“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.”
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!)
There are many options to kill the ear mites themselves. The most common drugs used are flea, tick and heart worm prevention. Single use products such as Acarexx® or Mibemite® are topical versions of ivermectin and milbemycin oxide respectively that are placed into the ears once to kill the mites.
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
Unless your cat's ears have cuts or sores, ACV is an effective ear mite remedy worth trying.
“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.”
Do home remedies work? Home remedies such as baking soda, green tea, or olive oil may seem like an easy alternative to treatment for ear mites in your dog. However, they are not proven to work and may even prolong the problem or cause other issues.
Baking Soda. Baking soda can be an effective treatment for ear mites in dogs, but be careful not to allow your dog to ingest it. Mix one cup of warm water with one teaspoon of baking soda. Soak this in a cotton ball and use it to rub your dog's ear.
Vaseline is great for removing ear mites because it suffocates them. Mites cannot escape through its thick coating.
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.
Unfortunately you will always need to treat ear mites in your cat because they will not go away on their own. If treating ear mites in cats is delayed for too long you run the risk of chronic ear infections.
Fortunately, when it comes to ear mites in cats, treatment is relatively straightforward. If your vet diagnoses your cat with ear mites, an anti-parasitic medication will be prescribed.
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.
Humans can rarely be infected with ear mites. Infected animals have a large amount of crumbly dark brown material in their ears. On close inspection, tiny white mites can barely be seen in the debris, as they are nearly microscopic. Ear mites do not burrow as some mites do, but live within the ear canal.
Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Pet parents can make a 1:1 mix of apple cider vinegar and water to help treat a mild infestation. Oils. Oils like coconut or olive can suffocate ear mites, which may be able to eliminate the problem.
This causes severe itching and, if left untreated, can cause bacterial infections, swelling of the ear canal and eventually partial or total deafness. The mites can also travel all over your cat's body, causing itching and swelling. Again, left untreated they can lead to systemic infections.
And please, see your veterinary team before ear mites become a big problem for the cat or kitten you love. Don't delay treatment if you suspect ear mites. They're deeply uncomfortable and can cause painful ear infections that may lead to permanent hearing loss and balance problems.
The adult mite lives approximately two months happily eating ear wax and skin oils. The life cycle (the time it takes for an egg to develop into an adult mite ready for parenthood) requires 3 weeks. with a deutonymph.
If ear mites are found, an oral or topical treatment will be prescribed. We don't recommend some of the natural remedies found on the Internet, such as drowning the mites in oil or using eucalyptus or tea tree oil. It would take a lot of oil to drown mites and could further clog up your pet's ear.
Warm the olive oil to the cat's body temper by placing the olive oil container inside the warm water bowl. Fill the ear dropper or the syringe with a little olive oil. Add one to two drops in the cat's ear canal opening. Massage the ear area with circular motions to make sure that the liquid enters the ear canal.
Advantage Multi® prevents and treats flea infestations with the active ingredient imidacloprid, which kills fleas through contact so they don't have to bite your pet to die. It also treats ear mites, which are the No. 1 cause of ear infections in cats.
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.