Karen first noticed something was amiss with Buster when he began shaking his head and scratching at his ears, scratching incessantly to clear them of dark coffee-ground-like discharge with foul odor and crusty wax deposits in his ears. Karen suspected ear mites may be to blame and began treating him accordingly.
Ear mites can spread quickly, so it is crucial that all pets in your household be treated simultaneously with medication that will kill the mites and alleviate symptoms. Your veterinarian will prescribe treatment that effectively kills off any potential infections in addition to relieving symptoms.
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Treatment
First step to treating canine ear mites is making an appointment with your veterinarian. Discuss your pet’s symptoms with them, such as excessive scratching of ears or brown waxy secretions within them.
Ear mites are tiny insects, making it hard for anyone to detect with just the naked eye alone; however, using magnification such as magnifying glasses or otoscopes may help. Under magnification they appear like fat ticks with short legs; you may even be able to detect movement when taking samples of debris out and placing it on dark surfaces.
Your vet will first confirm the presence of ear mites as the cause of your dog’s symptoms before prescribing topical medication to eliminate them. Some may need to be applied daily while others can be given once per day; additionally, your pet’s ear canal will be cleaned by him or her to increase effectiveness of the medicine prescribed.
Prevention
Most vets will prescribe an effective treatment to eliminate mites (usually in tablet or’spot-on’ form), though several may be necessary in order to ensure all mites have been eliminated. They may also give a cleaner for you to use at home and let you know how often to clean your dog’s ears.
These medications are designed to rid ears of mites at every stage in their lifecycle. They may be applied topically or orally and usually need to be taken daily for an indefinite duration; some contain additional ingredients designed to treat secondary infections like yeast and bacteria.
Ear mites are extremely contagious, so your veterinarian may advise treating all dogs in your household at once. Furthermore, it would likely be wise to perform regular ear cleaning sessions in order to remove excess wax and irritants that build up within ears, helping reduce scratching while also preventing the development of crusty lesions in ears. Your vet may also advise keeping your pup away from other infected animals such as groomers or boarding facilities in order to protect his own wellbeing.
Diagnosis
If your pup is shaking their head frequently or itching in their ears, it may be wise to visit the vet immediately. They will collect a history of symptoms before using an otoscope or microscope to inspect his/her ears in order to see any mites or debris hiding within.
Your veterinarian will prescribe an ear treatment plan designed to kill mites. This may take the form of tablet or spot-on medication and/or cleaning solution used daily by your dog. It’s essential to follow this regimen exactly; failing to do so could reintroduce mites back into their ears, reinfesting their ears over time.
Ear mites can quickly spread throughout your household and should be treated immediately if detected. All susceptible pets should be given treatment at once to stop further reinfection between each other. Afterward, all bedding, surfaces, and pet attire must be thoroughly washed to eliminate further risk.
Home Remedies
Home remedies are often employed when their pet displays symptoms of ear mites. Treatment options could include oil treatments or anti-parasitic medication delivered via drops or oral tablets – regardless of which is prescribed, it must be given for the full course to ensure any remaining mites have been killed off completely.
Home remedies often involve using a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water in the ears to soothe inflammation and flush debris out of the canal. Furthermore, adding garlic into this solution may help kill any secondary infections related to an ear mite infection.
Home remedies may also include using green or chamomile tea as an ear canal rinse; both of these natural antiseptics help cleanse out your pet’s ears and can help wash away mites and debris from their ears. You could also consider products containing natural ingredients, like ADAMS Ear Mite Treatment for Dogs and Cats or Tresaderm Topical Ear Drops for Dogs and Cats that contain these pyrethrins; both should be administered carefully according to manufacturer instructions for best results.
