Ear mites are tiny white insects that live in the ear canal. They most commonly find their way into the ears of cats, dogs, and other small and furry animals.
It is not common to find an infection of this type in humans. If it is suspected that you may have mites, visit your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Luckily if you do, they do not burrow and instead stay in the ear canal and feed off wax and skin oil.
Infection in animals is spread through direct contact with other infected animals. Outdoor pets are therefore the most commonly affected and infection spreads among animals very quickly. The mites, if untreated, will lead to a variety of health issues. These issues include skin diseases and infections in areas other than the ears as well as eventual deafness.
The symptoms are quite recognizable. The most commonly recognized feature is the appearance of dark and crumbly material in the ears. A close look may even result in finding the small white mites themselves amongst the debris. Incessant scratching, head shaking, imbalance, and the appearance of sores are other signs of this infection.
It is important to remember that even if these symptoms are present, if your pet has not come in contact with another and lives in doors, then it is likely they have some other type of medical problem. Your vet will be able to help you decipher the cause of the problem. Be sure to tell the vet that mites are very unlikely so that they do not automatically jump to this conclusion and prescribe and unnecessary and ineffective treatment.
Treatment of mites is relatively easy. Anti-parasitic treatments are the most popular. The ears need to be cleaned followed by application of the treatment. Vets can also supply injected treatments as well as oral medications.
Over-the-counter treatments can be found but they are the longest treatment option. These medications do not kill incubating eggs so the treatment will have to continue at least 21 days. If your pet is averse to medical treatments, this will be a long and uncomfortable time. Luckily prescription topical treatments only take about ten days and there are also several one time use products that are available from the vet that are effective.
This is a very uncomfortable infection to have as an animal and requires medical attention. It is important that it is treated relatively early in the infection so that complications do not manifest themselves as a more serious and more expensive medical problem for your pet.
Darn those nasty ear mites! They will not stop biting. Wait a second, with the right treatment for ear mites, you can put a stop to them. Listen to your pet and get help.
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