Our pets might have been plagued by these annoying little parasites that thrive inside our adorable pets’ ears , and we were clueless as to what they really were...Oh well, learning is a continuous process.
Pet lovers out there, read this and arm yourself with information on how to win the battle against the mighty ear mites and keep our lovable pets ear mite-free for as long as we could.
Your battle against ear mites begins today...
Happy reading! I hope you learn something from this compilation.
In addition to the information below, you may also share what you know about ear mites and the remedies (natural remedies are more encouraged!) that actually worked for you! Please feel free to write a comment after this article.
WHAT ARE EAR MITES?
Ear mites are blood-sucking parasites that live inside the ears of your dogs. The presence of ear mites in your pets is a major health concern because it can lead to a more severe problem such as deafness.
THE 3 MAIN CAUSES OF EAR MITES
1. Poor Hygiene
Mites can thrive almost anywhere. For as long as a mite has a body to live on, these organisms will multiply. If your dog is not groomed or at least given a bath regularly, it becomes very susceptible to ear mites. To make sure that your pet is free from these parasites, give it a bath daily and take it to the grooming center regularly.
2. Transfer
If one of your dogs is infested with ear mites, mere association with your other pets will cause them suffer from the same disease. Ear mites are highly contagious. They can transfer from one host to the other. So if your dog has ear mites, don't let your cat, ferret, or rabbit go near it. As much as possible, keep your pets in their proper cages up until the condition is cured.
3. Dirty Surroundings
If your dog has ear mites, you should make it a point that you always clean its cage or kennel regularly. If it uses bedding, change it often. This is true for cats as well. Keep its litter clean so that mites won't be able to reproduce as much. Ear mites are tiny insects. They have the ability to live outside of your pet's body for a specified period of time. You want to get rid of them immediately so that other pets won't be affected.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DOG EAR MITES?
1. Scratching
If your dog tends to scratch its ears a lot, there is a high chance that it has ear mites. Scratching is a normal activity in pets. However, if your dog does it to the extent that its ears are getting sore because of the habit, it ceases to be a normal occurrence. You have to further check your dog against the other symptoms listed here.
2. Slightly tilted head
Dogs suffering from a bad case of ear mite infestation will definitely feel uncomfortable with their condition. Most of these dogs end up tilting their head to one side. They do this because they try to shake the mites out of their ears. However, tilting the head is not in any way helpful, and only the right medicines can successfully eliminate these parasites.
3. Too much head shaking
Dogs will try to shake their heads in an attempt to free their ears of mites. This move is yet caused by the discomfort that these parasites bring. If your pet shakes its head very frequently, the chances are high that its ears are infested with mites and you might have to take it to the veterinarian very soon.
4. Ear odor
Ear mites feed on the fluids found in the ears. As such, it is possible that your dog's ears will smell bad. Inspect your dog's ear after every bath. It should be free from mucus and should not have even a slight smell of foul odor.
5. Ear discharge
It is normal for the ears of your dog to be a little moist. However, if there are some discolored discharges in the ear, the chances are high that your pet is suffering from an ear mite problem. Take your pet to the veterinarian so that the real cause of the discharge is determined. There are other health concerns associated with discolored ear discharges, and ear mites is just one of them.
NATURAL REMEDIES AGAINST EAR MITES
Before starting any ear mite remedy, please make sure to clean your pet’s ears first to relieve some of the discomfort.
Right now, I use apple cider vinegar and alcohol, mixed in equal parts, as my cleaning mixture. I put 3-4 drops in their ear canal and massage their ears at the base. They will shake eventually and those deeply impacted dirt will loosen up. Voila, now I am ready to clean with my cotton ball. My pets do not have ear mites, but I have decided to use this as my ear cleaner. If you do not have acv and alcohol, you may also use vinegar and water, mixed in equal parts.
Another alternative that you may use is olive oil. A few drops into the ear canal, a little massage, a little shake and your cotton ball...
Now, after cleaning the ears, let us start killing the mites...Here are some natural remedies.
1. OLIVE/ALMOND OIL AND VITAMIN E
Squeeze the vitamin E found inside those soft capsules and mix it with half ounce of olive/almond oil. Warm it a little until it matches the dog's body temperature. Use a dropper and put about half its contents into the ears of your dog. Let it shake its head right after. Clean the outer ear with a cotton swab. Apply the mixture every other day within 6 days for the best effect.
2. YELLOW DOCK
Yellow dock is an herb that can kill mites. Yellow dock can be made into a strong tea or added to olive oil. Apply it in the same way as described above. As for dosage, apply the solution once every 3 days for 4 weeks.
3. MULLEIN FLOWERS
This natural remedy for ear mites may require some time for preparation. You're going to need two tablespoons of dried or fresh mullein flowers and a good amount of olive oil. You can buy mullein flowers from health food stores. Put the flowers in a cooker, add olive oil, and cover. Heat the mixture on low heat for six hours. Let it cool. Strain it thoroughly. Keep the oil in the refrigerator for a month. Only after than period can you use the solution. Apply several drops of oil inside the ears of your dog. Try to warm the oil first to body temperature for best results.
4. GARLIC OIL
Crush 4 cloves of garlic. Add the garlic into a cup of olive oil. Store it in a sealed container. Let it stand for a day or two. Strain out the garlic. Heat the oil over low heat. Use a dropper, fill it with oil, and put half of it into your dog's ear.
If you need more information on this, please visit –
Dog ear mites causes - What causes ear mites in dogs?
Home Remedies to Cure Ear Mites in Cats and Dogs on Earth Clinic, Your Source for Natural Cures!
Ear mites 101: Your battle against ear mites begins today!!!
Originally Posted by k9
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