What To Treat Ear Mites In Dogs

Can dogs transmit ear mites to humans?

Yes, an infected dog can transmit ear mites to people. Although it’s uncommon, it is feasible. More commonly than not, ear mites from a contagious dog infect other pets in the house.

The effectiveness of natural treatments for dog ear mites has not been studied. You should always see your veterinarian before receiving a prescription for medication because there are several easily available, efficient treatments.

Although it’s believed that tea tree oil has some antibacterial and antifungal characteristics, it can burn and sting an infected ear and even damage your dog’s eardrum.

Instead, you should ask your veterinarian to recommend one of the safe, effective treatments for canine ear mites.

Utilizing hydrogen peroxide on swollen ears can be excruciatingly unpleasant. It might also hinder healing. 5

Do not use hydrogen peroxide to treat dog ear mites as there is no animal data on its disinfecting abilities.

Numerous medications, including as Milbemite, Acarex, Tresaderm, Frontline, Ivermectin, Selamectin, Advantage Multi, Simparica, and Bravecto, are known to eradicate dog ear mites.

What home remedies can I use for my dog’s ear mites?

A natural home cure for dog ear mites should be taken into consideration because it can be created quickly and is less likely to harm your pet’s ears. The best natural home cures for dog ear mites are as follows:

Antiseptic Tea Rinse

Dog ear mites can be treated naturally with an antiseptic tea rinse using things you probably already have at home:

Green tea leaves should be given some time to brew in hot water. Just as long as it typically takes to brew a cup of tea will do.
Make sure it reaches room temperature.
Put the stuff in your dog’s ear and flush it.
Once per day for a month, repeat this.

Oil Treatment

To get rid of these pests, apply an oil treatment. Garlic is dangerous to dogs, therefore you must be careful and adhere to the rules while using natural medicines.

Garlic gloves should be crushed and then left in oil overnight.
Garlic should be taken out of the oil.
For a month, use the solution to once daily flush your dog’s ears.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Since apple cider vinegar eliminates all bacteria, it is a fantastic remedy for issues with a dog’s ear. However, if your dog’s ear has grown too inflamed, you shouldn’t use vinegar because it might hurt.

Water and vinegar should be combined at a proportion of one to one.
Put the mixture into a cotton ball or a syringe.
Put some in your dog’s ear or clean up the ear canal with the ball.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a fantastic natural treatment for many issues that affect dogs, and it works especially well to get rid of ear mites.

Melt two fresh garlic cloves in a saucepan with the coconut oil.
The material should be added to a syringe after cooling.
Depending on the size of your dog, administer two to three drops of the mixture in its ear.

Calendula

Animal diseases are frequently treated with calendula, an all-natural medicine. Although it is a little more difficult to locate in nature, you can simply buy it already prepared and omit the first two procedures.

Four days of olive oil soaking for the leaves.
To get the leaves out of the mixture, strain it.
Put a few drops of this in your dog’s ear using a syringe.
A cotton ball can also be used for this solution.

Mullein

Another organic plant with antibacterial properties is mullein. Although it takes a little longer to make, the process is identical to that of calendula.

Put the leaves in olive oil to soak. If you have any extra garlic cloves, you may also add one or two.
For two to three weeks, soak this.
Apply the liquid in the same manner as calendula after straining the mixture.

Oregano Oil

Although oregano is great in Italian food, it may also be used to clean your dog’s ears.

Half an ounce of pure aloe vera juice should be combined with one drop of oregano oil.
Apply a few drops of this using a syringe or clean your dog’s ears with cotton wool soaked in the substance.

Olive Oil

Even if you are unable to locate any natural treatments to mix into oil to help cure dog ear mites, the oil itself can serve as a remedy:

For three to six weeks, put a few drops of oil in your dog’s ears every other night.
To avoid causing irritation, be careful to do this just every other night.

Baking Soda

Dogs with ear mites may benefit from the use of baking soda, but you should take care to prevent your dog from ingesting it.

One teaspoon of baking soda and one cup of warm water should be combined.
Use a cotton ball to soak this up and rub it in your dog’s ear.

Oregon Grape

The grape root is the source of Oregon grape. If used sparingly, it can be an efficient natural home cure for dog ear mites:

Give your dog’s ear one to ten drops of this.
Continue until all of the ear mites have been removed.

Hemp Infused Coconut Oil

The fantastic anti-ear mite properties of ordinary coconut oil are also present in hemp-infused coconut oil, plus a few more! The CBD component in hemp-infused coconut oil can reduce the discomfort and swelling brought on by ear mites. Therefore, although conventional coconut oil aids in the removal of ear mites, hemp-infused coconut oil actually lessens the uncomfortable sensations of ear mites at the same time! It truly offers a win-win situation. The directions for using coconut oil with hemp are the same as those for using plain coconut oil.

Do dog ear mites naturally disappear?

An ear mite’s life cycle typically lasts three weeks. Your dog may need to wait a few weeks before the little insects are completely gone because the treatment only kills mature mites while leaving eggs unharmed. But if you have patience, the symptoms will quickly go away when the drug begins to work.

Can peroxide be used to treat dog ear mites?

As dog owners, we are aware of how crucial it is to regularly clean our dogs’ ears. However, if our dogs aren’t trained to accept ear cleaning or if we don’t feel comfortable doing it, cleaning those ears can be difficult.

While some dogs naturally have clean, healthy ears and may hardly ever need to have them cleaned, other dogs need to have their ears cleaned frequently to avoid the buildup of dirt that can cause ear infections. All dog breeds are susceptible to ear infections, but those with long hanging ears, like Basset Hounds and Cocker Spaniels, are among the ones at the most risk.

You should frequently examine your dog’s ears to make sure they are healthy. If your dog pulls away from you, it could be because his ears are hurting even though he could prefer having them stroked when they’re healthy. Therefore, by gently stroking your dog’s ears, you may start evaluating their condition.

How to Tell When a Dog’s Ears Need Cleaning

Verify that your dog genuinely requires ear cleaning before pulling out the dog ear cleaner. Learn what a healthy, clean ear looks like (pink, odorless, and not dirty or inflamed) and smells like (not yeasty or stinky), and only clean your dog’s ears when you detect a change. Over-cleaning your dog’s ears can cause infection and irritation.

While some dogs only need their ears cleaned occasionally, others, including those who are prone to ear infections or those who spend a lot of time in the water, might. The Merck Veterinary Manual advises preventing water from entering the ear canals during bathing and applying topical astringents on dogs who frequently swim to keep the ear canals dry and well-ventilated.

It’s probably time for a cleaning if you smell a faint odor or see your dog moving his head more frequently than usual. Contact your veterinarian if your dog’s ear seems red and inflamed, smells funky, or if he shows signs of pain. These signs, which call for medical treatment, could point to allergies, fleas, ear mites, or ear infections. Frequently, cleaning an infected ear does more harm than good.

Ear-Cleaning Supplies

To successfully clean your dog’s ears, you just need a few tools: a cotton ball or piece of gauze, dog ear cleaning solution, and a towel. Avoid using anything with a pointed tip, including cotton-tipped swabs (Q-tips). These instruments may force dirt and other material deeper into your dog’s ears, increasing the risk of infection and even causing damage to the ear’s internal structures.

A word of caution: While easy, ear cleaning can be unpleasant. If your dog moves his head a lot while you’re cleaning his ears, you might want to do it in a restroom or another easily cleaned area.

Dog Ear-Cleaning Solutions

There are numerous homemade dog ear cleaning products available online. The safest option is to use ear cleaning products that have been recommended by veterinarians. Some homemade ear-cleaning remedies include poisonous or irritant substances. Others merely don’t do well.

Most veterinary clinics stock dog ear cleanser. As some products may be more advantageous for your dog’s unique needs than others, you can also consult your veterinarian for their recommendations.

How to Clean Dog Ears in 3 Easy Steps

Bring your dog and your supplies together. It will be simpler to clean your dog’s ears if you wait until he is calm. Don’t be hesitant to entice them with sweets.
Fill your dog’s ear canal with an ear cleaning solution that has been recommended by a veterinarian, then gently massage the base of the ear for about 30 seconds. As the product removes buildup and debris, you will hear a squishing sound. As touching your dog’s ear with the applicator tip could introduce bacteria, avoid doing so.
Give your dog a headshake. This is where the towel comes in; you may use it to clean his face and shield yourself from the spray. Once your dog has stopped shaking, carefully wipe out the ear canal with a cotton ball or piece of gauze, only going as deep as one knuckle. During the cleaning process, if your dog seems to be in pain, stop and call your veterinarian.

Should You Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Clean Dog Ears?

No. On your dog, avoid using hydrogen peroxide. In fact, this ubiquitous home item might irritate healthy skin cells. Hydrogen peroxide use over an extended period of time may eventually cause harm to the ear itself because ears contain very sensitive tissue. Use only cleaning products that have been recommended by veterinarians.

How to Clean Dog Ears: A Summary

Now that you understand how to clean dog ears, let’s review the fundamentals:

Understand the appearance and smell of a clean, healthy ear.
Following a bath, regularly check your dog’s ears.
Overly frequent ear cleaning can result in severe inflammation.
Use a dog ear cleaning product that has been approved by a veterinarian.
If you think your dog may have an ear infection, consult your veterinarian.

Maintaining your dog’s ears helps keep them free from infections. Regular ear checks will also help your dog become less sensitive to handling his ears and catch any further issues, like ear mites, before they worsen.

How do I take care of my dog’s ear mites without seeing the doctor?

Although holistic physicians concur that commercial medicines are effective, puppies with ear mite infections may also have other common health issues that require care. To get rid of the pests using more natural remedies and let the veterinarian handle other problems could be less distressing. The first step is to clean the ears using calming treatments.

Tea Rinse with Antiseptic. A natural antibacterial, green tea. It can be used to clear the puppy’s ear canal of all the crumbly brown or black ear mite detritus. A spoonful of green tea leaves should be steeped for three to four minutes in a cup of boiling water before being strained. Before applying it once per day for a month, allow it to cool to room temperature.
Oil Therapy. Oil can float particles out and relieve irritated ears. The mites may potentially be suffocated by oil. It actually doesn’t matter what sort of oil you use, but some holistic veterinarians advise using almond or olive oil. Crush a few garlic cloves in a cup of oil and let it sit overnight for the finest results. Bacteria that could emerge as a result of the mite infection are naturally killed by garlic. Before treating your puppy’s ears with the oil, don’t forget to remove the garlic. For at least a month, you must daily apply the oil/garlic solution to the ears.

How are ear mites removed?

Several wild cats from the neighborhood congregate in Sasha the Samoyed’s yard, where they enjoy to share their time, half-eaten mice, and ear mites. Sasha’s ears are now itchy, and tiny creatures are now creeping inside and around them.

Sasha’s owners must wipe out her ears as away and use medication or other methods to eliminate the mites before she develops inflamed ears that are vulnerable to infection or harm. Mites are exceedingly contagious among animals, prevalent in young dogs in particular, and usually acquired from cats. Fortunately, ear mites are not communicable to people and, if treated quickly, are typically not dangerous. Sasha’s ears will stop itching with a little care, as long as she doesn’t pick them up from the cats once more. Then then, you could want to catch and care for them as well!

Dog’s Perspective

If your dog has mites, you will notice him scratching at his ears and shaking his head. Mites in your dog’s ears are itchy. Additionally, you might see dark, crusty secretions in the ear that resemble coffee grounds, and your dog’s ear might swell up and turn red due to mite itchiness or scratching. The fluids frequently have a pungent, overpowering smell. When dogs have mites, they frequently develop allergic reactions, which makes them even more miserable. Where parasite infections are present, bacterial and fungal infections are also more likely, and scratching the ears can harm delicate ear tissues. It’s critical to clean and treat your dog’s ear mites as soon as possible to prevent such consequences.

The Alternate Natural Soltuions Method

Use a cotton ball and a generous amount of mineral oil to completely swab the inner ear flap and the dog’s ear canal, coating both in the mineral oil.

Mineral oil can be used to remove crusty buildup and suffocate mites by adding a few drops into the ear canal and leaving the oil there for a few hours.

With a clean cotton ball or a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger, wipe away any oil or debris.

Apply hydrogen peroxide to a cotton ball or piece of gauze on your finger and wipe out your dog’s ear canal after putting a vinegar and water solution into your dog’s ears.

Mix two ounces of water with two teaspoons of unpasteurized honey. Wipe up excess after injecting with a syringe into the ear. Repeat each day.

The Use Ear Cleaner Method

Drop some mineral oil or baby oil into your dog’s ears, and let it sit there for a few hours to soften any crust or discharge caused by ear mite activity.

To expose the ear canal, gently hold your dog’s ear out and fold back the ear flap.

Alternatively, use a homemade concoction of apple cider vinegar and water. Commercial ear cleaning solutions are available from veterinarians or veterinary supply stores. Use the included applicator or syringe to rinse out the oil, mites, crust, and debris. Permit the mixture to exit the ear.

Inject pyrethrin, an anti-parasitic drug that you can get from your veterinarian, into your dog’s ear. Repeat each day for a few days or as your veterinarian instructs. Treat diseased pets in your home as well as any additional animals. Alternately, you can use a topical drug that is absorbed through the skin and is available from your veterinarian to treat mites and other parasites.

Caution & Considerations

In case your dog moves and the applicator tip hurts the ear structures, avoid pointing applicators or syringes down into the ear canal. In order to prevent the instrument from entering the ear canal in the event that your dog suddenly moves, hold the syringe or applicator at an angle to the entrance of the ear canal.
Use cotton swabs outside of the ears.
Consult a veterinarian if there is considerable bleeding or odor to rule out bacterial or fungal infections or damage to the ear structure.
To handle infectious ear mites, administer oral or topical anti-parasitic medicine to other pets in the house.

Conclusion

Although annoying and irritating, ear mites are curable and typically not severe. If treated immediately, these widespread parasites infrequently result any problems. The source of infections should be identified, treated, or avoided if at all possible due to the infectious nature of ear mites. Other pets that have been exposed to ear mites will also require treatment. Several home therapies, such as mineral oil, vinegar and water solutions, and antiparasitic, fungal and bacterial honey applications, are useful for treating ear mites, as are cleaning the ear mites and detritus before to treatment with commercial medications. Keep an eye on your dog’s ear mite infection and get professional help if necessary.