USE OF MILBEMYCIN OXIME IN THE TREATMENT OF DOGS WITH NASAL MITE (PNEUMONYSSOIDES CANINUM) INFECTION

Clinical diagnosis of canine nasal mite (Pneumonyssoides caninum) infe ction is difficult due to the mite's location in the caudal nasal cavi ty and frontal sinuses. The current study was performed to evaluate th e efficacy of milbemycin oxime in treating dogs with nasal mite infect ion. A prospective open uncontrolled study included 20 dogs with case histories indicating possible nasal mite infection. Inclusion criteria consisted of either nasal mites being demonstrated (group 1, four dog s), or suspicious clinical signs with no other apparent causes, combin ed with eosinophilia (group 2, 16 dogs). Milbemycin oxime 1 mg/kg was given orally three times at 10-day intervals. In 17 (85 per cent) dogs , clinical signs resolved completely following milbemycin therapy; wit hin 10 days of the first treatment in 13 cases (group 1, four dogs; gr oup 2, nine dogs) and within 14 days in four cases. In the remaining t hree dogs clinical signs persisted but were diminished.