Ear mites or, scientifically speaking, Otodectes cynotis, are tiny, parasitic organisms that can live in the ear canals of dogs and often cause ear infections. Dogs with long, floppy ears are the most susceptible. If your dog shakes his head or frequently scratches or paws at his ears, ear mites may be the cause. A foul odor in the ears is another sign, as is excess debris in the ears. Yellow debris indicates a yeast infection, while black debris is indicative of ear mites.
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Medications
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Several medications are available for the treatment of ear mites. Some must be prescribed by a veterinarian, while others may be purchased online at sites such as 1800petmeds.com. Medications that are used to treat ear mites include thiabendazole, pyrenthrins, ivermectin and rotenone. Some treatments are topical and are applied directly to the ear, while others may be administered orally or via an injection (the latter must be done in a veterinarian's office). If you're using a topical cream or ointment, clean your dog's ears of excess wax, dirt and debris before applying the medication.
Vinegar &Water
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To clear your dog's ears of black debris, mix equal parts of vinegar and water, and place a few drops of this mixture into your dog's ears. (Warning: Don't use vinegar if you notice any sores in your dog's ears.) Your dog will shake his head, which is beneficial, because it loosens the ear wax and makes it easier to remove. Next, wrap a piece of cotton around your finger, and insert it as far into the ear as you can (do not insert cotton swabs into your dog's ears---use these only to clean the outer ear). Repeat these steps until the ears appear clear of debris.
Holistic Oils
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Oils kill ear mites by cutting off their air supply, suffocating them. One oil-based remedy consists of soaking 4 cloves garlic in 1 cup olive oil overnight. Remove the garlic, and place 5 or 6 drops of the oil in the ear twice a day for 7 to 10 days. Alternatively, use a mixture of almond oil or olive oil and vitamin E (vitamin E can be obtained by squeezing the oil found in soft vitamin E capsules). Apply this mixture every other day for 6 days. Yellow dock is an herb that can be effective in killing ear mites. The herb can be steeped in water or added to olive oil, and then applied with an ear dropper. It should be administered every 3 days for 4 weeks.
Warm the oil to body temperature (especially if you store it in the refrigerator), and place a few drops of the mixture in the dog's ears. Wait for the dog to shake his head, and clean the outer ear with a cotton swab.
Prognosis
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Ear mites are curable, but they can be difficult to eliminate if treatment instructions are not followed precisely. They become increasingly difficult to treat, the farther they burrow into the ear. Always use medications as directed for the entire length of time indicated, even if symptoms appear to have subsided.
It's possible for ear mites to leave a dog's ears, only to take up residence elsewhere on the dog's body and wait until the way is clear to infect the ears yet again. This can be prevented by applying an anti-parasitic or insecticide powder to the dog's entire body during the course of treatment.
Prevention
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Hair in dog's ears can create a perfect environment for ear mites. To discourage this, pluck the hair in your dog's ears. Before doing so, cover the base of the hairs to be plucked with dog ear powder. Remove the hairs with tweezers, much the same way you might pluck your eyebrows.
Ear mites can spread from one dog to another, so if you know that one dog has ear mites, treat all other dogs with which it has come in contact. Don't let your dog associate with other pets until the problem has cleared up.
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