Ear mites live in the ear canal and on the surrounding skin. Signs of ear mites in dogs include scratching around the ears, head and neck, skin irritation, head shaking, the presence of an ear discharge that is dark and waxy (resembling coffee grounds) and an unpleasant odour from the ears.
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 doesn't 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.
Ear mites under a microscope.
They are barely visible to the human eye. An infestation produces brownish ear wax, similar in appearance to coffee grounds. Ear mites are contagious and can travel from the ears of an infected dog to any other dogs in close contact.
Should I clean my dog's ears if he has ear mites? In some cases, cleaning your dog's ears may cause more damage if they have ear mites and have been scratching excessively. Your best bet is to schedule an appointment with your vet, who can clean out mites and apply medication to prevent them from spreading further.
Outer ear infection (otitis externa).
A waxy, yellow, or reddish-brown ear discharge can also be a sign your dog has an ear infection, which can be a result of allergies, mites, polyps, overproduction of ear wax, excessive bathing or swimming (which can leave too much moisture in the ears), or other problems.
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!)
A diagnosis is made by observing the mite. This is usually straightforward and may be done either by examination of the pet's ears with an otoscope or by microscopic examination of discharge from the ear. If the ears are very sore, the pet may need to be sedated to allow the ears to be properly examined and treated.
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 Mite Treatment for Dogs
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.
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An ear mite infestation produces a buildup of brownish ear wax that resembles coffee grounds.
The most commonly seen species in veterinary practice is Otodectes cynotis, which lives in the external ear canal of dogs and cats (responsible for roughly 90% of ear mite infections seen in cats). A brownish, waxy substance accumulates in the ear (looks like coffee grounds).
If we determine that your pet has ear mites, we will clean the ears thoroughly before administering some medication. The most common forms of medication used are moxidectin and selamectin, which are used to treat many types of parasites.
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.
They closely resemble ticks, except they're barely visible to the naked eye. If they are, they'll appear as small white dots, living their entire lives inside a dog's ear. It takes approximately three weeks for mites to fully develop into adults.
“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.
Ear mites are tiny animals and are a fairly common parasite in both cats and dogs. They look like tiny white dots, but can barely be seen with the naked eye. Ear mites live on the skin of the ear canal and feed off ear wax and skin oils. An adult normally lives for around two months, but they can multiply quickly.
Outdoor cats are more prone to catch them from other cats while wrestling around or snuggling (basically any social interaction with an infected cat), but indoor cats can also catch them from the toys or bedding of other infected cats.
Although spot on treatments are the most popular form of treatment, ear drops are also available. Some of these require at least three weeks of treatment as the medication cannot kill the eggs of the parasites, which take 21 days to develop into adult mites.
“There are many topical, oral, and systemic agents,” Dr. Miller notes, “and most—such as ivermectin—are highly effective. Even one old-time remedy—baby oil—can do the job. A few drops put into an affected ear several times a day for a month or so will usually smother the mites.”
Never put olive oil, vinegar, shampoo, or any other substance in a dog's ear. Also, avoid poking around with cotton buds in the ear, you will only work any wax and debris further in and potentially damage the eardrum.
Take your pet to the vet if his ears are red, have a bad odor or he is scratching his ears or shaking his head for proper care. Olive oil, mineral oil or coconut oil—oils are relatively safe to use, and olive oil can kill ear mites by smothering them though it takes many weeks to clear ear mites with this method.