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.
Ear mites are highly contagious, and animals become infested by direct contact with another infested animal. The mite is barely visible to the naked eye and may be seen as a white speck moving against a dark background.
To examine for ear mites, material from both ears can be collected with a cotton-tipped swab lightly coated in mineral oil and then transferred to a microscope slide (FIGURE 4). Research on ear mite prevalence has shown that, when present in low numbers, mites can be missed by swabbing alone.
Ear mites and yeast infections have some similar symptoms, so sometimes, it's hard to decipher between them. Puppies are usually more prone to ear mites than adult dogs. Yeast infections, on the other hand, happen in both puppies and adult dogs.
“Ear mites tend to cause dry, dark discharge, which may resemble coffee grounds,” explains Dr. Wilde. If you examine the discharge under a microscope or magnifying glass, you may see tiny white specks moving about in the debris. These are live ear mites.
Itching: The first sign of an ear mite infestation may be your dog scratching his head. Dark, crumbly reddish-brown discharge: This is often composed of dried blood and will resemble coffee grounds.
Otherwise, some mites may survive to reinfect your dog. You will also need to disinfect your home. The home treatment for ear mites is similar to that of fleas. Thoroughly cleaning and vacuuming your home and treating all other animals in the household will help.
Speaking of washing bedding …
You'll want to do a thorough cleaning to avoid those trouble makers from coming back and setting up shop in your pet's precious ears … AGAIN! Ear mites can live 4-6 days without feeding on a host. Since they're microscopic they can be living in your carpet or on your couch.
Ear mites are contagious to some other animals (for example, cats, dogs, and ferrets), but they are not contagious to humans. Ear mites are microscopic. Your veterinarian can find them by examining ear debris under a microscope.
Again, it is important to visit your vet if you suspect that your dog has ear mites, as they will need to examine your dog's ears and look at a sample under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis and determine whether a secondary ear infection is present.
Green tea is a natural antiseptic that will get rid of mites. It'll also help remove the “coffee grounds” debris. Massage your dog's ears gently (she should love this!)
Ear mites are treated through a 2 step process that involves cleaning out the ears and applying a topical treatment that kills the mites. To clean, use an ear cleansing solution to remove as much of the dirt, wax, and residue as possible.
Next up, it's time to clean elsewhere. Lewis says that mites can last around a week in your home without needing to feed off your cat. This means that, yes, ear mites can live on bedding. So, clean areas your cat frequents, such as their bed or your couch.
Ear mites are tiny mites, barely visible to the human eye, that live on the surface of ear canal skin in dogs (and cats). They are barely visible to the human eye. An infestation produces brownish ear wax, similar in appearance to coffee grounds.
To ensure all mite eggs have been eliminated treatment needs to continue for a minimum of 3 weeks. If using a single use product such as Revolution one dose is often enough to get rid of an ear mite infection but it will still take up to three or four weeks for the infection to completely clear up.
The most common type of ear mite is Otodectes cynotis, which live in the ear canal and feed by piercing the thin skin. This causes severe itching and, if left untreated, can cause bacterial infections, swelling of the ear canal and eventually partial or total deafness.
They are most active at night, so clean and treat the ears each evening at bedtime.
Here are a few essential oils that mites hate: Tea Tree oil. Lavender Oil. Eucalyptus Oil.
Wash any bedding and any other blankets your pet comes into contact with. While ear mites don't live long when not inside your pet's ear, it is best to make sure all your bedding and blankets are clean and ear mite free. Wash them in hot soapy water.
If left unchecked and untreated, ear mites can lead to serious issues, including deafness, coordination or balance issues, and permanent ear scarring. Ear mites can also cause an ear infection, so treatment shouldn't focus solely on getting rid of the mites — the ear infection should be treated, too.
In severe cases, ear mites can lead to inflammation of the outer ear as well as the external ear canal. The cat's ears may appear red and inflamed, and you may notice pus or a dark material resembling coffee grounds in your cat's ear canal. Ear mites can also lead to torn eardrums.
So how can you tell the difference? Cats that aren't suffering an ear mite infection have a lighter brown earwax color that does not smell. The darkly colored earwax caused by an ear mite infection will often have ear discharge resembling coffee grounds.
Because ear mites are contagious, all pets in the household (both cats and dogs) should be treated for ear mites. Your veterinarian can provide assistance in choosing the most effective treatment for your cats and other pets.