If your dog scratches his ears a lot, he may have dog ear mites. Ear mites are tiny parasites that can cause a lot of discomfort for your dog. This blog post will discuss the symptoms, treatment, and prevention of dog ear mites. We will also provide some tips on how to keep your dog’s ears healthy and free of parasites!
- What are dog ear mites?
- What Are the Symptoms of Ear Mites in Dogs?
- What Are the Causes of Ear Mites in Dogs?
- How Do Vets Diagnose Ear Mites?
- Treatment for Ear Mites in Dogs
- Recovery and Management of Dog Ear Mites
What are dog ear mites?
Dog ear mites are tiny parasites that live in the ears of dogs. They are very itchy and can cause a lot of pain and discomfort for the dog. You can treat ear mites with special medication, but it is essential to get them treated as soon as possible, as they can lead to other health problems if left untreated.
The dog ear mite belongs to the Psoroptidae family of parasitic mites, which are parasitic mites that live on the skin’s surface rather than burrowing into it like some other mite families.
Otodectes cynotis is their scientific name, and they are 1-2 millimeters long and visible under a microscope. Dogs, cats, rabbits, and sheep are affected by these mites.
What Are the Symptoms of Ear Mites in Dogs?
The most common symptoms of ear mites in dogs are scratching, itchy ears, shaking the head, and excessive wax production. The dog may also have a foul odor coming from their ears, and they may be more sensitive to light. If you suspect that your dog has ear mites, it is essential to take them to the veterinarian for treatment as soon as possible.
Dog scratching and shaking can cause small bumps and scratches around the pet’s ears, neck, rump, and tail, as well as a secondary skin infection. Other ear mite infections, such as bacterial and yeast infections, can resemble an ear mite infection.
What Are the Causes of Ear Mites in Dogs?
Ear mites are most commonly spread through contact with other animals that have the mites. Dog ear mites can easily affect and transfer to cats and vice versa. They can also be spread through contaminated bedding, food bowls, or toys.
Understanding how dogs obtain ear mites requires knowledge of the mite life cycle. Adult mites may live for about two months after eggs are produced, and they develop into adult mites over three weeks as they move through several growth stages.
The mites feed on the surface dirt on your dog’s skin and ears, causing inflammation and discomfort. Because this mite is infectious, it is passed from one animal to the next by direct contact.
Because ear mites are so infectious, you’ll need to treat all of your other pets at the same time if your dog is diagnosed.
It is important to keep your dog’s environment clean and free of pests to help prevent ear mites. Regularly cleaning your dog’s bedding, food bowls, and toys can help reduce the chances of getting infected. If you suspect that your dog has ear mites, it is essential to take them to the veterinarian for treatment as soon as possible.
How Do Vets Diagnose Ear Mites?
A dog with ear mites may exhibit the same symptoms as an ear infection, such as scratching and ear discharge. That’s why it’s crucial to get a diagnosis and treatment from your veterinarian.
How are ear mite infestations diagnosed? Making a diagnosis enables you to get the right therapy. It’s a waste of time and money to give your pet the wrong medication since it might be harmful and cause discomfort.
The condition of your dog’s eardrum is another reason to visit your veterinarian.
Only specific drugs can be administered if the eardrum is punctured. Vets can diagnose ear mites in dogs through a physical exam and by looking at the dog’s ears under a microscope. They will likely take a sample of wax from the dog’s ears to look for the presence of the mites. If ear mites are present, the vet will prescribe a medication to treat them.
Your veterinarian will usually take an ear sample and conduct various tests to get an official diagnosis. Under a microscope, an ear mite smear test allows the veterinarian to see mite eggs and adult mites.
During ear cytology, the vet examines for secondary or concurrent bacterial or yeast infections. A skin scrape might sometimes expose the mite.
Treatment for Ear Mites in Dogs
How are ear mites treated? There are a few different treatments for ear mite infestation in dogs. The most common is a medication that is administered orally or topically. Many products are known to kill ear mites in dogs, including Milbemite, Acarex, Tresaderm, Frontline, Ivermectin, Selamectin, Advantage Multi, Simparica, and Bravecto.
Your veterinarian will likely prescribe a medication to treat the mites if they are present. It is essential to follow the ear mite medication directions carefully and continue treatment for the entire prescribed period.
It is also important to clean your dog’s ears regularly while treating ear mites. This will help remove any wax or discharge that may be present. You can use a gentle, medicated ear cleaning solution to clean. Cleaning your dog’s ear canal removes debris and buildup, allows the medication to be better absorbed, and returns the ear canal to normal, healthy tissue. Your vet will clean your dog’s ear and show you how to clean your dog’s ear if needed properly.
Medications you may use to treat ear mites may include the following:
- An ointment for the interior of the ear
- A topical treatment that is administered to your dog’s skin
- Ear drops
- Oral tablets
- Injections
While some topical medications for your dog’s ear canals can be single-use, others must be applied daily for 7 to 30 days. Your veterinarian will make a medication decision based on the degree of your pet’s ear infections and individual situation.
Ear irritation treatment also requires all household pets to receive medicine so that they do not reinfect each other. Ask your veterinarian about appropriate treatments specific to each of your pets.
Recovery and Management of Dog Ear Mites
Recovery from dog ear mites is usually a relatively straightforward process. Once your infected dog has been treated for the mites and any associated infections, you will need to clean its ears regularly. This will help remove any wax or discharge present and return the ear canal to normal, healthy tissue.
It would be best if you also kept your dog’s environment clean and free of pests to help prevent them from getting reinfected. Regularly cleaning your dog’s bedding, food bowls, and toys can help reduce the chances of getting infected.
Most dogs recover from ear mites quickly and without incident, while others may have to fight the troublesome mites for the rest of their lives. These pets may require a second visit to the vet.
Your dog’s ear canal may have leftover material that has to be cleansed. If a bacterial or yeast infection is present, your veterinarian may need to prescribe more or different medicine to treat the condition. Preventive treatments can assist in guaranteeing your dog is not reinfected if there is a stray neighborhood cat carrying ear mites who interacts with your dog frequently.
You must also eradicate the eggs that will hatch and transform into adult mites, in addition to the adult mites. Pet bedding should be washed in hot water and then dried in a hot dryer until totally dry. You need to vacuum locations where pets spend a lot of time thoroughly.
After treatment, keep an eye on your dog’s ears for symptoms of ear mites or other issues. Examine the ear canal for discharge or redness, as well as head shaking or scratching around the ears.
If your dog has an itchy, inflamed ear flap, ear mites might be to blame. These tiny parasites can cause significant discomfort in dogs. They can also quickly and easily spread to other pets. Your vet can help to diagnose and treat mites, so your dog feels better — and so you can stop these pests in their tracks.
References:
https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/infectious-parasitic/how-treat-ear-mites-dogs
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/ear-mites-in-dogs/
https://www.goodrx.com/pet-health/dog/ear-mites-in-dogs
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ear-mites-otodectes-in-cats-and-dogs
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/ear-mites-in-dogs
https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/health-care/canine-parasites/ear-mites-in-dogs