Walking dandruff (Cheyletiellosis)

Cheyletiella infection is a form of mange that is also known as rabbit mites and “walking dandruff”. This is an itchy skin condition caused by small parasites living on the skin surface. The mites can be found on many animals including rabbits, dogs and cats, and can be transmitted from pets to people. Early recognition is important as the condition can be simply treated.

The condition is caused by infestation with a small mite. This mite lives its whole life on the skin of a furry animal. Although the mites are small, they can just be seen with the naked eye or a magnifying glass and may appear like small white flakes of skin that can move hence the name walking dandruff.

All rabbits naturally have small amounts of the mite; normal grooming and their immune system keeps the numbers under control, so clinical signs are not seen. Problems arise when the rabbit is ill, their grooming or immune system is compromised, and the number of mites multiplies and gets out of hand. Therefore, the majority of affected animals are old, young or unwell, and is most commonly seen in rabbits bought from pet shops. Rabbits acquire infection from other infested individuals, or the stress involved in moving to new homes, etc, not from fresh hay or straw.

Often the first sign noticed by owners is excessive scurf or dandruff formation on their pet’s skin. This may be accompanied by scratching and later small spots can develop. Occasionally owners are more severely affected than their pet and may themselves have itchy red patches or spots on their skin. Some rabbits may not scratch more than normal, but others may be extremely irritated by the mites.

The mites causing cheyletiellosis can move between animals and can cause itchy red lesions on people as well as pets (called a zoonotic disease). Lesions in people are generally very itchy and tend to affect arms, neck, chest and abdomen. Infection is most easily spread to people from rabbits and cats, rather than dogs. If infection is controlled in pets the lesions on people will settle down after a few weeks with no specific treatment.

The condition is relatively easy to diagnose because the mites can easily be seen with the naked eye or under a microscope. Small samples of skin or hair can be examined, and mites and eggs will be seen in an active infection. The mites feed on the skin surface and eggs are laid on the hairs or skin surface.

Mites can be killed by the application of topical drops or an injection that kills parasites. Your veterinarian will be able to prescribe this for you and tell you how to use it effectively. Since the infection can spread between animals, all animals that have regular contact with the infected individual should be treated at the same time, even if they are not showing any signs of disease. A number of treatments may be required over several weeks.

There is no product specifically recommended to kill any mites in the environment, but you should thoroughly clean your rabbit’s whole environment. Wash all their bedding and allow the area to dry properly before placing the rabbit back in their enclosure.