Ear mites can barely be seen by the naked eye, but may leave a dark residue that looks like dirt or ear wax in your cat's ear. Mites are highly contagious, so your cat can get them by simply being too close to another infected animal.
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.
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.
Infection usually produces a characteristic dry black ear discharge commonly said to resemble coffee grounds. This discharge is composed of ear wax, blood, inflammatory biochemicals, and the ear mites themselves.
Signs and symptoms of ear mites in dogs
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.
Flush with a commercial ear cleaning solution, available from a veterinarian or veterinary supply store, or a homemade mixture of apple cider vinegar and water . Use a syringe or provided applicator, flushing out oil, mites, crust and debris. Allow the mixture to drain out of the ear.
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.
Although it can't hop or fly, an ear mite—otherwise known as Otodectes cynotis—can crawl. And if one of these miniscule parasites enters your cat's ear, makes itself at home, and starts to breed, it can cause major damage unless promptly evicted.
Your dog can get ear mites from just spending time outdoors. When outside, ear mites can be found in areas with a lot of trees or grasses. When your dog unknowingly passes by the mites, they cling to your dog and climb up to the ear. It's also possible for ear mites to pass from pet to pet.
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.
If left unchecked and untreated, ear mites can lead to serious issues, including deafness, coordination or balance issues, and permanent ear scarring.
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.
They are most active at night, so clean and treat the ears each evening at bedtime.
The most common source of ear mites infection in humans is contact with a household dog. As mentioned earlier, the parasite needs a host to survive. Thus, sharing a bed or furniture with an infected dog increases your risk of infection.
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.
Speaking of washing bedding …
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. Plus pets are extremely like to be shedding these tiny nightmares if they have an outbreak.
Ear mites are tiny, spider-like creatures that are normally contracted from the outdoor environment that your feline friend comes into contact with. This can include wooded or grassy areas, or animal shelters or veterinary offices with poor hygiene.
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. However, as before, if your pet has a serious ear infection, she needs proper medication to resolve the infection.
How long does it take to get rid of ear mites in dogs? The life cycle of an ear mite usually lasts three weeks. Since the medication kills mature mites but leaves eggs intact, it may take a few weeks for your dog to be rid of the microscopic insects.
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.
A single dose of NexGard® or NexGard SPECTRA® is highly effective at treating ear mites in puppies and dogs. If the ear irritation persists, or a secondary ear infection requiring additional treatment is present, it's best to consult with your vet.