Could Your Dog Have Ear Mites?

If so…how do you deal with them?

Does your dog seem to be scratching his/her ears more than normal and with more intensity than normal? You might want to consider the likelihood that she could have an ear infection or ear mites. (Let me say that this isn’t medical advice for your dog or to help you make a diagnosis, but rather good information to help you recognize that your dog may need to see your vet.)

Ear mites are tiny, eight-legged little parasites, similar to a small spider, and make their home just under the skin

What are symptoms of ear mites to watch for?

Ear mites are very contagious and are commonly found in our feline friends, but they can infect our canine friends very easily. (Luckily we humans seem to be immune to them). Because young puppies haven’t built up their immune system, they are easy targets for ear mite infestations.

Things to pay attention to are:

• Shaking their head constantly
• Scratching and/or rubbing their ears in excess (they can scratch so much and so hard that they can cause scratches and sores on the inside and back of the ears)
• You may notice a strong odor coming from the ears
• Dark brown crusty build-up in the ears (this is often the giveaway symptom)

Because ear mites are a common occurrence, you may think they aren’t very serious, but, aside from the very real discomfort your dog is feeling, left untreated complications can develop.

• Due to the excessive scratching and head shaking, the ear flap can become swollen, develop sores, infection and become very painful. It can get so bad that a hematoma forms (caused from broken blood vessels), that surgery is required for the dog to to return to good health.
• They cause ear infections.
• They can cause damage to the ear canal and the eardrums which could lead to deafness.

How to treat ear mites…

There are many home remedies and even some over the counter remedies you can try if you think there are ear mites present. But remember, there can be other problems involved and you haven’t been trained to diagnose or treat. Take your dog in for an exam and proper treatment by your vet and avoid making mistakes that can cause your dog a lot of discomfort.

Once your dog has been treated and is back to good ear health, cleaning her ears on a regular basis would be a very good idea to help prevent a re-occurrence.

For all your doggie daycare needs, Contact BowWow Fun Towne, you’ll find plenty of great activity and exercise here to help keep your dog happy while you’re away.