Dogs are less likely to suffer from ear mites than cats. They are mostly affected by the annoying problem, especially in the first few months of life. When infested with mites, the parasites can cause serious problems if left untreated. It is therefore particularly important to recognize early on whether mites have settled in the dog’s ears. You can find out everything about ear mites in dogs in this article.
What are ear mites?
Ear mites, Otodectes cynotis, are mange mites that live in the dog’s external auditory canal and internal pinna. Unlike other mange mites, ear mites do not spread to the rest of the body.
How do ear mites live in dogs?
The mites, which are less than two millimeters in size, can usually only be seen with a magnifying glass or under a microscope. The parasites settle in the mucous membrane of the external auditory canal. They scratch the mucous membrane with their mouthparts and feed on earwax, tissue fluid and cells. The mites reproduce in the external auditory canal. The female mites lay up to twenty eggs, from which the next mite generation hatches after 21 days.
What does mite infestation look like in dogs?
The external auditory canal is filled with dark brown, friable masses. The dog suffers from severe itching, constantly scratching and rubbing its head on the ground and objects. With severe inflammation, the ears are painful. You will be shaken.
Recognize ear mites in dogs
Mites cause clear symptoms in dogs. The dog is irritated by scratching the mucous membrane of the auditory canal. He is restless and scratches himself constantly. By scratching and shaking its head, the dog tries to get rid of the annoying parasites.
Symptoms of ear mite infestation
The parasites cause severe itching. To relieve the itching, the dog rubs against objects and scratches. The claws of the paws cause injuries when scratching, which are clearly visible on the skin around the ears. If bacteria settle in the wounds, purulent inflammation develops.
The external auditory canal is filled with brown, crumbly masses. The dirt reaches into the inner auricle. If the mites get into the inner ear, the dog suffers from balance disorders and tilts its head. Original erect ears are only kept kinked and sometimes hang down.
Possible consequences of mites
Ear mite infestations must always be treated by a veterinarian. Left untreated, mite infestation can have serious health consequences for dogs.
Bloody ear as a result of infection with ear mites in dogs
Violent shaking of the head can rupture blood vessels inside the pinna. Blood leaks out and collects between the two layers of skin. The ear is swollen and feels hot. Left untreated with compression bandages or surgery, the ear becomes crippled and has a cauliflower-like appearance.
Damage in the middle ear
If the dog’s eardrum is injured due to an untreated severe ear mite infestation, the ear mites can migrate to the middle ear and inner ear. There, the parasites cause severe, painful inflammation that can lead to imbalance.
Loss of hearing
The ear mites clog the dog’s ear canal. Sound waves can no longer be transmitted well into the inner ear via the eardrum. The four-legged friend hears badly. If the inner ear is also damaged by the mites, the hearing loss can be irreversible.
What can you do about ear mites?
The ear mites are killed with ointment or ear drops. Coconut oil and apple cider vinegar have a supporting effect.
Treatment of ear mites in dogs
Diagnosis is made with an otoscope. When the external auditory canal is illuminated, the mobile mites can be clearly seen through the magnifying glass. To confirm the diagnosis, the vet takes a swab from the ear. The material is smeared onto a slide and examined under a microscope. The eggs and ear mites are clearly visible. Examination with a microscope is particularly important in distinguishing an infestation with mites from an infection with Malassezia, a yeast that causes similar symptoms.
Cleaning the ear
If the eardrum has not yet been damaged by the mites, the crumbly masses can be rinsed out of the auditory canal with an ear douche. The vet cleans the ear canal with ear cleaner and a cotton swab.
Killing ear mites
If the eardrum is intact, the mites are killed with special ear drops. The ear drops, which are put into the ears up to three times a day, usually contain cortisone, which relieves itching. The treatment must be repeated several times so that the offspring that have not yet hatched from the eggs are also killed. Instead of the ear drops, an ointment against ear mites can also be used.
Some flea and tick spot-ons applied to the dog’s shoulder area will also kill ear mites. With these preparations, it is sufficient to repeat the treatment after three to four weeks. If there is also a bloody-purulent inflammation of the outer ear canal, the dog must be given an antibiotic so that the inflammation cannot spread to the inner ear.
Treatment for damaged eardrum
If the dog’s eardrum is no longer intact, no liquids should get into the ear, as this will damage the inner ear. Here, the treatment should primarily be carried out with spot-ons.
Follow-up check by the veterinarian
Three weeks after the start of treatment, the ears should be checked again by the veterinarian. It is checked whether all ear mites have been killed and the inflammation has healed. The treatment may need to be continued for a longer period of time.
Are ear mites dangerous in dogs?
Infestation with the parasites can cause balance problems and loss of hearing. Left untreated, inflammation of the inner ear develops, which has a massive impact on the dog. If the snail and auditory nerve are damaged by the parasites, the dog remains deaf.
Treatment of ear mites with home remedies
The dog should always be examined by a veterinarian before being treated with home remedies. Even if treatment with medication can have side effects, home remedies should only be used to support a severe infestation with ear mites so that no serious damage to the hearing remains.
- Coconut Oil: There is lauric acid in coconut oil, which kills the mites. The oil clogs the parasites’ breathing holes, suffocating the mites. For the treatment, the coconut oil is heated between the fingers and rubbed into the upper area of ​​the external auditory canal. The deep parts of the ear canal are not reached by the coconut oil. As a pleasant side effect, coconut oil also reduces itching.
- Apple cider vinegar: The inside of the ear can be washed with diluted apple cider vinegar. The acidic environment is very unpleasant for the mites. If there are already scratches, apple cider vinegar should not be used, as it burns the wounds badly. The apple cider vinegar should also never be poured directly into the ear. For the upper area of ​​the ear canal, it is possible to soak a cloth in the apple cider vinegar and wipe that area.
- Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil kills the mites. Unfortunately, allergies often occur during use. The oil sticks together with the masses in the ear canal and increases the inflammation.
- Aloe Vera: The aloe vera gel can be applied directly to the inflamed skin. It has a cooling effect, calms itching, and relieves inflammation.
Where can the dog get infected with ear mites?
Infection with the mites occurs through direct contact with other infected dogs. Puppies are particularly at risk if the mother dog suffers from an infection with the parasites.
Infection through objects
Since the mites can survive for a long time without a host, infection is possible through various objects. Mites crawl onto the blanket while you sleep. Ear mites on the pinna can be transmitted when rubbing objects. It is therefore particularly important to thoroughly clean the area around the dog every time you treat the mites. Water and food bowls must be disinfected, blankets can be washed in the washing machine. If toys cannot be washed, it is possible to put them in the freezer for a few days.
Are ear mites contagious to humans?
Otodectes cynotis is not a host-specific mite. This means that the mites can also be transmitted to humans and other animals such as dogs or cats. However, the parasites do not attach themselves to the skin. They only cause itching for a short time and quickly search for a suitable host. Infection of the ear canal of humans does not occur.
How long does it take for mites to go away in dogs?
In the ear canal are adult mites, developmental stages and eggs. In order to kill all parasites, a multiple treatment must be carried out. After three weeks, a control is carried out to determine whether all mites have been killed. The treatment may have to be repeated again.
Preventing ear mites in dogs
By using spot-on preparations against fleas and ticks, the dog can also be protected against ear mites.
Hygiene is important
So that the dog cannot get infected through its blanket, toys or other objects, these should be cleaned and disinfected regularly. Wooden toys can be placed in the freezer to kill any mites. The carpet of the apartment should be vacuumed thoroughly.
Conclusion
Ear mites are annoying parasites in dogs that settle in the external auditory canal. Left untreated, the mites can cause serious health problems in the dog. If diagnosed and treated early, healing is possible within a few weeks.
