Ear mites are a microscopic, parasitic arachnid belonging to the same family as dust mites that often affect the ears of cats, dogs and other furry friends. These tiny eight legged menaces can actually affect any area of an animals body though as their name suggests, prefer the ears. The most commonly seen species of ear mite is called Otodectes cynotis, though many species exist. Luckily, the species of ear mite is irrelevant to treatment and diagnoses.
Ear mites are extremely contagious among animals due to the fact that they are living organisms that can move. Due to their rapid spread, they are one of the most common health issues pets suffer. An ear mite infection will cause pain, discomfort, and if left to become more severe, damage to the ear and possible hearing loss.
As a dog owner, you are lucky for two reasons. One, ear mites are not contractible by human beings; your ears are safe and sound. Two, ear mites are as easy to get rid of as they are common. This simple guide on how to get rid of ear mites in dogs will walk you through this process from identification of the ear mites to a cure.
The first step in getting rid of a dog’s ear mites is to determine it has them in the first place.
A dog that has ear mites will display some or one of the following symptoms. All symptoms may not be present in all cases and may not be a sure fire sign of ear mites as they all can also be symptoms of other conditions.
-Frequent shaking of the head.
-Frequent itching and biting of the ears which may are may not be accompanied by signs of pain i.e whimpering.
-Damage to the ear that appears to be from itching if you have not witnessed any
-A black crusty looking discharge from the ears that may resemble coffee grounds. This is actually dried blood from a severe infection.
-Increased ear wax or discharge in general.
-Fever.
-Lethargic behavior.
Keep in mind that the only sure fire way to diagnose ear mites is to examine the ear or ear wax with a microscope to look for mites. This in most people’s cases would require a veterinarian. Though there is little risk of home ear mite treatments, if your dog’s condition does not improve it could be something else, and you should take your dog to the vet immediately.
Before administering any treatment whether a home remedy, a store bought version or a veterinarian’s prescription, your dogs ears will need to be cleaned first and again over time as the mites die off. Cleaning your dog’s ears will also help soothe them in most cases to relieve some discomfort.
The basic method for cleaning a dog’s ears is the same no matter what is used. A warm substance is placed into the ear, the base of the ear is rubbed to help the substance get down further into the ear and then a cotton swab is used to wipe away any excess fluid and clean away reachable wax and discharge.
You should never put a Q-tip into your dog’s ear to clean it. Much like a human ear, dog ears are easily damaged. The dog will shake vigorously after the cleaning which will likely dislodge more wax. You’ll want to wipe with a cotton swab again once the dog has shaken a bit.
A few examples of things used to clean a dog’s ears:
-Warm Mineral Oil
-Almond or Olive Oil alone or mixed with Vitamin E for soothing.
-Water and Yellow Dock Root Extract
-Diluted White Vinegar (Use only in cases that do not involve open wounds.)
Frequent shampoos of the entire dog will also help keep the fur around the ears clean, reduce mite population, and prevent spread to other areas of the body. You can also try creating a tea rinse to follow your shampooing.
Once your dog and its ears are good and clean the final step is to kill those mites.
In minor infestations the actual cleaning may be enough. Most of the substances listed above for cleaning a dog’s ear will also smother mites. Simple repeated cleanings to kill new hatched eggs can solve an ear mite problem if caught early. This is in fact the “home remedy option” for killing ear mites.
You can also purchase ear mite medicine over the counter at most department or pet stores. These are usually drops similar to mineral oil with a pesticide added in to ensure the mites are killed. They are administered in the same manner as a dog’s ears are cleaned and are very inexpensive.
When visiting your vet you’ll likely be prescribed something similar to the store bought version once a positive diagnosis is made. However, in severe cases that pose immediate threat to the dog, oral or intravenous medicine may also be applied. In the case of a full body infection, a topical cream or wash may also be given.
If you have more than one pet, it’s recommended they all have ear mite treatment if one has mites as if you fail to treat one they may just continue to trade the mites back and forth.
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