Ear mites are external parasites infecting cats and dogs. Once cursed, pets seem to have the problem for life. The mites Otodectes cynotis are large enough and easily visible with the naked eye.


Ear mites as the names says, lives in the ears as well as on the head and skin of the pets. In just 3 weeks, a mite egg can develop into an adult mite. The adult mite can live its entire life on the pet, enabling it to be highly contagious and can also cause severe inflammation.




Ear mites are highly contagious and readily transmit from host to host by physical contact. You pet can get easily infected if it socializes with other infected animals. Treatment for ear mites is a must for all the household pets.

Shaking of the head and ears is the most common sign of ear mite infection. Dogs scratch at their ears, rub their face and in severe cases, they may even bleed behind their ears to relieve themselves from the pesky little critters. Though some pets can still be infected and not show any signs of itching or head shaking.

Ears that seem very itchy and have dark debris, down in the ear, are the telltale signs that your pet's ears have visitors. Dark brown to black debris accumulates in the ears of infected pets and the mites may be visible as small moving white specks on the debris. Secondary infection with bacteria or yeast is common in ear mite infections and may complicate the diagnosis.

Any natural oil-based ear medication will ultimately drown the mites as the oil covers the mite's breathing pores eventually suffocating them. Keep your pet and its environment treated for fleas. This also kills any ear mites that might be around to re-infect your pet.

To remove ear mites, mix ½ ounce of almond and vitamin E. Put a dropper or two in each ear and massage it well. Let your pet shake its head and clean out the opening with cotton swabs. The oily mixture smothers the mites and helps healing. Refrigerate the mixture between uses, warming it before use. Soak a cotton ball in mineral oil and swab the ear canal. The oil soothes skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing. Give your pet mild flea baths during the treatment period to squelch any wayward mites.

Consider using an anti-yeast medication, since secondary yeast infections are commonly found with ear mite infestations.

 

Ear mites mainly target a dog or a cat. This is a painful and annoying condition that affects most pets. The most common kinds of ear mites are a species known as the Otodectes cynot. These mites can live anywhere on the pet’s body. Keep in mind that these mites are extremely contagious and can easily be passed onto one animal from another. Once infected, these dogs and cats suffer from a parasitic infection called Otodectes cynotis. These infections are mainly found in those animals that spend a lot of their time outdoors. Symptoms of ear mites in a kitten or a dog or a cat mainly include itchiness and scratching around the ears. The animal may also shake his head to get rid of the mites that are inside the ears. These are the early symptoms of ear mites. Later on you may notice that your pet’s ears are laid back or have become flattened. Your pet may also cry mournfully when he is trying to scratch his ears or when you are trying to touch them. You may also notice a foul odor at times. This infection should not be neglected as it could lead to complications like yeast infections, later on. Excessive scratching due to the itching could lead to the ear canals bleeding. If this occurs, then you may see dried or fresh blood in your pet’s ear canals. It may appear as dark brown or reddish/black debris. It is easy to spot the mites in this debris as they will stand out as white dots among the debris.

There are certain home remedies that can help with ear mites. The most important thing to remember is that whether you use an ear mites home remedy or a prescription to treat this, the ear’s must first be clean. You must clean out your pet’s ears before starting any medication or using any oil. The dried blood or any other exudates must be removed before starting any ear mites home remedy. If this is not done, the particular ear mites home remedy will not be affective at all. The first step is to get as many ear mites out of the ear canal as possible. Put some mineral oil into the ear and massage it gently. If the debris is hard and crusty, let the oil stay in for a few hours before removing it. Massaging will help to bring the debris to the outer part of the ear where you will find it easier to remove. Given below are some easy to use and effective home remedies:-

White vinegar or acetic acid is a good ear mites home remedy. Veterinarians recommend this as it removes the debris and dirt from the ears. It is also helpful in restoring the correct chemical balance in the animal’s ears. You would need to mix one part of the vinegar with 2 parts of water. Pour this solution into the ear canal, massage the area. Use a cotton ball to wipe the inside of the ear canal. Ensure that you only clean the part of the ear that you can see. This is one of the most effective home remedies for ear mites. Do not however, put vinegar if there are any open ear sores. 

 

If this is the case, soak a clove of garlic in olive oil overnight. Then remove the garlic and put 5-6 drops of the oil for treating the ear. Do this twice a day for about 7-10 days.

 

The use of corn oil is also effective as an ear mite home remedy. Corn oil helps to soothe the skin, kill the mites and also fastens the process of healing. Simply massage corn oil on the ear with the help of a cotton ball. Do this for three days.
    

Another useful home remedy is using a combination of a little almond oil as also Vitamin E. Use a few drops in both the ears and then clean out the ear with a cotton bud. Your pet will probably shake his head to clear out the drops as you put them in. This mixture helps in healing and also suppresses the mites.
    

A solution of yellow dock root extract and water is also an effective ear mite home remedy and is beneficial in treating them.
    

If you have a cat that has ear mites, do not use a cotton swab for cleaning out the ears. You might puncture the ear drum if you are not careful. You can also temporarily combat ear mites by soaking a ball of cotton in some mineral oil followed by swabbing the inside of your cat’s ears with it. However, if your cat’s ears are severely inflamed and red and raw, it is better to take the cat to the vet for further treatment.
    

Remember that any natural oil based medication for the ears would in the end drown all mites. This is because the oil covers and blocks the breathing pores of the mites.

 

Another ear mite home remedy is to make a mixture of ½ teaspoon of oregano oil with ½ oz of olive oil. Let this mixture stand for about 48 hours and then strain it using a cloth. Put two drops in each ear. Do this twice a day for best results.

Keep in mind that by the time you notice the ear mites in your canine pet or your cat, there might be thousands of the mites around and elsewhere on the body too. It is therefore essential to treat your pets regularly with flea products so that the ear mites do not spread to other parts of the body. Remember that just one single cleaning is not enough to get rid of the ear mites. You must continue the treatment diligently. Cleaning should be carried out at least every day or two. It takes a few weeks of treatment before your pet will be mite free. If the ear mite home remedies given above do not act within a month or you notice that your pet’s ears are getting worse, a trip to the vet is warranted. The problem might not be that of ear mites and another condition like a bacterial infection which will then be treated accordingly.