Last Updated on September 20, 2023
Paint a mental picture of this one.
You get home after a hard day’s work. You climb up the front porch, open the door, and you expect your dog to be waiting inside, with its tail wagging, and all excited and happy to see you.
However, the scenario was different.
You notice your pooch scratching aggressively.
You lean a bit closer to check for any potential visible cuts or any causes of such an incident.
You start to form questions in your head.
“Is my pet allergic to their dog food?”
“Is it because of their treats?”
“Is it because of a dusty house?”
The answer, my dear friend, may be mites.
What Are Ear Mites?
According to studies, mites are small insects that are quite similar to ticks that thrive off of the ear canal. What makes them even more of a nuisance is that they are nearly invisible to the naked eye. It also helps to know that without a host, they cannot survive. Another issue is that these ear mites can transfer between your pets from time to time.
What Are The Symptoms Of Ear Mites?
When your dog has ear mites, here are the symptoms you may want to notice if you have your suspicion:
Head Shaking
Ear Scratching/Itchy Ears
A Noticeable Dark Discharge On The Affected Ear
Noticeable Cuts and/or Scabs
How Do I Treat My Dog’s Ear Mites?
Just like in any serious cases or situations, your veterinarian will always be your best option in treating your dog’s ear mites. Mite treatment can be a bit daunting, especially for pet parents who are relatively new to taking care of a dog.
Your licensed professional will begin by thoroughly cleaning your dog’s ears to remove the said ear mites. Afterward, you can expect your veterinarian to apply any sort of antiparasitic treatment to your pet. As the last step, they will provide recommendations and/or medical aids for your dog, as consistency is key for treating your dog’s ear mites.
For a doable at-home approach, most owners flush the debris out of their dog’s ears. There are also some known homemade medications, such as oil treatment (which works by soothing sore ears, and it enables you to float the debris out of your dog’s ears), and an antiseptic tea rinse (which helps in flushing out ear mite debris, and acts as a natural antiseptic as well.
How Long Does The Treatment Take?
For most cases, a few weeks is all it takes before the treatment starts to fully take effect. However, it helps to know that mites and their life cycle last for about three weeks. Known medications are also capable of killing older mites but often leave the eggs behind, meaning your dog is still highly vulnerable. This is why it always helps to maintain a regular bathing schedule, and change their clothes (should your dog be sporting one).
The Wrap Up
And there we have it! We hope this feature was able to help out in finding ways to treat ear mites for your pet. Remember, at the end of the day, it’s always best to consult the help of a licensed professional. Do all of this, healthy food intake with the right amount of exercise and stimulation, your four-legged friend will do just fine.
