Ear mites, or Otodectes cynotis, are minuscule parasites that can cause a lot of discomfort in your otherwise happy dog or cat. Once in the ears, the mites can also spread to a dog or cat's neck, hindquarters and tail. A dog or cat that is infested with ear mites will incessantly scratch at its ears, which can lead to cuts and infection. It is possible to treat these parasites at home with proper cleaning and medication.
Things You'll Need
- Cotton balls
- Cotton swabs
- Ear mite medication
- Hand soap
- Flea spray
- Washer
- Laundry soap
Instructions
Gently pull your pet's ear flap back to expose the inner ear canal and the cartilage of the his ear flap.
Remove the mites and any debris from the dog or cat's ear flap and cartilage with a cotton ball that is has been soaked in water.
Clean out mites and debris from the folds of your pet's ears with a cotton swab that has been dipped in water.
Place the ear mite medication into the outer opening of the pet's ear canal. Work the medication into the pet's ears with your fingers for a few seconds. This medication can be purchased through your veterinarian's office without a prescription. Although gloves are not required to handle the medication, wash your hands after coming in contact with the animal's ears and the medication.
Repeat this process once a day until there are no signs of mites, and for two weeks after that.
Kill any mites on your pet's body with flea spray. Make sure to avoid getting any spray into the pet's eyes, ears and nose. Spray the pet daily for three weeks, which is the entire life cycle of the mite. Pets that have an ear mite infection on their body will begin scratching and gnawing at the areas that the mites generally infest, such as the tail, hindquarters and neck.
Wash the pet's bedding on the "hot" cycle with regular laundry detergent. Allow it to air dry. Wash the bedding once a week for three weeks.