When a dog has an ear infection, ear mites are often thought to be the cause. However, these tiny creatures are not so often the cause of ear infections. But if they are in your dog's ear, they cause a lot of trouble: your dog will have terrible itching in his ears.
How does a dog get ear mites?
Ear mites are especially common in puppies and more so if there are poorer hygienic conditions in the nest. Ear mites are highly contagious, and a puppy naturally stays in the nest with all its siblings, increasing the risk of infection. Also, for example, in a shelter or a rescue center, where many dogs are in a small area, a dog is more likely to get ear mites than if it only occasionally comes into contact with other dogs.
Symptoms of ear mites in dogs
Recognizing ear mites is not difficult: if your dog suffers from ear mites, the main symptom is itching in the ears. Because ear mites are so contagious in dogs, they almost always occur in both ears. If you have more animals at home, they may also show symptoms. Your dog will scratch its ears or rub its head against the couch or floor. Shaking the head and holding it tilted are also common. Scratching can even lead to a hotspot on the cheek: a fiery, often moist spot where the skin is broken.
On the inside of the ear, you may notice that the skin is very red, possibly a bit swollen, and you'll probably also see earwax. The ear may smell bad.
The symptoms of ear mites in dogs are very similar to the symptoms of an ear infection caused by bacteria or yeasts, for example. Itching in the ears can also be caused by an allergy, such as atopy. The final diagnosis will be made by your veterinarian by seeing the mites moving with an otoscope (a device with which the vet can examine your dog's ear canal) or seeing the mites under the microscope.
Treating ear mites in dogs
The treatment of ear mites involves three pillars:
- The use of a product against ear mites that kills the mites.
- Cleaning the ear canal.
- Addressing any concurrent ear infection and ear pain.
The ear mites can be tackled by administering an antiparasitic agent to the back of your dog's neck. The dead ear mites and possibly earwax can be removed from the ear canal by using an ear cleaner like Cleanaural Sensitive or Epi-Otic Ear Cleaner.
If the ear canal is inflamed or there is also an infection with bacteria and/or yeasts, an ear ointment will be needed. In very mild cases, you can treat the inflammation caused by ear mites yourself with Dermiel ear drops, ear drops based on honey. In more severe cases, an ear ointment with an antibiotic and/or an agent against yeasts and an anti-inflammatory is necessary. If your dog is in a lot of pain, a painkiller is indicated.
If your dog is having trouble with his ears, a visit to the vet is always recommended. After all, it is necessary to investigate the exact cause. An infection with ear mites in dogs is annoying, but fortunately very treatable, and the chance of recurrence is, unlike ear infections based on an allergy, very small.
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