There are several different kinds of ear mites, and they affect both cats and dogs. Fortunately, the treatment is the same regardless of the species of the mites. If you suspect your cat has ear mites, it is important you treat your cat as soon as possible to get rid of the mites. Ear mites invade the ear canal of cats, causing discomfort, itching, bleeding and can lead to hearing loss if left untreated.
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Symptoms
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Check the symptoms. Watch your cat carefully if you suspect ear mites. Your veterinarian will want to know what kind of symptoms your cat has been suffering. For example, your cat will probably shake her head and scratch at her ear often. Examine the inside of the ear closely. You might see brown gunk or what looks like dried coffee grounds. This is actually dried blood and a positive sign of ear mites.
Confirmation
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Take your cat to the veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis of ear mites. Your vet will examine the inner ear with an instrument called a lighted otoscope. If the doctor still does not see any signs of mites, he will probably swab the cat's ear and examine the contents of the swab under a microscope. The vet may also examine the cat's body for signs of mites, as ear mites can also appear on other parts of the body, causing scratching and open sores.
Treatment
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If your cat does have ear mites, your veterinarian will thoroughly clean out your cat's ears, then treat them with a liquid medication. This medication will be prescribed to you, and you will have to continue the treatment at home. Depending on the severity of the mite infection, the treatment could last up to four weeks. Usually, the ears must be treated once per day. It is also important to treat the cat's body, in the event the mites have moved to other areas and in particular the tail. This can be done by bathing the cat with any commercial flea shampoo. Ear mites do not live long once off the body of the cat, so you do not have to treat areas of the house such as rugs, furniture and other areas the cat frequents.
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