NexGard® and NexGard SPECTRA® are highly effective options to treat mites on dogs. They treat and control Sarcoptes mites, Demodex mites and ear mites. NexGard SPECTRA: The most complete protection against fleas, ticks, mites, heartworm and intestinal worms, all in one tasty chew.
Other than oral heart heartworm prevention, there are isoxazaline products for flea and tick prevention such as Nexgard®, Bravecto® and Simparica® that have also been shown to be effective at killing ear mites.
The two current products that are applied directly in the ear canal are: Acarexx®, a topical version of ivermectin, and Milbemite®, a topical version of milbemycin oxime.
Bravecto works fast and continues to protect against fleas for 3 months, paralysis ticks for 10 weeks and heartworm for 2 months, plus treats intestinal worms+ and ear mites.
Many spot on flea treatments also prevent and treat ear mites, and - if recommended by your vet - this is by far and away the easiest way to protect your pet from the parasites. One or two applications is usually enough and they are a lot less stressful for your pet – and for you – than ear drops.
“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.”
It's important to take your dog to the vet if you suspect ear mites. “Failure to treat any ear infection, including ear mites, can lead to discomfort and possibly hearing loss,” says Dr. McDermott. Your vet can also confirm that you're really dealing with an ear mite issue.
Over the counter products like Eradimite Ear Mite Treatment and Otomite are topical medications applied to your pet's ear to clear up ear mites. Treating ear mites brings your pet immense relief from the irritation of having an 8-legged mite crawling and reproducing in their ears.
Bravecto Plus is the first spot-on solution for cats to protect against fleas and ticks for 12 weeks and treats ear mites and a broad spectrum of worms1. It contains fluralaner and moxidectin.
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!)
Ear mites in dogs typically look like tiny, moving dots in the ear canal, but are so tiny that you may not be able to spot them at all. It takes a vet with an otoscope or microscope to properly spot an infestation.
Sprinkle … a flea killing powder (they don't discriminate, they'll kill ear mites too) on the carpet. Follow directions on the label for how long to let it sit.
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.
Simparica is a veterinary medicine used to treat infestations with ticks and fleas, demodectic and sarcoptic mange (skin infestations caused by two different types of mites) and ear mite infestations in dogs.
Shampoos and Dips.
Specialized medicated shampoos and dips can be effective in killing mites on contact. These products often contain ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or sulfur, which have mite-killing properties.
Unless your cat's ears have cuts or sores, ACV is an effective ear mite remedy worth trying. Just follow these steps: Dilute the ACV with water. The mixture should be ½ water and ½ ACV.
Here are a few essential oils that mites hate: Tea Tree oil. Lavender Oil. Eucalyptus Oil.
Unlike fleas and other parasites that may latch on to your pets, ear mite eggs can't be killed off with medication. As a result, treatment interventions are focused on killing adult mites and larvae after they're hatched.
Adult ear mites live for 2 to 3 months, munching on skin debris and ear wax and laying eggs that hatch more mites. You can't see mites with the naked eye, but if you spot the following signs, it's time to see the vet.
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. But with patience, the symptoms will soon subside as the medication starts to take effect.
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.
Itching: The first sign of an ear mite infestation may be your dog scratching his head. Dark, crumbly reddish-brown discharge: This is often composed of dried blood and will resemble coffee grounds.
“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.
The ear canals typically have a dark, coffee ground-like substance in them. Cats may have itching of the ears, but not always. The mites also can crawl to other parts of the body and can cause itching there.