Storage mites what are they?

coleman (Staffie x) has an allergy to dust and storage mites. i know all about dust mites, but what are storage mites? and how will my dog come into contact with them?

i've done a little research on the internet but feel confused. some are saying its something to do with storage of dry foods etc.

Coleman is feed dry food, will he be coming into contact with storage mites via his food?

confused, please help.

Finn has an allergy to storage mites too

Things that have helped reduce his reaction are:

• Buying smaller bags of food so that they are not left open for long.
• Transferring the food into an airtight container.
• Steam cleaning airtight container regularly.
• Washing Finn's face after every meal to remove food residue.
  
  
  
  

I am sure there are lots of other suggestions too but these are the ones I tend to use more.

I'm sure I read somewhere that freezing the kibble kills the mites although you obviously have to defrost it before you feed it.

Storage mites live in dried food. Feeding wet food e.g tinned or trays or raw,eliminates the problem.

Freezing dry food overnight is the only thing that kills storage mites. As someone else said make sure its defrosted before feeding.

They are present in all dry complete feeds.

This information came to us via a vet who specialises in dogs with skin problems

Yes freezing kills them but what happens when they are dead? Their carcasses and droppings will still be in the food This is the only reason why I do not freeze Finn's food.

Once theyre dead, they're dead. If alive they 'bite' & its the bite that some dogs are allergic to

That is still the problem Carole. When I was under a top specialist vet in Newmarket we found Milo had this problem and I mentioned to him about freezing the food and he said it would make no difference as Milo would consume them and thier droppings just the same, Freezing only stops them reproducing it does not stop them being present. So Milo was switched to wet foods.
You can also kill them by soaking the food in boiling water first but the dog will still consume them.

Boiling water does "not" kill them. They are highly resistent - freezing is the only way to kill them.

We were also under a top specialist vet - top of her field actually in skin problems, she is highly respected & lectures all over the UK, dogs are referred to her from all over the country.

When the dog puts its face into the bowl - that is when the mites attack & "bite", not all dogs are affected however
some are allergic & hence need treatment.

I am not going to get into a debate over who had the top specialist vet thats just petty but I will just add it was a top European specialist who also lectures in this country as well as others that I have had this discussion with, I expect yours and mine like many other specialists are very good and have done wonders.
However I apologise as I did get the boiling water bit wrong which I don't mind admitting, but eating dead storage mites and thier dirts will cause the reaction still in most dogs.

This article may be of interest to some of you and it does recommend freezing the food but it also states that stops the reproduction of them and I quote from it "Freezing dry food helps to stop the reproduction of the mites, although existing allergens will not be affected."

http://www.laboklin.de/pdf/en/service/storagemite.pdf

I still believe the only true way to eliminate them from the food is to feed wet food.
I am no expert in this field but can only go by what I have been taught and told and what I researched after finding my dog was allergic to them.