Dog Ear Mites – How To Recognize And Rid Your Dog Of Ear Mites

If you are a dog owner, you’ll probably have to deal with ear mites at least once and probably more than once in your dogs lifetime since ear mites in dogs are moderately common.  These tiny parasites are barely noticeable by the naked eye and resemble small crabs.  The like to hang around in your dogs ear canals where they dine on fluids and debris from the ear tissue.

Although 1 ear mite is not that noticeable, they multiply like crazy, so if your dog has one he probably has dozens, maybe even hundreds.  Although the ear mites themselves are white, the presence of them leaves a black discharge in the ear that looks almost like dirt.  As you can imagine, they make your pets ears rather itchy so if you see him shaking or scratching his ears then take him to a vet to see if the cause is ear mites.

Ear mites are extremely contagious -  don’t worry you can catch them from your dog but your other pets can so if you have multiple pets and one gets ear mites, you’d best have them all checked out.

Ear mites have rather a sheltered existence living their whole life on one dog.  While they usually stick around  inside the ear, sometimes they can spread to the surrounding skin and even take up residence as far away as the feet and tail.

Luckily, ear mites in dogs are easily treated.  Once you suspect your dog has them, get him to the Vet.  It’s important that your veterinarian diagnose the problem since there are other ear problems that can cause the same symptoms.  Once the ear mite diagnosis is made, then a few simple steps are taken to eradicate them.

The first thing your Vet will do is flush out the ear canal.  This is critical as it gets rid of the buildup (called exudate) and if this is not removed then medications used to treat the mites probably will not work.  Needless to say, it’s best if you don’t try flushing your dogs ears at home – best to bring him to the Vet for this.

The next step can be done at home and consists of medicated ear drops that will kill the mites.  These are usually put in the ears once or twice a day.  The drops contain an insecticide (usually pyrethrin) which kills the mites.  Treatment might continue anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks depending on the particular medication your Vet has prescribed.

Ear mites in dogs are common and easily treated, however they can become serious if left untreated.  If you suspect  your dog has ear mites, then please check with your Vet as soon as possible to insure this problem does not get out of hand.

Related Blogs

• Novice Dog Owners : Yorkshire Or Shih Tzu Or Cavalier King Charles Spaneil?
• Pet Owner Blog » Detecting And Treating Dog Ear Infections
• Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog » Blog Archive » The Truth About Canine Ear Infections
• golden retriever facts | Golden Retrievers Breeders
• Ear Infection In Dogs – Symptoms and Causes | Love and your pets with our tips on caring for many different animals
• Zymox Otic Pet Ear Treatment without Hydrocortisone | Large Dog House
• My Dog Ears! | EwingSIR | Calabasas Homes | Sherman Oaks Homes | Agoura Homes
• Getting Help With Common Dog Health Problems
• Dog Psychology | Golden Retriever World
• External Parasites and the Health of Your Pet – All About Cats and Dogs
• PetAlive Ear Dr. – Ear Drops for Pets | Disease & Virus
• Spotting An Ear Mite Treatment For Pets | SaferPetFood.com
• Pets Best Rx Health Blog » Blog Archive » Ear Mite Treatment Directions
• Uncovering An Ear Mite Treatment For Pets
• Spotting The Ear Mite Treatment For Pets
• That signs your Cat Ear Mite May | Cats Scratching Posts