Dust Mites or House Dust

Dust mites are tiny, microscopic pests that thrive in warm, humid environments. They can be found virtually anywhere soft surfaces such as carpets, mattresses, sofas, pillows, bedding, and other upholstery are present. That includes your pup's bed, too!

Dust and dust mites are one of the top allergens affecting both people and pups and can cause significant respiratory and skin irritation. Dust mites feed on the skin cells, hair, and dander of people and animals (gross, we know!).

While it is impossible to eliminate all dust mites from your home, there are some measures you can take to minimize dust and dust mites and prevent adverse reactions in your dog.

Opting for synthetic materials in your dog's bedding rather that goose down, horsehair, or wool can make a big difference, as can regularly dusting and vacuuming. Since dust mites thrive in carpets, hard flooring such as vinyl, hardwood, or tile are ideal.

Washing bedding in hot water and grooming your pup on a regular basis can also help keep dust mites at bay. Using air filters and changing the filters in furnaces and air conditioners also goes a long way in minimizing the presence of dust mites.

If your pup is reacting to dust or dust mites, the measures mentioned above should help eliminate as many mites as possible and keep adverse reactions to a minimum.

Did you know...

Smaller than a grain of sand, dust mites are too small to see with the human eye and must be examined under a microscope.

One gram of dust can contain as many as 1,000 dust mites; But it gets worse. In that same gram of dust are over 250,000 dust mite fecal pellets. This fecal waste, and the proteins within it, are responsible for the adverse reactions allergy sufferers experience.