Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Forum
Storage Mites: A "Mite-y" Allergen in Your Home
This was news to me: In addition to dust mites, which are living, spider-like microscopic creatures that are all over your home eating & leaving their waste products for you to inhale, there are also similar mites that live in certain kinds of food...dry, cereal or grain products, like kibble. They are now thought to be as much to blame for asthma & other allergies (in both pets AND humans) as dust mites are. They are one of the worst culprits in Jackdoodle's immune system problems. Here's some basic info, including some very important and eye-opening facts about how you can feed your doodles to minimize their exposure to storage mites:
"Storage mites were first found in grain silos where they thrive in and feed on dry grains. Farmers and workers in environments where hay and grain are stored and handled may develop an allergic sensitivity to these mites. Storage mites are often found in grain bins and dry feed stuffs including dog and cat food. Pets exposed to storage products mites by consumption of food containing these mites are therefore at risk of sensitization and allergic reaction. Storage mite bodies and mite feces are a source of potent allergens. Dog and cats may be exposed to mite body parts and excreta through inhalation and percutaneous absorption of such allergens.
One of the storage mites, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, the mold mite, is very common but usually goes unnoticed except in occasions when it becomes abundant. Mold mites only develop where there is moisture or high humidity. Infestations have been found in cheese, flour, grain, seeds, bulbs, straw, wallpaper, furniture, dried fruits, and cereal foods. Since even dry foods have some sort of moisture (usually around 10%) they are susceptible to mold and provide an optimum breeding ground for the storage mite. Hypersensitivity to storage mites is a worldwide problem. Data and information regarding allergy to storage mites has increased rapidly over recent years.
Hyposensitization therapy can be effective in atopic patients with storage mite allergy. Some patients are sensitive only to mites, and in these cases immunotherapy is highly effective. In addition, an effective environmental control regimen can prove useful in minimizing the patient’s discomfort and lessening immediate signs of allergy.
Although it is virtually impossible to totally eliminate storage mites form the environment, steps can be taken to inhibit their multiplication and thereby minimize exposure to storage mite allergens.
The following suggestions should prove useful in controlling storage mite populations:
Store pet foods in airtight containers. Avoid storage of pet food in garages, sheds or basements.
Do not use old or outdated pet food. Check food for dust, mold or odors and remove questionable food from the house and discard immediately.
Wash food containers frequently in detergent and HOT (130ºF) water. Dry completely before refilling with food.
Dispose of pet food bags immediately outside of the house.
Do not stockpile foods. Purchase only what is needed for 30 days at a time.
Avoid keeping fruit or other foods that can mold on the counter.
Check food bags for tears or holes prior to purchase.
Low quality pet foods with a high quantity of particulate debris at the bottom of the bag should be avoided."
Of course, feeding canned or homemade foods eliminates the problem altogether. Food for thought.
"Storage mites were first found in grain silos where they thrive in and feed on dry grains. Farmers and workers in environments where hay and grain are stored and handled may develop an allergic sensitivity to these mites. Storage mites are often found in grain bins and dry feed stuffs including dog and cat food. Pets exposed to storage products mites by consumption of food containing these mites are therefore at risk of sensitization and allergic reaction. Storage mite bodies and mite feces are a source of potent allergens. Dog and cats may be exposed to mite body parts and excreta through inhalation and percutaneous absorption of such allergens.
One of the storage mites, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, the mold mite, is very common but usually goes unnoticed except in occasions when it becomes abundant. Mold mites only develop where there is moisture or high humidity. Infestations have been found in cheese, flour, grain, seeds, bulbs, straw, wallpaper, furniture, dried fruits, and cereal foods. Since even dry foods have some sort of moisture (usually around 10%) they are susceptible to mold and provide an optimum breeding ground for the storage mite. Hypersensitivity to storage mites is a worldwide problem. Data and information regarding allergy to storage mites has increased rapidly over recent years.
Hyposensitization therapy can be effective in atopic patients with storage mite allergy. Some patients are sensitive only to mites, and in these cases immunotherapy is highly effective. In addition, an effective environmental control regimen can prove useful in minimizing the patient’s discomfort and lessening immediate signs of allergy.
Although it is virtually impossible to totally eliminate storage mites form the environment, steps can be taken to inhibit their multiplication and thereby minimize exposure to storage mite allergens.
The following suggestions should prove useful in controlling storage mite populations:
Store pet foods in airtight containers. Avoid storage of pet food in garages, sheds or basements.
Do not use old or outdated pet food. Check food for dust, mold or odors and remove questionable food from the house and discard immediately.
Wash food containers frequently in detergent and HOT (130ºF) water. Dry completely before refilling with food.
Dispose of pet food bags immediately outside of the house.
Do not stockpile foods. Purchase only what is needed for 30 days at a time.
Avoid keeping fruit or other foods that can mold on the counter.
Check food bags for tears or holes prior to purchase.
Low quality pet foods with a high quantity of particulate debris at the bottom of the bag should be avoided."
Of course, feeding canned or homemade foods eliminates the problem altogether. Food for thought.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles on
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Meet Mr. Mite. Lovely, isn't he? I'll stick to Homecooked! -
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Permalink Reply by Jacquie Yorke (DRC) on
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Looks like my ex-boyfriend!...LOL!
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Permalink Reply by Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle on
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I can't believe that they advise that you "dispose of pet food bags immediately OUTSIDE of the house"! It's like you were handling nuclear waste!
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If they advise you to get rid of pet food bags immediately, maybe it is "nuclear waste." Homecooking anyone?
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I didn't even realize that some dry foods HAVE expiration dates!
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Permalink Reply by 2m42srv7vi6sq on
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Yuch! thank heavens that opur food is shipped within a week or so of manufacturer and our dogs eat an entire bag in 3 weeks.
I still am considering home cooked! -
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Permalink Reply by Leslie and Halas on
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I'm going to start buying smaller bags of food. Last time I purchased food, I could only get the large bag, and it's lasted almost 4 months. So I'll be sure to get the small bag from now on. Those mites look pretty nasty. I'm sure there are entire planets of dust mites and storage mites living in my house. I wonder if the Dyson is sucky enough to get the mites. I really should start using that more.
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And for those of you with puppies, keep in mind that these allergies develop after at least a year of exposure. Now, I'm not saying your dogs will have a problem, I hope with all my heart that they never do, but minimizing their exposure to these things couldn't hurt. For you and the doodles.
I mean, whoever thought the food bins needed to be washed with HOT water & soap? -
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Permalink Reply by Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie on
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What treatments will/does Jack have?
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We are going to try the allergy shots. I have ordered the serums, which it turns out take a few weeks to be custom formulated, and when they come in, I'll be getting my shot lessons. We are going to start with very small amouints of very dilute serum, because of his bad reaction on New Year's and work our way up slowly. Wish us luck, lol!
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When I spoke to Jack's specialist last week, she also told me that you can kill the storage mites by freezing the kibble. Put it in plastic bags (get rid of the store bag) and just freeze it. Then you can keep it in your hot-water-and-soap-washed-well-dried containers, mite free!
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Permalink Reply by Kay and Roman on
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Another option that we do with whole grains is to put the grain or in this case, kibble, in an air tight container with some dry ice on top. Leave a slight crack in the lid until the dry ice goes from a solid to a gas and then close it up. The carbon dioxide is heavier than air and replaces the air in the container and kills all the little pesties. You could pack up several smaller containers and use them, as needed.
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