What medicine can I give my dog for ear mites?

The ear mite, Otodectes cynotis, is a surface mite that lives on cats, dogs, rabbits, and ferrets. It is usually found in the ear canal but it can also live on the skin surface. Ear mites are highly contagious, and animals become infested by direct contact with another infested animal. The mite is barely visible to the naked eye and may be seen as a white speck moving against a dark background.

What is the life cycle of the ear mite?

It takes approximately 3 weeks for a mite to develop from an egg to an adult, going through a total of 5 stages. Adult ear mites live about 2 months, during which time they continually reproduce. The entire ear mite life cycle takes place on the host animal, although mites can survive for a limited time in the environment.

What are the clinical signs of ear mites?

Ear mites are a common cause of ear disease and infection, although other ear conditions may cause similar clinical signs. They are the second most common ectoparasite (external parasite) found on pets; the most common is the flea.

Infestations are a very common problem in puppies and kittens, although pets of any age can be affected. Clinical signs of infestation vary in severity from one pet to another, and may include combinations of:

1. Ear irritation, leading to scratching at the ears or head shaking.

1. A dark waxy or crusty discharge from the ear.

1. Areas of hair loss resulting from self-trauma caused by the dog’s scratching or excessive grooming.

1. A crusted rash around or in the ear.

1. An aural hematoma (a large blood blister on the ear, caused by rupture of small blood vessels between the skin and cartilage); this occurs due to the dog scratching at their ears.

Skin lesions most frequently affect the ear and surrounding skin but occasionally other areas of the body may be affected.

How are ear mite infestations diagnosed?

Typical clinical signs with a history of contact with other cats or dogs would suggest the involvement of ear mites. Although ear mites frequently cause ear disease, other conditions can result in very similar clinical signs and must be ruled-out before treatment is begun.

A diagnosis is made by observing the mite. This is usually straightforward and may be done either by examination of the pet's ears with an otoscope or by microscopic examination of discharge from the ear. If the ears are very sore, the pet may need to be sedated to allow the ears to be properly examined and treated.

How are ear mites treated?

Your veterinarian will advise you about which insecticidal products are suitable. There are several ear medications licensed for the treatment of ear mites in pets. No medication can penetrate the eggs or pupae, so treatment is directed at killing the adult and larval forms.

A variety of different treatment options are available to your veterinarian. Some are daily topical medications, while others may be injections (e.g., ivermectin), or single-use products such as Milbemite®, Revolution®, Advantage Multi®, Simparica® or Bravecto®. Your veterinarian will determine what the most appropriate treatment may be given the situation and your preferences.

There are no products licensed for use in the house or on an animal's skin, but many products licensed for flea control are effective.

Your veterinarian may want to re-examine your pet to ensure that the mites have been eliminated after the initial treatment has been performed.

Do ear mites affect people?

Ear mites may cause a temporary itchy rash on susceptible people if there are infested pets in the household, although this is considered to be a rare event. Eradication of the mites from the pets will cure the problem.

If you can't get to a vet immediately, you may look to use home remedies for ear mites when your dog seems to have them. Ear mites are very itchy for dogs, and highly contagious to other pets in the home. If one pet has ear mites, all of the other dogs, cats, and ferret friends also need treatment. Your veterinarian can help after diagnosing the mite, but that can get pricey, so it's also helpful to learn how you can treat ear mites at home.

Treat the ears by flushing away the debris and mites using an insecticide similar to that used in flea treatments. The medication is often suspended in a bland medium, like mineral oil, which when squirted into the ear, helps suffocate the bugs not killed outright by the insecticide. The solution also floats debris out of the ear canal as you gently massage the ear base. A number of commercial products are available for treating ear mites; ask your veterinarian for a recommendation.

The Spruce / Charlotte Engelsen

Holistic veterinarians agree that commercial products work well, though puppies sick with ear mites may have other common health challenges that need treatment. It may be less stressful to shoo away the bugs with more natural treatments and let the vet handle other issues. Cleaning the ears with soothing solutions is the first step.

• Antiseptic Tea Rinse. Green tea is a natural antiseptic. It can be used to flush out all the ear mite debris—that crumbly brown/black stuff that clogs the puppy’s ear canal. Steep a tablespoon of green tea leaves in a cup of hot water for three or four minutes and then strain it. Let it cool to room temperature before using it once a day for a month.
• Oil Treatment. Oil helps soothe sore ears and also can float debris out. Oil also can suffocate the mites. Holistic vets say it doesn’t really matter what kind of oil you use, although some recommend almond or olive oil. For the best benefit, crush a couple of garlic cloves in a cup of the oil and let it marinate overnight. Garlic naturally kills bacteria that might develop secondary to the mite infection. Remember to remove the garlic before using the oil to treat your puppy’s ears. You’ll need to treat the ears with the oil/garlic solution daily for at least a month.

Avoid tea tree oil because it can be toxic for cats and smaller pets like young puppies.

The Spruce / Charlotte Engelsen

Using a commercial product from your vet or pet store requires you to treat both ears twice a week for at least three weeks. For natural remedies, however, you need to treat daily for a month. That’s because eggs will continue to hatch for at least that time and can quickly re-infest the ears. The vet may recommend steroid medications to soothe inflammation or antibiotic ointment to treat secondary bacterial infections. The technique is the same whether you use a commercial or homemade solution.

1. Wear old clothes. You’re liable to get the tea, oil, or commercial product all over you when the puppy shakes his head.
2. Gather your supplies. You’ll need the medicine, an applicator, a clean cloth, and treats. Commercial products come in squirt bottles. For homemade products, you can use an eye dropper or squirt bottle—or try a travel-size toiletry bottle for convenience. A clean, dry washcloth helps clean off excess medicine after the treatment.
3. Set small pups on a table or counter next to the supplies; kneel beside larger pups. An extra set of hands can be helpful to keep a junior pup from wiggling away.
4. Pet your puppy, rub his itchy ears, and speak in a matter-of-fact voice. Baby talk or “poor thing” types of language can cue that the experience will be unpleasant, and you want him to take the treatment in stride. Firmly grasp the pinna (ear flap) with your left hand to expose the opening and keep the pup from shaking his head too soon.
5. It works best to clean out all the goop before applying the ear medicine, otherwise, the waxy material might protect the ear mites. Use the tea solution first, and then follow up with the oily medication.
6. Drip several drops of the liquid into the pup’s ear. The dog’s ear canal is shaped like an “L” and travels down and then inward toward the center of his head. Don’t poke anything into the ears; just drip and let gravity move the liquid where it needs to go; otherwise, you risk hurting the eardrum and damaging the pup’s hearing.
7. Massage the base of the medicated ear. It should sound a bit squishy as the liquid moves inside and loosens the debris. When the ears aren’t too sore, puppies like the ear-rubbing massage and will lean into your hand with moans of enjoyment because it helps soothe that deep-seated itch.
8. Let go of the pup’s ear and duck as he shakes his head and the debris flies out. Wipe the parts of the ear you can see with the cloth. You may need to do a second application to get all the goop.
9. Feed a treat to your puppy for putting up with the treatment. Repeat on the other ear.
10. Your puppy will look a bit oily for the duration. To cure that "wet head" look, a puppy bath may be called for at the end of the month-long treatment.

If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet.