Signs of Ear Mites

An ear mite, or Otodectes cynotis, is a mite that lives on the surface of the ear canal in dogs and cats. It can also live on other areas of the animal's body or elsewhere in the environment. Ear mites are highly communicable and are transferred through direct contact from animal to animal.

  1. Head Shaking

    • One of the first signs that your pet may be infested with ear mites is head shaking. You may notice your pet shaking its head a lot when it is running, walking, or just playing. Severe shaking of the head can cause hematomas, which are broken blood vessels that cause swelling underneath the skin that sometimes require surgery to remove.

    Scratching

    • If your pet is scratching a lot at its ears, this is another sign of a possible infestation of ear mites. The wax building up inside of its ears makes them itch as well as the movement of the ear mites living inside. Scratching also leads to sores and scabs on the inside of their ears that could lead to infection.

    Foul Odor

    • A foul yeasty odor coming from inside your pet's ear is a telling sign that it is infested with ear mites. The waxy buildup is caused by the ear canal in an attempt to remove the pesky bugs on its own; this creates the bad odor. There may also be a clear or yellow discharge, which is a sign of infection causing the odor as well. Cleaning the wax out of your pet's ear will help in removing the smell for a short time, but a full treatment to rid the of ear mites is necessary to remove it completely.

    Laid Back Ears

    • Cats, as well as dogs, will sometimes lay their ears back or flatten them when infected with ear mites. The ears may be extremely sensitive and hurt when touched. This is usually caused from her scratching her ears in an attempt to get rid of the ear mites.

    Visual Indications

    • A few visual indications that you may see in determining if your pet has an infestation of ear mites is a yellow or clear discharge and a brownish-red waxy buildup that looks much like coffee grounds. This buildup consists of wax, ear mites and dried blood and should be cleaned as soon as possible. Sores in and around the ear canal or bloody scabs may also be visible.