How to Get Rid of Ear Mites on a Dog

Ear mites are small, spider like parasites that live in ear canals of dogs and cats and feed on tissue fluids or ear secretions. They are more common in cats than dogs, although they also attack rabbits, guinea pigs, and ferrets. They are usually found in ear canals but can also spread to the skin and throughout your dog's entire body. They cause itchiness and discomfort; left untreated, these parasites can cause severe inflammation and loss of hearing in your dog.

If you notice your dog scratching its ears more than usual, shakes its head often like trying to get something out of his head, has black and crusty ear discharge accompanied by a foul odor, chances are your dog has an ear mite problem. Here are some simple steps to help get rid of these pests.

First step is to clean out all the dirt and exudates from the ear before medication of any kind is applied. They would only be ineffective otherwise, especially if you use topical treatments against the infestation. You can do this by simply moistening a cotton ball and gently wiping off the dirt inside the ear. Hold you dog's ear open with one hand while cleaning with the other. Repeat the process until the ear is clean.

You can buy topical medications for ear mites in stores or as prescribed by your veterinarian. They usually come in eardrops to be applied on a regular basis, either daily or weekly, for a certain period of time. Ear mites take time to eliminate, you will have to check regularly for those you may have missed or any that have hatched from eggs laid before you started the treatment.

For more simple home remedies, you can use almond oil mixed with equal parts of vitamin E. Make sure to warm the mixture to body temperature first before application. Massage the oil well into the dog's ear. The oil, because of its consistency will smother the mites, making them unable to breathe and eventually die. The vitamin E will help heal any wounds the dog might have made through its excessive scratching. Afterwards, let your dog shake its ears clean.

Another option is to use yellow dock root extract. Olive oil and oregano oil will also work as effectively. Vinegar diluted with water can be used provided your dog's ears are free from wounds or sores as the vinegar will sting and cause your dog additional discomfort. You will also have difficulty making it sit still for the treatment.

Bear in mind that you can do all these home treatments if there are no signs of infection otherwise, it would be best to let your veterinarian handle the problem. Be sure to check not just the ears but also the dog's whole body as these mites can also spread to other areas. If you own other dogs or pets, keep the infected one away and separated from the others as mites can jump from one host to another very quickly. For maintenance, keep your pet well groomed and its environment clean to prevent these parasites from coming back.

Article Resource: Elena Bautista

Reference:
- Ear Mites in Dogs - PetEducation.com