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Ear mites in dogs may not be as deadly as ticks or heartworms, but they can still make life very unpleasant for your furry friend.

For your beloved dog or puppy, ear mites can cause intense ear irritation and discomfort. These tiny parasites feed on wax and oils in your dog’s ear canals and can result in head shaking or scratching, rubbing of the ears and secondary ear infections.

As a pet owner, you want your pooch to be happy and healthy, so read on to learn more about ear mites in dogs.

What do Ear Mites Look Like?

You may think it’s necessary to know what ear mites look like in dogs in order to tackle them, however ear mites are so small that it’s unlikely you will be able to see them. It takes a vet with an otoscope or microscope to properly spot an infestation.

If you want to know how to check your dog for ear mites, it is best to look for signs of ear mites rather than the parasites themselves.

Symptoms of Ear Mites in Dogs

If you are wondering how you can tell if your dog has ear mites, you should look out for signs of ear irritation.

Symptoms of ear mites in dogs, include:

Skin irritation in and around the ears

Scratching around the ears, head, and neck

Head shaking

Dark and waxy ear discharge

An unpleasant odor from the ears

How do Dogs get Ear Mites?

Contact with other dogs or cats with ear mites is typically what causes ear mites to be transmitted to your pet. Young dogs are also more likely to develop ear mite infestations.  

When one puppy or dog is infested, the mites can get onto bedding or transfer directly from dog to dog through play and socializing. As dogs like to play together, the mites find it easy to make their move to a new host.

How to Prevent Ear Mites in Dogs

As with all parasites, prevention is better than cure when it comes to ear mites

Keep your dog away from other animals that have ear mites

Regularly wash bedding and toys in hot water

Give washed bedding a turn in a tumble dryer to get rid of any pesky mites that might be hanging around

Ear Mite Treatment for Dogs

It is important to visit your vet if you suspect that your dog has ear mites, as they will need to examine your dog’s ears and look at a sample under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis and determine whether a secondary ear infection is present.

So what are the options when it comes to ear mite treatment for dogs?

There are different types of ear mite medication, including over the counter treatments such as NexGard or drops which may be prescribed by your vet. Puppy ear mite treatment is usually the same as for adult dogs.

How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of Ear Mites?

A single dose of NexGard 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.

Can You Get Ear Mites From Your Dog?

With all this talk of nasty little parasites, you may be wondering if you can catch ear mites. The good news is that the likelihood of ear mites moving from dogs to humans is very small.

Ear Mites vs Ear Infection

Ear mites aren’t the only reason your dog might have discomfort in their ears, so how do you know if your problem is dog ear mites or an ear infection?

Ear infections are common in dogs and can have many different causes. They can be caused by a yeast infection, a bacterial infection, or even secondary to an allergic skin disease. It’s best to consult with your vet who can examine your dog and rule out other potential causes by looking at your dog’s ear wax with a microscope.

Ear Mites in dogs FAQ

My dog has been scratching his ears. Does he have ear mites?

Ear mites are common, especially in young dogs, but there are many other causes of itchy ears in dogs. You should consult with your vet to confirm the diagnosis.

What should I do if I think my dog has ear mites?

You should consult with your vet to confirm the diagnosis and discuss treatment options.

Can dogs get ear mites from other dogs?

Yes. Ear mites can be transmitted from one puppy or dog to another while playing.

Can a dog get ear mites from a cat?

Yes. Cats can get ear mites that can be transmitted to dogs and vice versa.

How long to get rid of ear mites?

A single dose of NexGard is highly effective at treating ear mites in puppies and dogs. If the ear irritation persists, it’s best to consult with your vet.

Are ear mites painful for dogs?

Ear mites can result in irritation of the ears and secondary ear infections. Dogs will often scratch at their ears which can leave them red and painful.

Can a dog have ear mites in only one ear?

Ear mites will generally infest both ears, although one ear may be more severely affected that the other.

Can puppies get ear mites?

Ear mites are common in puppies. Consult with your vet if you are concerned.

Do ear mites smell?

If your dog suddenly develops a sore, red spot for no apparent reason, don't worry. While it's sure to be painful and needs treatment, most of these types of sores are a condition commonly referred to as hot spots. Hot spots on dogs are painful and can cause bigger problems if left untreated, but in most cases, they're fairly easy to take care of.

Hot spot basics

Hot spots are red, inflamed spots on a dog's skin, most commonly found on the feet or legs. They usually start small and may at first be mistaken for insect bites, but usually quickly develop into large, oozing sores. Another common name for them is moist dermatitis, in part because the fur around the hot spot is usually wet from frequent licking.

Allergies

One of the most common causes of hot spots is also one of the hardest ones to spot. Allergies to food or environmental elements, such as pollen or a particular material, can cause itchy skin in dogs. Most dogs react to that by frequently licking, chewing, and scratching at the affected area, which can lead to an open sore.

Painful spots

If your dog develops a hot spot on a joint, it may be a sign that your dog is developing arthritis or has an injury in that area. Dogs often regularly lick painful areas in an attempt to soothe them, and over time that can quickly develop into a hot spot. This is most common in older dogs, although it can happen in dogs of any age.

Insects and parasites

Fleas, mites, mosquitoes, and other biting insects can also cause hot spots. These itchy bugs can cause dogs to scratch enough to injure themselves with their own nails. Others may obsessively lick or chew at the area of the bug bite. Hot spots at the base of an ear are often the first visible symptom of ear mites.

Grooming issues

Some dogs may also develop hot spots due to poor grooming. Long-haired dogs, in particular, can easily develop thick mats in their fur, which rub and pull at the skin and result in painful areas. The dog may attempt to self-groom by chewing and licking at the area, which exacerbates the problem. Impacted anal glands also can be uncomfortable and lead to hot spots around the base of the tail.

Anxiety and fear

Some hot spots may not have an underlying physical cause. Dogs suffering from severe boredom, fear or anxiety may chew on their own paws or legs, which over time will usually result in open sores. Those sores are painful and itchy as they heal, which often causes the problem to become worse as the dog continues to lick at the area in an attempt to soothe it.

Environmental conditions

Some hot spots are simply caused by exposure to unfavorable environmental conditions. Excess heat and moisture, such as humid summer weather, can lead to irritation and inflammation in dogs with sensitive skin. Dogs that spend a significant amount of time in the water are also prone to developing hot spots. Well-meaning humans can even cause them by giving daily baths.

Diagnosis

Although most hot spots are minor and easy to treat at home, it's a good idea to take your dog to a veterinarian to rule out any bigger problems that might have the same initial appearance as a harmless hot spot. Your vet can also help you figure out the underlying cause of the hot spot and hopefully prevent future problems.

Treatment

For many hot spots, simply removing the underlying trigger is the primary treatment. This may be coupled with the use of an Elizabethan collar or other measures to prevent the dog from continuing to lick and irritate the area. For larger hot spots, topical or oral antibiotics may be used to prevent bacterial infections. Some veterinarians may recommend oral pain relief and anti-inflammatory medications, as well as topical soothing ointments, to help the dog feel more comfortable.

Prognosis

My dog, more accurately said as my lil baby girl, has very bad skin allergies. She gets shots, but sadly everything costs money. It makes me feel like a bad dog mommy, so when money is low and her skin problems flair up, these are some great natural remedies to use.

Diagnosis of ear infections in dogs would іnіtіаllу rеԛuіrе a ѕаmрlе of еаr dіѕсhаrgе thаt іѕ соnѕеԛuеntlу examined under a microscope. This рrосеdurе determines whеthеr thе infection is trіggеrеd bу еаr mіtеѕ, bасtеrіа, уеаѕt оr an оссurrіng tumоr. If thе infection trаnѕріrеѕ duе to a tumor, іmmеdіаtе surgery is necessary to еаѕе related pain. Vеtеrіnаrіаnѕ may аlѕо рrеѕсrіbе аntіbіоtіс оr anti-fungal medications tо subdue the build uр of bасtеrіа аnd yeast respectively. To prevent the оnѕеt of related health іѕѕuеѕ, the veterinarian mау ѕuррlеmеnt medications with an allergy treatment, аmоng оthеrѕ.

Natural Ear Infесtіоn Rеmеdіеѕ

Thе dоwnѕіdе to thе аdmіnіѕtrаtіоn of chemically-synthesized аntіbасtеrіаl оr аntі-fungаl treatments іnvоlvеѕ the likelihood of rеѕіѕtаnсе by іnfесtіоuѕ mісrооrgаnіѕmѕ, which bесоmеѕ the cause for the infection’s реrіоdіс rесurrеnсе. Serving реrѕіѕtеnt infections with veterinary mеdісіnе can іmраіr thе сhеmіѕtrу оf уоur pet’s ear in thе lоng run, соmрrоmіѕе systemic health and weaken your pet’s immune ѕуѕtеm.

Aѕ an alternative treatment, natural rеmеdіеѕ can be used to restore routine уеаr funсtіоnѕ аnd ѕuрроrt thе оvеrаll hеаlth оf pets. This is a level of treatment over-the-counter drugѕ ѕіmрlу could not provide. Bеlоw аrе a few nаturаl ear rеmеdіеѕ you саn administer tо rеlіеvе уоur реt’ѕ соndіtіоn:

Bаѕіс ear cleaning ѕоlutіоnѕ саn асtuаllу bе оbtаіnеd frоm уоur kіtсhеn. Aррlісаtіоn of olive oil and vinegar on the affected area can naturally rеѕtоrе the chemical bаlаnсе іn уоur pet’s еаrѕ.

Hеrbаl remedies that uѕе Pau D’ Arсо аѕ primary ingredient convey роwеrful аntіbіоtіс and аntіfungаl рrореrtіеѕ.

Other hеrbаlѕ ѕuсh as Mаrіgоld and Rоѕеmаrу аrе rеgаrdеd аѕ nаturаl аntіѕерtісѕ and thе еxtrасtѕ of thеѕе herbs are often utilized in ear rеmеdіеѕ, given the reputation to clear out infections wіthоut producing side-effects.

The herb Mullein іѕ also integrated into mеdісіnаl fоrmulаѕ in lіnе wіth its аntі-іnflаmmаtоrу and antioxidant рrореrtіеѕ thаt еffесtіvеlу ѕuрроrt systemic hеаlіng.

If уоu rеԛuіrе an аll-nаturаl rеmеdу рrоduсіng multірlе bеnеfіtѕ in a single formulation, thе ѕtаndаrdіzеd реt herbal supplement Dr. Harvey’s Herbal Ear Wash for Dogs contains thеrареutіс herbs that effectively рrоmоtе еаr hеаlth in реtѕ. Its natural healing рrореrtіеѕ аrе formulated to the highest pharmaceutical ѕtаndаrdѕ in cleansing out ear іnfесtіоnѕ, аll the mоrе рrеvеntіng thеm frоm coming bасk.

In the end, proper nutrition, hygiene and herbal ѕuрроrt аrе essential tо the uрkеер оf unfailing реt health, particularly in reinforcing their immune dеfеnѕеѕ against infections.

The post Our Top 5 Natural Remedies For Dog Ear Infections appeared first on DoggyWoggyWooWoo.