Ear mites in Dogs

Ear mites are a relatively common parasite who lives on Dogs and Cats ear canals.

The most commonly seen species is Otodectes cynotis (Latin for "Picker of the Ear").

Symptoms

The infection caused by this organism usually produces a characteristic dry black ear discharge commonly said to resemble coffee grounds.

Other symptoms that could help you identify if your dogs is suffering from ear mites are:

- Itching of the ears, head and neck
- Excessive scratching at ears and around head
- Frequently shaking the head
- Thick red-brown or black crusts in the outer ear
- Abrasions and scratches on the back side of the ears
- Crusting and scale on the neck, rump and tail

Treatment

After the mite presence is confirm by visually examining a sample of ear wax your veterinarian will prescribe medication designed to eradicate the mites.

Ear mite parasiticides should be used for 7–10 days to eradicate mites and eggs, with a repeat of the treatment around two weeks later.

Also, as part of the treatment the ears should be thoroughly cleaned with a commercial ear cleaner that is formulated specifically for dogs.

Home-treatment

For those of you who would prefer to treat your dog at home know that there are non-prescribed medications that could be used (e.g. Mita Clear or Eradimite) but prior to starting your dog in any treatment I would highly recommend confirming the prognosis with your vet.