Ear mite

Introduction
“Ear mite” is a problem which plays an important role with both young dogs and cats during and just after the nesting period. It is caused by mites, Otodectes cynotis, which can only be transferred through direct contact between animals and which are very contagious. Infection may lead to an allergic reaction, which causes severe itch.
With human beings an infection usually has the result that small, itchy little lumps arise on arms and stomach. This only happens after long-lasting contact with an infected animal, for example children who have held their kitten or puppy in the arms during a long time. An American veterinarian has placed 2 ear mites in his auditory duct for an experiment. He could feel and hear the mites walking in the auditory duct. The ear started to itch and became very painful. At night the itch and pain became so serious that he couldn’t sleep anymore. This lasted more than a week. Then, the complaints decreased. Attention: he had 2 mites in his auditory duct; most pets have tens or hundreds!

What do you see?
• Your pet can shake with his head
• You usually see dark brown earwax in the auditory duct
• The animal scratches his ears a lot
• Wounds can arise on the auricles

 
Diagnosis
The veterinarian will make a diagnosis based on the complaints and on examination of the auditory duct. Usually, he can see the mites with the otoscope. Sometimes, you must examine some earwax under the microscope. Attention! You may not confuse things: if you have ear mites you have a lot of earwax, but if you have a lot of earwax you don’t have to have ear mites! (also check my other article concerning ear problems)
Therapy
• Rinsing the ears with water until you don’t see any earwax n the auditory ducts anymore
• Injection with ivermectine can be sufficient
• Certain ear salves kill mites
• Stronghold © is also effective (also against round-worms, flees, flea eggs and larva’s)
• Sometimes the itch is that bad that prednisone has to be given during a couple of days.

As you might see, there are a number of medicines which help. Usually, the complaints disappear fast.