching so badly. If you want to apply something to relieve itching, it's much better to use a salve or cream that contains antihistamines (Caladryl or hydrocortisone salves are the most common). Like nail polish, these treatments will seal the bite from the surrounding air, but they will also help to prevent infection. If the welts continue to irritate you for more than a couple of weeks, they might be infected and you should see a doctor."

Once you have a chigger bite, the chigger is already long gone. I keep the makers of Benadryl lotion in business!