Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention & More – CanineJournal.com
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If your pup is shaking his head or scratching his ears a lot, it could be due to unwelcome critters living in his ear canal. Ear mites are a common problem in dogs (and even more so in cats). How do you know if your dog has ear mites? And what should you do if you suspect them?
Article Overview
What Are Ear Mites?
The ear mite, Otodectes cynotis, is a tiny parasite that most commonly lives in the ear canal of dogs, cats and other small animals, but it can also live on the skin’s surface. Ear mites, which are related to arachnids, feed on the wax and oils in your dog’s ears.
Unlike many other parasites, they don’t burrow into the skin, so they’re fairly easy to treat. However, they’re highly contagious. Animals become infested by direct contact with another infected animal.
Symptoms
Ear mites are so small they’re hard to see with the naked eye, but you might notice them as moving white specks. However, there are other tell-tale signs that your dog has an ear mite infestation.
- Excessive scratching at the ears
- Head shaking
- A dark waxy or crusty discharge from the ear (can resemble coffee grounds)
- A crusted rash around or in the ear
Aggressive and continued ear scratching can often lead to skin lesions, ear hematomas or skin or ear infections. So it’s important to take your pup to the vet as soon as you notice the initial signs.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Symptoms of ear mites can mimic other conditions that can cause serious health problems, so getting a proper diagnosis from a veterinarian is key. Ear mites are easy to spot with an otoscope (an instrument vets use to look inside the ear).
Once your vet confirms an ear mite infestation, the first step is a thorough cleaning of the ear canal. Then, your vet may prescribe a topical medication, like Revolution, that’s applied to the inside of your dog’s ear to kill the mites. Your vet may also recommend a course of antibiotics to treat any secondary infections.
Tips: If you have more than one pet, you should get them all checked by your vet at the same time, so the infestation doesn’t continue to spread. You’ll also need to wash bedding in hot water and clean any toys and surfaces that the infected animal uses to get rid of all the mites.
Prevention
Since mites feed off of ear wax and oils, keeping your dog’s ears clean can help reduce the risk of a mite infestation. We recommend Zymox Cleanser With Bio-Active Enzymes or Bohdi Dog All-Natural Ear Cleanser.
Both dog ear cleansers are relatively affordable and can last a while too. But before purchasing either, you’ll want to give your vet a call and make sure they approve it.
Once approved by your vet, you’ll want to do a thorough ear cleaning at least once a month. See our tips on how to clean your dog’s ears.
What Do Ear Mites Look Like?
Check out this very brief video of what ear mites look like through an otoscope.
Dog Ear Infections
As we mentioned above, the symptoms of ear mites can resemble other conditions, especially ear infections. You can learn more about dog ear infections here. But if you suspect either mites or an ear infection, take your dog to the vet as soon as possible so he can get the relief and treatment he needs.
What kind of ear problems is your dog having?
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