Dog Ear Mites: Everything You Need to Know About Them
Dogs definitely keep their owners on their toes. A range of pests including fleas, ticks, and ear mites can still plague even the healthiest dog. While you may never have seen or even heard of ear mites, it is still possible for your dog to have them. Read on for signs and symptoms of ear mites so you know what to look for.
Dog Ear Mites: What are they?
Ear mites are small parasites that live in the ear canal of dogs (and even cats). These pests feed off the oils and wax that occurs naturally in your pet’s ear. While these eight-legged nuisances aren’t something that can be seen with the naked eye, you may notice signs that they are there.
Look for inflammation and irritation in and around the ears. You may also notice your dog rubbing or scratching her ears excessively, although some dogs tend to shake their heads, rather than scratch. Upon further inspection of the ear, there may be a foul-smelling brown or black waxy substance.
Do not be fooled into believing this is typical earwax for a dog; this is actually a sign of infection and should be treated by a veterinarian. If you notice any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your animal clinic. If left untreated, this infection can spread and become more severe.
How Do Dogs Get Them?
The only way for a dog to get ear mites is to catch them from another animal. The bad news is: they are extremely contagious. Generally, dogs are more likely to contract ear mites when they are outside. Additionally, since ear mites are more common in cats than dogs, you may want to check your cat for signs of ear mites as well, since he could pass them onto your dog.
How to Get Rid of Dog Ear Mites
Ideally, you should begin with a confirmation diagnosis from your veterinarian. There are a few bacterial infections that can resemble ear mite infestations. So it is a good idea to let a licensed veterinarian determine the underlying problem instead of relying on self-diagnosis.
Besides reviewing your dog’s symptoms, your vet will also perform a physical exam, and may run a variety of tests including a urinalysis, a blood profile and count, and an electrolyte panel to rule out other potential diseases. Then, he or she will use an otoscope to visually confirm the presence of mites in your dog’s ear.
Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, in addition to providing topical medication, your vet may also recommend regular cleaning with a canine ear cleaner applied to cotton. More severe infestations may require antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, or even an ear cleaning performed under sedation if there is an extensive infection.
Some dogs become extremely sensitive because of the infection. In these instances, the dog may be allowed to skip the physical examination and instead rely on a positive diagnosis based on his or her response to medication. When there are multiple pets in the home, it may be necessary to treat all the pets in the household in order to make sure eradication is complete. Then, clean the ears about once a month to prevent future infections.
Dog Ear Mites: Prevention
There are several products on the market for treating infections that arise due to ear mites. Be aware that you should never combine medications without first consulting your veterinarian. Here are a few top-rated solutions for treating and preventing ear mite infections.
#3: All Natural Dog Ear Cleaner by Brave Beagle
Formulated to soothe, clean, and bring relief to your dog’s ears, this all-natural cleanser is gentle and easy to use. In addition to removing wax, dust, dirt, and other debris, Brave Beagle drops also help eliminate the foul smell that often accompanies ear mite infections.
However, if you are not completely satisfied with this product you can return them to the manufacturer for a full refund.
All Natural Dog Ear Cleaner by Brave Beagle |
 Keep your pooch’s ears in tip top shape with these safe and natural dog ear dropsーdirty ears are a thing of the past!Check Price on Amazon! |
#2: Eradimite
Touted as a treatment for both spinose ear ticks and ear mites, Eradimite contains soothing agents and helps to remove earwax buildup. This product contains pyrethrins, a highly effective natural pesticide that works by attacking the nervous system of parasites. Eradimite is safe for use on both puppies and dogs.
Eradimite |
| Treat your dog’s ear mites with these pyrethrin-containing ear dropsーit’s also effective as a preventative treatment!
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#1: Zymox Otic Pet Ear Treatment with Hydrocortisone
For dirty or infected ears, this is a great topical medication. The active ingredients treat yeast, fungal, and bacterial infections. Plus, it is effective in treating antibiotic resistant infections like Staphylococcus. Zymox Otic pet ear treatment may be used as a weekly cleaning solution, or it can be used once per day for up to fourteen days for chronic conditions.
Zymox Otic Pet Ear Treatment with Hydrocortisone |
| The Zymox Otic solution is a great option for pets with chronic inflammation of the external ear cause by viral, yeast or bacterial infections.
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