bird lice/mites...and dogs??

I have a question....lately, my dogs have been scratching something terrible. I have bathed them, brushed them...and checked them over several times. NO FLEAS. They have little red bumps on them..and they itch. Yesterday, I was picking up the toys they scattered around the living room, and I felt something on my forehead. When I reached up and grabbed it..it looked like poultry lice/mite. It was yellow, and long...can these get on my dogs?? I FINALLY got my DE yesterday in the mail...i ordered 50 pounds, thinking that MIGHT get me through the summer months. WOW! There is ALOT in there. So, I procedded to "dust" the dogs. OK, well we ALL were covered. LOL. Have you ever seen a Doberman that has been "dusted" Ohhhh, she was NOT happy with me! If looks could kill..I would be long gone. I tried to dust their whole body...but the pomeranians would NOT have it. Got thier backs pretty well...and most of thier tummys. If this stuff kills the "buggies" how long does it take? We have never had fleas....mites...lice..UGH! Im freaking out!
Oh, then I went out to dust the chickens....ok, well...it was in the 90's here yesterday...and soooooo hot in the coop. I dusted the nest boxes....around the roosts....in the sand box..and outside where they dust bathe. Put some in thier feed...and gave all fresh water....I was hot, sweaty, and COVERED in white DE...when I hear the free range Roos makeing a ruckus. I come walking out of the coop...talking to the roo...and look up to see the Schwan man standing there...just smileing at me. UGH! I am sure I was a sight to see! Luckily, he likes chickens, and now he wants to be MY customer! Wanting to buy peeps in the spring. LOL We talked chickens for about 30 minutes..and nothing about Schwans! LOL.

hi,
I posted a pic of my hens with feathers plucked clean off their necks. I think they may have mites...are any of your hens missing feathers? Would you take a look at my picture and let me know what you think...also where did you buy the DE and what exactly does DE stand for? My post with the picture is listed in the emergency section and the behavior section dated 7-16-07 and titled something like "picture of bare neck". Thanks.

Deb we dust the dog and cat as well as the barns and chickens. So far this year I don't even have flies around my barns. It finally convinced my husband that the dog didn't need those expensive flea treatments in summer from the vet.

My chickens are showing NO signs of lice/mites. I just wanted to KEEP it that way, thats why I dusted them. Its the DOGS that are getting bit by something. How long will the DE take to work? My poor dogs are going NUTS itching!
DE is Diatomacious Earth (sp?) Safe to use in and on any pet or human, if you get the FOOD GRADE. No one close to me sells it...so I had to order mine. Was $25 for 50 pounds, and $40 for shipping. UGH! I know, its expencive for me, but we Soooo needed it!

no signs of anything except red bumps? Sounds more like some kind of allergic reaction to something.

Have they been in a river (we have this parasite that's supposed to bury into fish, but if you're in the water (or a dog) they bury into your skin and die and cause an icthy rash). They are more common during the warm summer months.

Anyhow- If it is fleas/mites etc...it works quite effectively-usually within 24hours.. Not a bad idea to put DE on/in their "beds" if they have any.

Hope all is better quickly!

Sandra

My dogs are for the most part inside dogs. They go out in thier yard.....fenced in, away from the chickens. No lake,stream...just thier yard and inside.They do go outside alot...and spend time in the yard. I was going to dust the yard, but we FINALLY are getting rain..well, off and on. So now I have to waite a few days...untill the rain passes.
So, this stuff kills all buggies on the dogs in say 24 hrs? Im sure the bumps will take some time to heal, I was thinking 3 or 4 days...the itching should be gone? I have dusted thier beds....my bed...places they lay on the carpet. I just want my dogs to be comfortable again. COULD it be bird lice/mites on them? Or maybe just "heat rash"?? It has been Soooo hot....do dogs get heat rash?

NO your doggies can't get bird mites and lice....they only like birds.

Heat rash is a very plausible explanation.

I use a special dog shampoo when my dog has his allergies...it's called EQyss MicroTEK pet shampoo. It's the only one that ever worked worth a darn. Said that it will stop scratching, itching and odor guaranteed...and well it worked for me. You can find it at some feed stores and most pet stores.

It's a little spendy ($14 for 16fl.oz.), but I only use it when he's itchy and worth every penny in my opinion.

GOOD LUCK!
Sandra

Thanks for the info on the stuff for dogs, SandraChick! My poor Border Collie mix itches so badly during the summer that he always has bald patches around on his back and near the base of the tail. I've tried everything, even vinegar soaked onto his skin and nothing's helped. I'm going to try and find that stuff you wrote about and I'll post my findings too.

One possibility for the dogs is cheyletiella. It's also known as "walking dandruff" and is extremely itchy. Although they will try to use humans as hosts, they don't live on us...they just try burrowing, and then die after making us itchy! My dogs are show dogs and are also out on our property hunting critters often (and critters like squirrels and chipmunks all carry cheyletiella) so we've had to deal with this several times. You can see cheyletiella with the naked eye, but you have to look closely; part the dog's hair and watch for movement. They look like perfectly round moving dandruff. I have one dog who never reacts to cheyletiella even when she's got it, and another who's covered in red bumps, scaly skin and lives in misery when they've got it.

I would assume DE kills them, and I will try dusting my dogs in the future; the vet's treatment is Frontline for everyone, dosed two weeks apart for one month.

Amy

I guess I will throw my two cents in here. Yes, dogs can get mites (not sure what kind they are). Last year one of my boxers got them. My husband kept calling it "mange (sp?)". They do show little red bumps, constantly itching, and eventually hair starts disappearing and looks like scabs all over. It took us forever to figure out what to do, we tried everything. You can take it to the vet and get that big bill, or... you can go to tractor supply or your local farm store and get some stuff that is just as good as what you would get from the vet. The bottle costs about 15.00 to 20.00 and worth every cent ( I apologize, cant remember the name of it, but tell them you are looking for mange treatment, small brown bottle)!!!!!!! If your dogs are out door dogs, it is a good idea to get some red cedar bedding (awesome in killing them dang pesky things) and put a thick layer on the bottom of doghouse so that the dog sleeps on it. If you have indoor dogs, BLEACH everything!!!!!!!! I hope this has helped even if a little. If my husband was home I could give you the name of it. sorry. Take care! Tes