Ear mites are tiny parasites that live and proliferate in the ears and on the skin of some domesticated pets; especially cats, and sometimes dogs. These mites feed on ear wax, tissue fluid, and tissue debris. They do not bite the dog, but their presence cause a moderate to severe allergic reaction.
Ear mites live their entire lives on their host. An adult ear mite does nothing but eat and produce offspring. An adult ear mite lives for around two months, and can survive off of the host animal for long enough to transfer itself to another host. In fact, ear mites are highly contagious in many mammals, with the only thing needed for transmission is close contact to an infected animal.
Adult female mites lay approximately 4-8 eggs every day. These eggs are deposited onto the surface of the ear canal, and are held in place with ear wax and tissue secretions. After laying, the eggs hatch within four days, emerging as larvae. Over the subsequent three weeks, the larvae develop into two different stages of nymphs, the later stage developing enough to mate with adult males. These nymphs are genderless until they have been mated with. Once the mating occurs, the nymph will either emerge as a pregnant female, or a male ready to mate with nymphs.
Over time, the continual life cycle of the mites create waste buildup from their excrement, decaying bodies, and other debris in the ear canal. This results in a severe irritation for the animal, and causes a thick black discharge to appear. The irritation and discharge cause the body to send red blood cells to fight off the attacker. This results in tissue bleeding, swelling and inflammation, and general discomfort for the dog. Eventually, there is the possibility that the mites could break through the ear drum, creating further complications, including hearing loss.
Symptoms of ear mites include:
- Scratching at the ears. In addition, mites can live anywhere on the body, and cause irritation there as well.
- Head shaking. This is a sign that the dog is trying to dislodge the buildup it feels in its ears.
- A foul odor emanating from the ears.
- A thick, black discharge in the affected ear.
It is important to note that ear mites can be easily confused with other ear conditions, especially yeast infections. The treatments for different ear-related ailments vary greatly, and a treatment for one condition will most likely not be effective for a different condition. For this reason, it is important to consult with a veterinarian. Furthermore, the only way to effectively diagnose ear mites is with an otoscope, or via an examination of suspect discharge under a microscope.
Treatment and prevention is similar to the treatment for fleas. Infected dogs should be treated for several weeks with a commercial insecticide specifically formulated for ear mites. This can be obtained at a pet store, feed store, or through your veterinarian. Typically, treatment consists of placing a few droplets of medicine in the dog’s ears each day. Keeping the ears dry and free of debris will aid in the treatment. It should be noted that, due to the extreme level of contagion associate with this particular parasite, you will need to treat all of your pets simultaneously.
Prevention can be achieved by having your dog wear a flea collar, or giving it any of the oral medications designed to break the life cycle of a flea. Prevention should be coupled with regular home examinations of your dog’s ears, tail, face, and feet.
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