Ear mites are relatively mild parasitic infections. Even so, the situation could escalate and cause irritation in the external ear of your furry friend. Ear mites in dogs usually make them shake their heads excessively, and scratch their ears to an extent that hair gets pulled out. The situation could even cause damage to sensitive areas such as the ear drums and ear canals.
What Causes Dog Ear Mites Anyway?
Otodectescynotis is the scientific term for ear mites. Ear mites in dogs are mostly passed on through socialization with other infected cats and dogs. Cats and dogs that spend a lot of time outside are prone to getting infected.
How Are Ear Mites In Dogs Diagnosed?
Your veterinarian will in most cases examine the ear drum and ear canal. Skin scrapings will be examined in the laboratory, and the ear canals are likely to be examined using a magnifying ear cone since ear mites are visible.
In the event that your pooch is hypersensitive due to the infestation, thus making ear examination intricate, the dog’s response to medical treatment may be used as a means of diagnosis.
How to Get Rid of Ear Mites in Dogs
Ear infections in dogs can be treated using medication meant to kill ear mites. Due to the contagious nature of this infection, any animal in your house needs to get treated, as well as your environment getting cleaned thoroughly. A thorough cleaning is crucial because ear mites cannot thrive for long outside the host’s body.
It is advisable to have your dog’s ears thoroughly cleaned using medicated ear drops for dogs. The dog ear medication should be used for no less than a week to ensure ear mites and eggs are completely wiped out, and a repeat of the same would be prudent a fortnight later. Applying flea medication to the dog’s body is important for the reason that this goes a long way in eradicating other mites.Click here to know how to get rid of ear mites in dogs.
What Next?
Most dogs recover in no time after medical intervention. It is advisable to have your veterinarian do a follow up after a month to make sure there is no chance of re-infection. Note that the untimely treatment of ear mites can cause extensive damage to your dog’s ears. Symptoms associated with ear mites will at times mimic other ear conditions. It is therefore imperative to seek the opinion of a veterinarian each time you think there is an issue to avoid any infection progressing to fatal stages, click here to get started!
Dog Ear Infections 