Can Ear Mites Be Prevented
Unfortunately, unless you intend to keep your furry friend in a bubble, theres no real way to prevent ear mites. That being said, all hope is not lost.
While you might not be able to fully prevent ear mites, there are a few things you can do to help reduce the likelihood of future infections.
- Pay closer attention to where your four-legged friend runs off to. While its not feasible to anticipate every potential place ear mites can be, you can try to keep them out of locations that have a higher likelihood of ear mite transmission.
- Another good practice is to check your dogs ears when they get home from a dog park or other places where ear mites are commonly found.
- One of the best ways to help mitigate ear mites is to regularly clean your dogs ears. Not only will cleaning your dogs ears regularly help promote good hygiene overall, but it will also help you spot ear mites sooner. And, ultimately, that will lead to a happier, healthier dog.
How To Prevent Ear Mites
As always the best way to prevent any parasites from choosing your dog is to make sure shes in the best health possible. She needs a robust immune system to make her less attractive as a mite B& B host.
- Feed your dog the best whole food, raw diet you can afford.
- Dont over-vaccinate only give the shots your dog really needs
- Avoid antibiotics and other pharmaceutical drugs and pesticides use natural alternatives.
- Minimize chemicals in your dogs environment.
- Use natural cleaning supplies and fragrances in your home
- Skip the lawn chemicals and fertilizers in your yard
- Bathe your dog with all-natural shampoo
What Are The Causes Of Ear Mites In Dogs
Dogs can get ear mites by being around other animals that are infected, especially if they sleep in the same area or bed.
The mite life cycle is important to understanding how dogs get ear mites. Eggs are laid, and then over the next three weeks, they turn into adult mites as they progress through various growth stages.2 Adult mites can live for approximately two months.
The mites feed on your dogs skin and ear surface debris, which causes inflammation and irritation. Since this mite is contagious, it is transmitted from one animal to another through physical contact.
Since ear mites are so contagious, when your dog is diagnosed, you have to also treat all of your other pets at the same time to eliminate them completely.
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Aftercare For Ear Mites In Dogs
Your vet will probably recommend a follow-up visit, to make sure that the infestation is completely gone. You can help long-term by checking your dogs ears frequently and washing them with a prescription or natural solution. This is particularly important if your dog spends time at dog parks or at doggy daycare. Concerned pet owners will also want to make sure they avoid these 11 everyday habits that put your dog in danger.
Treatment For Ear Mites In Dogs
Treatment for ear mites in dogs involves both cleaning and giving medication.
Cleaning your dogs ear canal removes debris and buildup, allows medication to be better absorbed, and returns the ear canal to normal, healthy tissue. Your vet will clean your dogs ear and can show you how to properly clean your dogs ear if needed.
Medication can include:
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A topical product for inside the ear
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A topical product applied to your dogs skin and absorbed throughout their body
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A series of injections
While some of the topical medications for your dogs ear canal can be single-use, others must be applied daily for 7 to 30 days. Your veterinarian will make a medication decision based on your pets individual situation.
Treatment also requires all household pets receive medicine so that they do not continue to reinfect each other. Ask your veterinarian about appropriate treatments specific to each of your pets.
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How Can I Prevent Ear Mites In My Dog
To help prevent future ear mite infections, make sure to wash all bedding and soft fabrics your dog regularly comes in contact with, and check your dogs ears on a biweekly basis for redness, irritation and other signs of ear mites. For dogs that get groomed, check with your groomer to make sure they are disinfecting and maintaining their equipment. Finally, follow any additional at-home steps your vet may give you for treating and preventing these parasites.
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Yellow Dock Root Extract
A study investigated the healing potentials of various therapeutic plants. The results of the study gave yellow dock root the highest score.
This herb can kill harmful organisms that can worsen the infection caused by ear mites.
How to use yellow dock root extract for fleas in dogs ears:
To one tablespoon of warm water add nine drops of yellow dock root extract. Pour two to three drops of the mixture into the dogs ear using a dropper. Then massage the dogs ear gently.
You can do this every other day for six weeks.
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How Do Dogs Get Ear Mites
But how do dogs get ear mites in the first place? Contact with other dogs or cats with ear mites is typically what causes ear mites to be transmitted in dogs. Ear mite infestations are more common in puppies than older dogs.
When one puppy or dog is infested, the mites can get onto bedding or transfer directly from dog to dog through play and socialising. As dogs like to play together, the mites find it easy to make their move to a new host. Owners should always look for signs their dog has ear mites.
What Is Ear Wax
Ear wax, also known as cerumen in technical terms, is an oily emulsion that covers and protects the inside area of your dog’s ear canal. Its naturally water-repellent characteristics act as a protective barrier against excessive moisture getting into your dog’s skin cells and other delicate areas of the ear. Cerumen is made up of glandular secretions in normal dog ears and is kept in balance with the quantity required to protect your dog’s ear.
A normal amount of ear wax is healthy and necessary, but its possible for excessive earwax build up to cause problems, or to be a sign of an underlying infection.
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How Can I Tell If My Dog Has Ear Mites
Ear mites are microscopic and often hide in ear discharge, so it is unlikely you will ever see them. However, because dogs infected with ear mites commonly have ear infections as well, you may notice several signs, including:
- Dark brown discharge
- Intense head shaking or scratching at the ear
- Cuts or hair loss above the eyes or on the top of the head
In rare cases, ear mites can be found around the tail.
How To Get Rid Of Ear Mites In Dogs Step
Now that we know what ear mites are and what symptoms to look for, lets take a look at how to get rid of them.
There are several methods you can use to get rid of ear mites in dogs. Some of these methods are more effective than others, but all of them will require some patience and perseverance on your part.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to get rid of ear mites in dogs:
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How Are Ear Mites In Dogs Treated
Ear mites are typically treated with anti-parasitic medications applied directly to the ear canal. Some treatments need to be applied regularly for a few weeks while others can be administered in a single dose. Your veterinarian will prescribe the right ear mite treatment for your dog. When mites are present in one dog or cat in the household, it is important to treat all pets in the household at the same time, because ear mites are so contagious. Mite infestation often leads to a secondary bacterial or yeast infection, which may need to be addressed with topical medications and ear cleansers.
When To Consult A Vet For Fleas In Dogs Ears
Not all dogs body systems will react to the home remedies discussed above in the same manner. Some may be allergic to some of the components. Some may respond to one treatment better than another.
At all times you should know whether your pet is allergic to any specific substance.
Also, before using any essential oil-related remedy, you should at least speak to your pets vet over the phone.
It is never a good practice to delay visits to the vet if you notice anything unusual on your pet. That may be before trying any home remedy or after.
You should take your dog immediately to the vet if you notice bleeding from the ears and fever.
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How Can I Get Rid Of Ear Mites In My Dog
Because ear mites often trigger a secondary infection in the ear canal, your vet will likely focus on eliminating the mites and treating the infection by:
- Applying ear medication to treat the secondary ear infection, typically in the form of medicated drops that need to be applied daily at home, or a one-time dose applied in the clinic that lasts 30 days
- Prescribing a monthly topical product to the skin to kill the ear mites
- Advising you to clean your dogs bedding, cages and brushes to eradicate mites still in your home
- Reminding you about your other pets mites are highly contagious, so if your dog has them, your other pets may have them, too.
How To Prevent Ear Mites In Dogs
As with all parasites, prevention is better than cure when it comes to ear mites. Simple monthly dosing with NexGard® or NexGard SPECTRA® helps keep dogs healthy by treating and controlling ear mite infestations. As well as giving your dog preventative parasite protection, it is also wise to:
- Keep your dog away from other animals that have ear mites
- Regularly wash bedding and toys in hot water
- Give washed bedding a turn in a tumble dryer to get rid of any pesky mites that might be hanging around
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Ear Mites What They Are
Dog Ear Mites are parasites, similar to ticks that usually live in the ear canal, but, can be found on the skin as well. Ear mites more commonly occurred on cats than dogs, particularly on outdoor cats. These insects are hardly visible to the naked eye that makes them extremely contagious, hopping from dog to dog, or even from cat to dog rapidly.
What Do Dog Ear Mites Look Like
Ear mites in dogs typically look like tiny, moving dots in the ear canal, but are so tiny that you may not be able to spot them at all. It takes a vet with an otoscope or microscope to properly spot an infestation.
If you want to know how to check your dog for ear mites, it is best to look for signs of ear mites rather than the parasites themselves.
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Signs Your Dog Has Ear Mites
Its tough to spot ear mites in your dogs ears because theyre nearly invisible. If you look hard, you might see themsearch for white specks that move. Its much easier though to notice other symptoms of ear mites in dogs, such as:
- Intense ear scratching
- Dark brown crumbly residue in the ears
- Painful sores on the head or outer ears from constant scratching
Ear mites can occur in any breed or at any age. But some dogs are more prone to ear mites than others. We tend to see more ear mite infestations in young puppies and dogs who have been in group settings, Pietrzak says. Also, dogs who spend a lot of time outdoors are more likely to get them from laying on grass or concrete.
How Are They Are And Symptoms Of Ear Mites In Dogs
Symptoms of Ear Mites in Dogs. Profuse scratching and rubbing of the ears and head. Excessive head shaking. A dark brown or black waxy secretion from the ears accompanied by a foul odor. Obstruction of your dogs ear canal with a dark, crumbly reddish-brown discharge that resembles coffee grounds. Signs of inflammation in the ear canal and surrounding areas, which may include wounds, skin lesions/abrasions, infections and redness More items
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Sarcoptic Manage Could Be Culprit
When I see a puppy itching as badly as you describe, I look for sarcoptic mange or fleas. Sarcoptic mange mites are harder to find, but can sometimes be seen under the microscope when a skin scraping is taken. Usually if I suspect Sarcoptic mange I just go ahead and treat the pet and see if the itching clears up rather than do a skin scraping.
The easiest way to treat for sarcoptic mange, fleas and ear mites is to give your pet a dose of a chewable flea and tick medicine called Nexgard. It is a chewy that is labeled for fleas and ticks and can be used on dogs eight weeks of age and older. While it is not labeled for the treatment of sarcoptes mites, it will kill them and it is very safe. Nexgard does require a prescription but since you have seen your veterinarian recently you should be able to call him and ask for the product.
Get it today and treat your puppy just in case it is sarcoptic mange. Also wash all the bedding that can be washed and what can’t be washed should be thrown away.
Start there. If itching continues, I would be surprised. If it does continue you may be dealing with some form of rare allergy problem.
Dog Ear Mites Vs Ear Wax: How Can You Tell The Difference
Ear wax is normal in healthy dogs, but regular ear wax is light brown and doesnt have an odor. The wax in dogs with ear mites is usually darker brown or black, resembles coffee grounds, and can give off a foul odor. If you spot ear wax and the ears are also reddened and inflamed, your dog may have ear mites especially if hes scratching his ears and shaking his head.
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Symptoms Of Ear Mites In Dogs
Diligent owners should be on the lookout for the early signs of ear mites in their dogs.
- Symptoms of ear mites in dogs include:
- Skin irritation in and around the ears
- Scratching around the ears, head, and neck
- Dark and waxy ear discharge
- An unpleasant odour from the ears
Ear mites symptoms in puppies are typically the same as in older dogs.
What Are The Clinical Signs Of Ear Mites
Ear mites are a common cause of ear disease and infection, although other ear conditions may cause similar clinical signs. They are the second most common ectoparasite found on pets the most common is the flea.
Infestations are a very common problem in puppies and kittens, although pets of any age can be affected. Clinical signs of infestation vary in severity from one pet to another, and may include combinations of:
Skin lesions most frequently affect the ear and surrounding skin but occasionally other areas of the body may be affected.
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Treatment Of Ear Mites In Dogs
If the veterinarian has diagnosed the presence of ear mites, the ears will need to be cleaned and treated. Damage or bacterial infection to the ear may require additional treatment and/or antibiotics or anti-inflammatories.
Ear Cleaning
Ears should be thoroughly cleaned with a canine-formula ear cleaning solution. Fill the ear canal with the ear cleaning solution and massage the solution into the ear. Allow the pet to shake out the remaining fluid and wipe the inside of the ear with a cloth to dry.
Ear Mite Parasiticide
An insecticidal ear treatment is required to kill ear mites. The normal active ingredient in commercial ear treatments is pyrethrin, though fipronil, ivermectin, or selamectin may be used. After cleaning, apply the ear mite parasiticide into the ear, using a gloved finger to rub over all surfaces . Medication should be applied on the schedule given to you by the veterinarian, usually 1-2 times daily for up to 4 weeks depending on the severity of infestation.
If the veterinarian determines the presence of mites elsewhere on the body, these areas will also require treatment with parasiticide. Use a shampoo, spray or dip designed to treat flea infestations, formulated for use on dogs, and that contains one of the above listed insecticides. Follow the veterinarians instructions. Multiple treatments may be required.
Worried about the cost of Ear Mites treatment?
Lifecycle Of Ear Mites
The entire life cycle of an ear mite takes only 3 weeks. Adult mites lay eggs inside the ear canal of their host . The eggs mature in 4 days where they hatch into 6-legged larvae that feed for 3-10 days.
The larvae develop into 8-legged protonymphs which then become immature deutonymphs. Immature deutonymphs attach to a mature male ear mite using suckers on the rear legs. If the deutonymph becomes a female adult, fertilization happens and the female lays eggs.
The cycle begins again until the pet gets treated for ear mites. All stages except the egg stage feed on your pets ears causing itching and pain.
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