Ear mites are tiny white insects that live in the ear canal. They most commonly find their way into the ears of cats, dogs, and other small and furry animals.
Humans are rarely affected by these insects. If you have reason to believe that you have somehow contracted the infection however, you will want to visit your doctor to get it treated. Ear mites luckily do not burrow into the skin and so an infection of the ear canal is the only result.
Animals contract these mites through direct contact with another animal that already has the infection. This infection is very quickly spread so even brief contact can result in a transfer. Animals who live or go outdoors are the most likely to become infected. An untreated case of ear mites will lead to other skin infections, and eventual deafness.
The symptoms of infection are highly recognizable. The most telltale sign is the appearance of dark crumbly dirt in the ears. If you look closely, you may even see tiny white mites among this dirt. Other signs of ear infection include scratching, shaking of the head, sores in the area of the ears and the mouth, and imbalance.
If your animal does not go outdoors, and has not had contact with other animals but still shows some or all of these symptoms, they most likely are suffering from something else and should not be put through what will turn out to be an ineffective treatment. A visit to the vet is recommended to discover the cause of the symptoms. Be wary if your animal did not have contact with another animal that could have given them the infection, and the vet diagnoses ear mites.
The infection is treated relatively simply. The vet can provide you with an anti-parasitic treatment that will kill the mites. The ears should be cleaned by removing any debris and then the treatment should be applied. There is also an oral and an injection treatment available.
Topical treatments that are available over-the-counter can also be found. These tend to be of an older variety and take much longer to work. They do not kill incubating mites and so these treatments must last at least 21 days, the entire life cycle of the insect. In contrast, topical treatments gotten through prescription only take up to ten days, and there are also several one day treatment options via this route.
It is important that treatment follows discovery relatively quickly. Swift action will prevent further complications and more expensive treatments.
Darn those ear mites! They won’t stop nipping. Wait, with the right treatment for ear mites, you can put a stop to them. Listen to your pet and get help.
