5 Facts About Ear Mites That Cat And Dog Owners Should Know

The mites that inhabit our cats and dogs ears can be a troublesome irritant but knowing a little about ear mites in our pets can help us understand and treat the problem more effectively.

Here is a compilation of facts that may well help to understand how the mites operate and their effect on your pet.

The Same Mite Can Effect Cats And Dogs

The most common mite found in cats and dogs is an eight-legged parasite known as otodectes cynotes. These tiny mites feed off the oil and wax in a pets ear canal and left untreated will multiply very fast and cause inflammation and irritation in your pets inner and external ear canal.

How Can I Detect Ear Mites In My Pet?

You may have seen your pet constantly scratching their ear, and although this may well indicate an ear mite infestation, you can determine whether your pet has mites by shining a flashlight into the ear. The mites prefer darkness and bright light will make them scurry around.

The mite infestation will have also left a residue that visually looks similar to ground coffee and has a strong unpleasant odor.

Are Ear Mites Very Infectious?

Yes they are. If you have other pets in the household then you should treat them at the same time. It is worth mentioning that although it is in theory, possible for ear mites to pass to humans, we make a very poor host and mites do not survive for very long on us. The pet to human transfer is so inhospitable for the ear mite that transmission is not generally considered to be an issue.

How Should An Ear Mite Infection Be Treated?

A trip to your veterinarian is in order. Your vet will prescribe a proprietary treatment that is most effective according to your cat or dogs condition. The reason for this is that your pet may need to have their ears cleansed, have medication placed inside or outside of the ear dependent on the stage of inflammation and, should the infection be advanced, ear drops or antibiotics may potentially have to be administered.

How Long Will It Take To Rid My Pet Of Ear Mites?

The mites develop from egg to adulthood over an approximate three-week cycle which means to effectively kill off the mites and any subsequent offspring, treatment should be carried out for at least a month.

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