Although they’re hard to see with the naked eye, chiggers result in very noticeable irritation when they come into contact with human or dog skin.

The chigger is a type of mite, one that’s typically red, orange or yellow. In its larval form, it prefers to feed on the fluids of a host animal such as dogs, cats or humans.

After a good feeding, the chigger leaves the host and reaches its next stage of development, which is the nymph. It then becomes the adult mite, which lays eggs at about 50 days of age and starts the cycle all over again. Adult chiggers feed on plants instead of animal hosts, so they distribute their larvae primarily in wooded and grassy areas, usually in late summer. Most animals pick up the hatched mites in fall or spring.

Chiggers can settle in almost any part of your dog’s body, but they tend to prefer the head, neck, abdomen and the tender areas around the ear canals and ear flaps. Although you won’t see the mites themselves, you’ll often see patches of inflammation that are said to resemble paprika.

Although chiggers are annoying to your pet, they’re easy to treat. If you think that chiggers are making a meal of your dog, consult with your vet. Typically, she’ll prescribe an anti-parasitic cream such as Tresaderm to spread over the affected areas, as well as an antibiotic steroid to stop the swelling and itching. Or if the chiggers seem less localized, she may prescribe an all-over insecticidal dip.