No one wants to see their dog unhappy and in distress, right? These pets are humans’ best friends, and no owner can stand seeing their dog suffer. So, to avoid putting your dog in any life-threatening situation, you must seek veterinary advice to get effective treatment.
However, you can look for some home treatments to remove mites from your pet’s ears when it comes to dog ear mites. Ear mites in dogs are not an uncommon scenario, so there are many ways to treat them without using ear mite medications. So, to keep their dogs healthy, owners could use some of these natural remedies and then check the dog’s ears regularly.
In the following article, you will learn various ways to diagnose ear mites, recognize the common symptoms, treat them at home, and avoid these highly contagious parasites in your dogs.
Dog’s Ears Mites – What Are They?
A dog’s ear mite is a parasite that lives in the dog’s ear canal and the skin surface. Ear mites are part of the Psoroptidae family. These parasites live only on the skin surface and do not burrow into it. They officially go by the name Otodectes cyanotic, and the naked eye cannot see them since they are long, only 1-2 millimeters (you can see them only under a microscope).
Ear mites can appear in young puppies, older dogs, cats, rabbits, and other animals. You will notice that an ear mite infection will make your dog scratch itself, shake or have a dark discharge in the ears.
They are not deadly (unlike ticks and heartworms). However, they can disturb your furry friend. Therefore, treating ear mites in the early phase is crucial.
Ear mites are tiny; you will probably not see them at all. So, consulting a licensed veterinarian to confirm the ear mite infestation might be the best move.
Ear mites are not only highly contagious but also very common, so as a pet owner, you will most likely face the itchy ears problem someday sooner or later.
The best thing about these mites (if there is something positive about them) is that they do not bite or burrow the dog’s ears, unlike other parasites such as spiders, scorpions, and ticks. However, the worst thing is that they can cause a lot of trouble if you leave them untreated in the dog’s ear canal.
How Can You Spot Dog Ear Mites?
The first thing you will notice if your dog has an ear mite is that it will constantly be itching. An infected dog will also shake its head, scratch the ears repeatedly, and have a terrible odor from the ears. Also, a mite ear infection would make the dog produce a dark discharge.
Observe the area around one ear and then inspect the other ear. Do you notice any scratches, bumps, or other appearance changes in the ears? You can also spot these scratches around the neck and trail, together with a skin infection.
However, be careful since other ear infections can look similar to ear mites and confuse you.
Common Ear Mites Signs
These are the most common ear mites signs:
- Itching
- Scratching
- Head shaking
- Ear inflammation
- A foul odor and brown discharge
- Ear bleeding
- Inside ear reddening
- Bumps in the ear canals
- Shaking and irritability when you touch the ears
Who And What Can Cause Ear Mites?
The easiest way for your dog to get ear mites is to be in contact with other pets that already had the mites. So, to prevent ear mites, never let your dog keep up with other dogs that have mites.
Dogs love to roam, and if you met a lot of pets during your park visit, including other dogs and outdoor cats, you have a significant mites cause.
Since dogs can get pesky mites very quickly, you should get familiar with how mites work. Mites have short lives (3-5 weeks). Unfortunately, female mites can lay eggs very early (at three weeks), so the eggs can quickly turn into adult mites. The female mite secretion helps the eggs attach to the ear canal walls. So, these new mites can live for about two months. Then, they use the dog’s skin and debris as food, making the dog itch and feel irritated.
Because they are contagious, mites can go from one pet to another through physical contact. The bad news is your dog will have physical contact with many other pets without you knowing if the other pet has an ear infection.
The Real Question – How To Treat Ear Mites Once Your Dog Has Them?
So, once you have a vet diagnose ear mites in your dog, you can choose two ways to heal them. You can ask the vet for specific commercial products and prescriptions or use home remedies and other natural, effective treatments.
If you want to use a natural antiseptic, some essential oils, and go the home remedy style, these are the best ear mites remedies.
1. Olive Oil
Olive oil is a natural oil that can help your dog get rid of ear mites. Just clean the ear and the entire ear canal with olive oil and remove as much debris as possible. The oil will asphyxiate the mites, so to heal your dog thoroughly, repeat the treatment every three days for two weeks.
Since most mites hatch new eggs every four days, using olive oil every third day would destroy the mites.
Mix it with some essential oils to enhance olive oil effects and speed up the process. For example, add Calendula, peppermint, catnip, or hypericum.
However, if you want to ensure that the oil will destroy the mites, you can add it every night in your dog’s ear for a month. Once you put the olive oil in the dog’s ear, all the adult mites will die overnight. If you continue to use the oil, all the new mites will also drown in the poured oil in the future.
2. Green Tea
Since green tea is a natural antiseptic, it will remove any ear mites in dogs and remove all the dark brown debris from their ears.
To do this, take a tea bag and place it in hot water (or a tablespoon of green tea). Steep it for a few moments, strain it and then let it cool. Next, put three tea drops in each infected ear with a dropper. Next, massage the ears. Finally, take a cotton ball, put it in the tea, and then wipe the ears with it from inside. Repeat the process for about four weeks.
Green tea can flush out all the debris and remove the black stuff clogged in the ear canal. Also, if you do an antiseptic tea rinse for a while, mites in dogs will no longer appear.
3. Garlic Oil
To remove mites in dogs, you can also use garlic oil. Yes, it will produce its smell, and you might be disgusted, but you must help your canine friend. Garlic has sulfur, which is a real turn-off for parasites. They hate it and will not dwell in places where it is present.
Garlic helps other infections, too, since it has antifungal and antibacterial effects.
If you wonder how to find garlic oil, all the markets have it. Also, if you want to make it yourself, you can do this by crushing a couple of garlic cloves and mixing them with a cup of olive oil.
Leave the mix to rest overnight. Then, remove the garlic cloves and put the oil in a jar. Once the treatment is ready, put it in the dog’s ears twice a day. Since garlic naturally kills all the bacteria, it is a perfect home remedy for ear mites, although a little bit smelly.
4. Coconut Oil
You can use coconut oil to clean your dog’s ears from the ear mites. Similar to other oils, coconut oil is antibacterial and antiviral. Because of these properties, coconut oil can also work as an ear mites treatment.
Applying coconut oil to the skin can remove any unwanted microorganisms. In addition, coconut oil has lauric acid, which helps it fight and remove harmful bacteria.
So, first, add a small amount of oil to the ear canal to clean the ear. The coconut oil will bother and destroy any mites in the ear. Repeat the process for a few days to help the oil remove all the newborn and adult mites.
A few drops of this oil smooth the ear and decrease the itchiness in the ear. It will then clear the infection and kill the mites. Coconut oil has the power to keep the dog’s ears clean and healthy.
Eat infections can lead to hearing loss and can be painful, so using coconut oil will treat the condition and reduce the pain in the eardrum.
5. Mineral Oil
A few drops of mineral oil can solve the ear mites problem. Mineral oil is a standard treatment for cats, so it can work for dogs, too, suffocating the boring tiny parasites.
Repeat the method every day for about a month. By this time, the problem should be over. Remember to use a cotton ear swab to wipe the area around the ear to ensure no more mites are around.
Two to three mineral oil drops into the ear canal will solve the problem. Once you apply the drops, massage the medicated ear for a few minutes. This action will not only destroy the mite but will also soften the dried blood.
Apply the oil with a needle-less syringe. Do not worry if the dog shakes the oil out because the needed amount will remain inside. Instead, massage as much of it as possible and let it enter the ear.
Rub a cotton ball with mineral oil on the inside of the ears and close the ear with your hand for a few minutes.
This way, the dog will not shake out all the oil. Then, the oil will soften the residue and kill the bacteria.
Next, with a q tip, take the residue out of the ears. You should put the used q tips in a cup of oil so they will not escape.
6. Vinegar
It is no wonder that vinegar appears on the list since it seems to be the best cure for everything. However, when using vinegar for ear mites or an ear infection, you must not use it undiluted. Instead, mix it with water and only then drop it in the ears.
Use this method for about twenty days to fully treat the mites. Also, wipe the canal with a cotton swab once you finish the process.
You can use either white vinegar or apple cider to treat mites. You should blend one part of vinegar with one cup of water once you drop it in the ear; massage the ear from the outside to ensure the mix gets in.
7. Honey
Since honey has various uses, you can also use it to help your dog get rid of the ear mite. At least honey will smell better than garlic or vinegar.
Honey has antiseptic abilities and can help suffocate the ear mites in dogs. Honey could be the perfect choice for treatment if your dog’s ears are sensitive and the ear canals are problematic.
Other remedies can lead to more irritation or an open wound. In addition, some more severe treatments can cause further damage if your dog has scratches or red spots. That is why honey might be the best option for natural medicine.
To treat ear infections with honey, mix a cup of water with two teaspoons. Combine them and mix them until they are blended thoroughly. Then, drop two drops of the mix into the ears. Finally, with a cotton swab, wipe the area around the canal.
Repeat the treatment twice a day for a month.
8. Hydrogen Peroxide
Yes, hydrogen peroxide is on the list for ear mites treatments. However, you must use it cautiously and never let it near the eyes, mouth, or nose. Direct contact can lead to blindness.
Mix one part of the peroxide with one piece of water. Take a Q tip and dip it in the mix. With the soaked Q tip, clean the ear canal.
You can use the hydrogen peroxide treatment once a day for a week. However, you might need to consult the vet for further advice if there is an additional parasite or yeast infection.
Can You Use Tea Tree Oil To Get Rid Of Ear Mites?
Although tea tree oil can help reduce swelling and kill mites in dogs, it is questionable whether you should use it in the ear. Therefore, it is not advisable to use tea tree oil for dogs, put it in their ears, or let the dog take it internally.
Yes, tea tree oil is antifungal and antibacterial, but its strong properties can cause even more itching and burning in the infected ear.
Although many ear cleaners have a small amount of tea tree oil, these portions are tiny and not harmful.
The natural tea tree oil can be toxic to pets, so make sure you dilute it if you use it for ear mites in dogs.
Prevention For Ear Mites In Dogs
There is no straightforward answer to whether you can prevent ear mites in dogs because these parasites travel from one animal to another very quickly, and your dog can get them from any infected pet it encounters.
However, there are some things dog owners can do to help their dogs avoid these boring parasites. Ear mites in dogs are common, but if you keep your dog in its best health condition, it will not catch them very often.
Several Ways To Avoid Ear Mites In Dogs
This way you can prevent mites in dogs:
- Regular vet visits and keeping the dog healthy’;
- Healthy food and raw diet;
- Instead of drugs, use natural remedies;
- Use natural shampoo for bathing the dog;
- Use natural cleaners and fragrances in your house;
- Avoid using lawn chemicals in the garden.
Ear Mites In Dogs FAQs
Should I Clean My Dog’s Ears?
Some vets might advise you to check the ears daily but clean them monthly. However, it is not advisable to clear them every day because it can disrupt the healthy bacteria in the dog’s ears.
Even if some debris shows up, it will most likely clean itself. So, unless you see some real signs that your dog has ear mites trouble, let the dog live its life. Also, try not to take your dog to places filled with cats that could have ear mites.
What Can Regular Ear Mites Medication Include?
If you still decide to go to the vet, the treatment can include:
- Some products for the dog’s skin.
- The inside of the ear.
- An oral pill.
- Even some injections.
Of course, each dog is different, and the vet will decide what medication you should give your dog.
What Natural Remedy Will Instantly Kill Ear Mites In Dogs?
Olive oil, coconut oil, or mineral oil will instantly kill ear mites in your dog. They all have antibacterial properties, so whatever you choose to use, make sure you repeat it enough so that it kills all the unwanted mites.
Final Thoughts
Home remedies for ear mites in dogs are always a better alternative than harsh medications. When dealing with an ear mite-infested dog, try using the recommended options to heal the dog. Whether it is mineral oil, olive oil, coconut, or honey, they all have the same goal – to remove the parasites from the ear and help your dog lead a carefree life.
Related topic: Bloody diarrhea in dogs
*photo by Angurt – depositphotos