Ear Mite Treatment For Cats
Its important to bring your cat to the veterinarian if she exhibits any ear problems. Left untreated, an ear mite infestation can cause serious damage to the cats ear canal, especially if the cat develops a secondary bacterial infection.
Untreated ear infections are not only very painful, but they can cause hearing loss and balance problems due to loss of equilibrium. Your vet will do a full physical exam and look into your cats ears with an instrument called an otoscope.
The veterinarian will also collect a sample of the ear debris with a swab to be looked at under a microscope to determine the root cause of the problem and what treatment is needed.
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Can Ear Mites Cause Deafness In Cats
One of the worst consequences of a rampant ear mite infection in cats is the risk of hearing damage. This damage can be either partial or full deafness in one or both ears.
When bacteria makes its way down the ear canal to the drum or auditory nerves, it can cause permanent damage resulting in hearing loss for your cat. Even swelling in the ear canal from your cat scratching can cause temporary hearing loss.
Timely treatment of the mites can protect your cats hearing and reduce the risk of other secondary complications.
Can I Put That In My Pet’s Ear
- posted: Aug. 19, 2019
Can I put that in my Pets Ear?
Wax in the ears and ear infections are common problems with our pets. Home remedies abound for cleaning and treating ear infections, but are they safe and are they effective? Well explore a few of these in this weeks blog.
In general, home remedies for cleaning ears are relatively safe however, it is best to stick with commercial ear cleaning solutions which are designed to break up wax and evaporate from the ear canal to leave it dry. Pour the solution into the canal, rub the base of the pets ear, allow your pet to shake his head and wipe out any excess fluid or debris with a cotton ball. Do not use cotton swabs other than to gently clean the folds on the outer ear canal. Swabs can push debris further into the canal causing an impaction.
Make sure to seek veterinary care for your pet if she has signs of an ear infection or if home remedies do not help within 2-3 days.
This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.
Schedule an appointment with our team of veterinarians today at !
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Home Remedies For Treating Ear Mites In Cats
Home remedies are not an alternative to professional medical advice. If your pet has a serious issue, please consult your vet immediately.
Ear mites are not a pleasant part of pet ownership. Not only for you, the mess, the expense, and the ick factor, but your cat also isnt having a good time with them! So, whether you cant afford the medication or dont like the idea of putting chemicals in your cats ears, we have six home remedies that can help treat ear mites.
However, you should not embark on treating ear mites without consulting your vet first. Ear mites can be dangerous and highly contagious to your other pets if not treated properly.
Basic Overview Of Cat Ear Mites
Cat ear mites are parasites that live in moist, dark environments. They bite the hosts skin and feed on any available debris.
Symptoms of an infestation include:
- Lesions or abrasions caused by excessive scratching
- Ear mite poop that looks like small black specks
- Ear wax build-up
If you arent sure that your cat is infested, talk to your veterinarian. He or she can provide you with an accurate diagnosis.
Photo by Mathilde Langevinfrom Unsplash
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What Causes Ear Infections In Cats
When cats get ear infections, it’s typically due to ear mites or allergies, Emily Pashaian-Grant, DVM, medical director of VCA SylvaniaVet Animal Hospital, says.
Ear mites are microscopic parasites that are highly contagious among animals . So, it’s more common to see ear mites in cats that live outdoors or kittens from a litter. Ear mites live in the ear canal and make a cat’s ears extremely itchy. Inflammation from ear mites and your cat’s constant scratching can cause an ear infection to develop, say the experts at the Cornell Feline Health Center.
Cats may also get ear infections in response to food or environmental allergies . “If it’s food allergies, it’s usually due to the source of protein. The most common proteins that cats are allergic to are chicken, beef, and turkey,” says Grant.
Coconut Oil: Is There Anything It Cant Do
If youve searched the kitchen cupboards and raided the bathroom drawers and you can find neither mineral oil nor olive oil, coconut oil will work too.
It doesnt have the anti-bacterial properties of honey or the cleaning action of hydrogen peroxide, but it works wonders to soothe ear skin damaged by an ear mite infestation.
Not only is coconut oil safe for your pets and family, but many cats also love having their ears massaged!
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Coconut And Olive Oils:
Talking about oils, coconut and olive oils are known as effective methods to get rid of those annoying ear mites. Coconut oil is particularly helpful when it comes to health benefits as it is also viewed as the one most acceptable solution to treat heart-related conditions, weight loss, and reduce the effects of viruses, bacteria, and fungal infections. On the other hand olive oil has plenty of advantageous elements such as it can minimize the effects the inflammation and contains strong antibacterial effects.
To reduce the effect of ear mites on your cat, you are required to warm up these oils a little bit in the first place. Then with the help of a cotton ball, soft-handedly drop a few oil bubbles into your cats ears followed by gently massaging the area. You do need to follow this practice for up to 10 days to see the best results.
Following are a few additional essential oils to treat ear mites:
But at the same time, you cannot apply these essential oils into your cats ear because of their concentrated properties. You just need to apply these essential oils by diluting them with coconut or olive oils. One thing which you should keep in mind is that essential oils are not edible, so you should not apply them where your kitten cant lick them.
Can Ear Mites In Cats Be Prevented
Mites can be prevented by appropriate anti-parasitic mite treatment for cats. You should speak to your vet about which product they recommend and whether your cats usual flea treatment covers ear mites. Its necessary to keep your cats indoor environment as clean as possible, especially if they have been treated for mites in the past.
Ask your vet whether they recommend ear cleaning in your cat. This is not a requirement for most of them, but may be appropriate if they have a history of regular ear problems. If youre not sure how toclean a cats ears, check out our easy guide, and make sure a vet or vet nurse has shown you what to do.
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Get Fleas Out Of Your House
Now that youve gotten the fleas off your pet, get them off your upholstery and carpets by vacuuming with a high-powered vacuum cleaner . Remove the canister or bag and dispose of it outside as soon as you finish. Then, keep fleas from coming back with eucalyptus or lavender essential oil. In a spray bottle, combine a few drops of the essential oil with 1 cup water. Use it to spray your pets bed and other areas of your home. The fleas find the smells of eucalyptus and lavender repellent, so theyll steer clear. Dont use this spray undiluted or directly on your pet, and make sure to check with your vet first.
Try These Natural Treatments To Get Rid Of Cat Ear Mites
If your kitty has ear mites, you are probably desperate to provide relief. The good news is, you can! Learn how to treat eat mites in cats.
Does your kitty have ear mites? If so, you are probably wondering how to treat ear mites in cats. This article provides some of the most effective natural remedies. Keep reading to learn about them.
Photo by Alvan Nee from Unsplash
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How To Treat Ear Mites
Using a commercial product from your vet or pet store requires you to treat both ears twice a week for at least three weeks. For natural remedies, however, you need to treat daily for a month. Thats because eggs will continue to hatch for at least that time and can quickly re-infest the ears. The vet may recommend steroid medications to soothe inflammation or antibiotic ointment to treat secondary bacterial infections. The technique is the same whether you use a commercial or homemade solution.
Prevention Of Cat Ear Mites
Prevention against ear mites is no easy task. Because of how easily these parasites spread, prevention is near impossible. The best thing an owner can do is be attentive.
Check your cats ears daily for inflammation, redness, irritation, or discharge and debris. Make sure to stay up to date on vet check-ups. A lower immune system will fall prey to parasites faster. Make sure to supply your cat with the recommended amount of vitamins and minerals every day.
Your cats ear should be a pale pink color, as long as there is no residue or odor. Your veterinarian may provide a pH-balanced ear cleanser to help decrease dryness and itchiness, as well as parasite prevention and medicine if indicated.
Never try to clean out your cats ear with objects like a Q-tip® unless instructed by a vet. You may puncture an eardrum or cause other damage.
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How Did Your Cat Get Ear Mites
Mites are highly contagious and opportunistic, so your cat can easily get mites from contact with any other animal that has mites. Typically, because mites complete their life cycle on their host, direct contact with an infected animal is the most likely way of contracting these pests, but they can spread without a live host in a very limited capacity.
This could mean another pet in your house, a neighbours pet, or even a wild animal.
If you are thinking – But my cat is indoors! Hes never interacted with another pet! – then the transitory host might be you or someone else in your house!
Thats right, cat owners can make a suitable host for mites, too, though it is quite rare. Rather than set up shop on your skin, the mites may just use you as a means of travel to a more suitable and susceptible host, being your kitty.
Where Did The Ear Mites Come From
It can be extremely frustrating when you have absolutely no idea where the infestation came from in the first place. Not only will finding the source satisfy your natural curiosity, but it will also help to put you in a position where you can keep your cat away from these potentially problematic situations. If you have an outdoor cat, they could have got them from typical rural areas like barns, lawns, gardens, etc. They can also be passed between felines, so a mother may pass them onto their kittens as they are spending so much time in close proximity with one another. There is also a possibility that the mites have been passed along through close interaction with other animals. If your cats ears are generally unclean and there is a build-up of wax, this creates an environment where the ear mites are more likely to survive and thrive. However, one thing that should put your mind at ease is that cats rarely transmit their mites to humans as we are immune from them.
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What Causes Cat Ear Mites
As ear mites are extremely contagious, cats frequently pick them up from each other while playing, grooming, or sleeping close together.
In particular, kittens often pick up ear mites from their mothers and may struggle to fight them off. Ear mites are more commonly found in young animals as their immune systems are still developing, explainsDr. Jennifer Schissler, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
If youve recently rescued a neighborhood cat or own multiple cats, your pets might be more susceptible to ear mites compared to, say, a lone indoor cat. Infestations are more common among strays and cats living in crowded conditions, says Dr. Schissler.
No matter your pets lifestyle or living conditions, though, ear mites can latch onto any kitten or cat. So, if you suspect yours might have them, it helps to know how to check for ear mites in cats.
This Post Has 7 Comments
Anyone who would put hand sanitizer in their cats ears are extremely stupid and cruel. That cant possibly be right.
Get grade A Diamestic Earth. Non grade is toxic.
I agree about the hand sanitizer or even vinegar. Seems to me that these harsh ingredients would be painful. I use aloe from my plant or mineral oil and either works great while keeping my baby girl purring !
Hand sanitizers should never be used deep in cats ears as they have a high percentage of alcohol, and from experience, will sting even hands where skin has a small break and not even in the outer part of ears if any redness. Both alcohol and peroxide, and also vinegar will burn inside the ear where mites have been biting and burrowing. Apparently, even some Veterinary products for pets ears, both over the counter and prescription, also have alcohol or other substances which will sting or burn skin within cats ears, but at least is combined appropriately with other substances to treat and soothe the ears. People really need to have a Veterinary exam to make sure that there isnt redness or open skin from ear infection before using products that will burn or make the situation worse, plus to get an appropriate antibiotic if needed.
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Tiny Parasites Big Problem
Each ear mite is no bigger than a pinhead. When masses of these tiny spider-like mites infest your cats ear canals, they create a deep, itchy irritation that can drive your cat absolutely bonkers and lead to secondary infections and other health problems. Heres how to spot ear mite infestations. And please, see your veterinary team before ear mites become a big problem for the cat or kitten you love.
Dont delay treatment if you suspect ear mites. Theyre deeply uncomfortable and can cause painful ear infections that may lead to permanent hearing loss and balance problems.
Ear infections or ear mites?
Unfortunately for do-it-at-home diagnostics, a lot of the symptoms for ear mites and ear infections are the same. If your kittyBAE is shaking their head, or pawing or scratching at their ears, its a good bet that its time to see the vet. If you try treating these issues on your own, its entirely possible you could actually harm your kitty by treating the wrong thing.
Can you treat ear mites at home?
Treating mites with home remedies can actually make matters worse, especially if the issue isnt actually mites at all. Your best bet is to see your veterinary team for what they recommend for your particular kittys current ear issues. Please remember, never put anything into your cats ears unless explicitly directed by your vet.
What Are Ear Mites
Ear mites are one of the most prevalent parasitic infestations that affect cats. Luckily, there are several remedies for ear mites in cats you can try at home. If you believe your cat has ear mites, its nothing to be overly alarmed about.
While humans are immune to many parasites, cats and dogs are perfect breeding grounds for these creatures. Ear mites are nasty little parasites that enjoy the environment inside of your cats ears. The ear canal is where these parasites thrive.
Ear mites are very contagious, especially to other cats and dogs, and are very common. The most frequent ear mite infestation in cats is Otodectes cynotis. Several ear mite medicines and websites also refer to it as Otodectic Mange.
These parasites feed on the debris inside of the ear. Ear mites will lay eggs in the ear canal, which have a gestation period of roughly two to three weeks. By week three, these mites are adults and ready to lay eggs themselves. Outdoor cats are much more likely to contract ear mites, but indoor cats can get them too.
These parasites love to infest your cats ears, but they can reproduce quickly and spread to the eyes, neck, armpits, and other warm dark areas. They cause inflammation in the ear, and your cats scratching can lead to further infection.
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