How Do I Protect My Pet Against Ear Mites?
Published date: 02 December 2024
Ear mites are tiny parasites which impact our dogs, cats and small animals. They aren’t as well known or discussed as other ectoparasites such as fleas and ticks, however, they are a highly contagious species.
There are multiple different species which can impact our pets. The trick to keeping your pet protected is to understand this pesky parasite and know the signs of infestation.
What are Ear Mites?
Mites are small arachnids that belong to the same family as ticks. They are very small in size, barely visible to the naked eye and will look like tiny white dots.
As their name suggests, ear mites live and breed in the ear canals of infected animals.
They live in the ear canals and will feed off debris and wax. Ear mites lay their eggs on the surface of the ear canal. The eggs quickly hatch out into the immature larvae stage of ear mites and quickly develop and moult into adults.
It only takes three weeks for an egg to develop into an adult. Once they are fully mature, adult ear mites will live for approximately two months. During this time, they will be continuously munching and mating.
How Do Pets Become Infected with Mites?
Ear mites can transfer between hosts due to casual contact.
Pets that share a household and spend time grooming, sleeping and playing with each other.
Animals can also catch mites from infected environments such as gardens and parks.
What are the Symptoms of Ear Mites?
It is important if you suspect your pet has ear mites that you book a vet appointment. An ear infection or allergy often will have the same symptoms, however, will require more veterinary intervention to fix.
Explore our Guide to Cat Hay Fever
Explore our Guide to Dog Hay Fever
Here are some symptoms to watch out for:
- Shaking their head excessively
- Increased wax production
- Red, swollen and inflamed ears
- Crusty rash in or around the ear
- Hair loss around the ear
- Black coffee granule-like discharge
- Foul smell from the ears
How Will Vets Diagnose Ear Mites?
Sometimes vets will be able to see the ear mites in your pet’s ears. However, if they are unable to spot them, they may take a skin scraping and examine under a microscope to confirm a positive diagnosis.
How Do You Treat Ear Mites?
There are some spot-on treatments which cover ear mites alongside other ectoparasite species. This can sometimes be an easier option for sensitive pets, rather than using ear drops which some animals find distressing.
However, ear drops are also a valid option and can easily treat this parasite.
Dogs, cats and small animals will have different ear mite treatments. Some ear mite treatments for small animals can be dangerous for certain dog breeds, so you must read the packaging carefully if you have a multiple-pet household.
After more parasite information? Watch Our Guide to Roundworm & Tapeworm.
Have a canine companion? Read our Lungworm Guide.
