Ear mites are tiny, almost microscopic, white specks that look like moving dots, resembling tiny spiders or ticks under magnification, but they're hard to see; more easily identified by their effect, causing dark, crumbly "coffee ground" discharge in the ear, intense itching, redness, and head shaking.
Recognizing the Signs of Ear Mite Infestation
Use Medications for Mite Infections
Prescription treatments from your care team are safe and effective. These may come as ear drops, oral medications, or injections. Many include ingredients like selamectin or moxidectin, which help eliminate mites and prevent reinfestation.
Ear mites live in the ear canal and on the surrounding skin. 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.
Other ear issues, such as fungal or bacterial infections, can have symptoms similar to those of ear mite infestations. It's important to seek an accurate diagnosis from a veterinarian to choose a safe and effective treatment option.
Ear mites are extremely small, making it difficult to spot them. If you use a soft cloth to wipe the dog's ears, you may be able to spot the mites in the residue. They appear as tiny white dots. Some symptoms to look out for are brown or black waxy ear secretions and a strong odor from the ears.
However, if left untreated, they can cause secondary bacterial infections, pain, and severe inflammation in the ear canals. In severe cases, this can progress to rupture of the ear drum and hearing loss.
Coconut oil is known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it an excellent remedy for dog ear mites. Warm a small amount of coconut oil and apply it to the inside of your dog's ears using a cotton ball. This will help suffocate the mites and relieve itching.
Sorry—there aren't any safe, effective home remedies to treat ear mites. It's important to talk to your veterinarian if you suspect your cat has ear mites.
Can humans get ear mites from dogs? It's highly unlikely for a person to get ear mites from their dog. However, if an ear mite from a dog jumps onto and bites a person, it may cause itchiness or a skin rash.
A variety of different treatment options are available to your veterinarian. Some are daily topical medications applied in the ear, or single-use products such as Milbemite®, Revolution®, Advantage Multi®, Simparica®, or Bravecto®.
Medicated shampoos and dips are often used to treat demodicosis. Prescription medications to kill the mites may be required. In cases where secondary bacterial infections are present, antibiotics may also be prescribed. Skin scrapings are taken at monthly intervals to monitor the number of mites on the dog.
Ear mites can cause several signs, including a black discharge, scratching, and head shaking.
Yes, although very rarely. However, ear mites have evolved to prefer dogs and cats rather than people. In people's ears, mites die without treatment after a few weeks.
Mites are tiny spider-like creatures that can typically only be seen with a microscope, but sometimes they may be visible as tiny orange, black or white dots moving on your dog's skin.
Common causes include skin allergies, ear infections and ear mites. Contact your vet as soon as possible if you notice your dog head shaking/scratching their ears – the sooner the problem is diagnosed, the easier it will be to treat.
Here are common ear mite symptoms you may notice:
Miracle Care Ear Mite Treatment Kit for Dogs, 1 oz. at Tractor Supply Co.
A single dose of NexGard® or NexGard SPECTRA® is highly effective at treating ear mites in puppies and dogs.
Flush with a commercial ear cleaning solution, available from your veterinarian or a veterinary supply store, or a homemade mixture of apple cider vinegar and water. Use a syringe or provided applicator to flush out the oil, mites, crust, and debris.
This discharge resembles coffee grounds and is a combination of ear wax, dried blood, and mite debris. In some cases, you may see small white specks moving within the ear canal – these are the mites themselves.
Beyond the obvious physical discomfort to your pet, untreated ear mite infestations can cause ear inflammation, bacterial and fungal infections. Severe cases can lead to hearing loss or ear damage from scratching, so prompt treatment is important.
Infections are more likely to occur with close contact with an infected pet. You can contract an ear mite infection if you share a bed with your pet or allow them on furniture. If your pet has ear mites, they can transfer to your bedding and furniture and attach themselves to you as a human host.