Ear mites can be detrimental to any dog's health. Ear mites can infect a dog at any age, however, it is fairly common for puppies to be affected. Understanding the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment as well as the causes of ear mites is important for any pet owner.
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Symptoms of Ear Mites
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One of the most common symptoms of ear mites is the black or sometimes dark red discharge that is often crusty. Your dog may also be scratching excessively at his ears and the ears will show other signs of irritation such as redness or swelling.
Additional symptoms may vary, because some dogs with severe ear mite infestations can develop secondary infections such as yeast infections, fungal infections and other bacterial infections within the ear and the ear canal.
Transfer and Age
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Ear mites commonly occur in puppies, because, unlike adult dogs, puppies have not had enough time to properly build up their immune system. Ear mites are highly contagious and can be transferred to almost any pet in the household, but not to humans.
In most cases, ear mites are transferred from the mother dog to the puppy. One puppy can spread ear mites to all of the litter mates. It is also possible for one puppy to pick up the mites in the environment and then transfer them to their litter mates.
Poor Hygiene
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Dogs who are not regularly groomed can become susceptible to ear mites. Regular bathing can help eliminate the chances of ear mites. Regular grooming can also be beneficial. Keeping your dog's environment clean and regular vacuuming can also aid in preventing ear mite contamination.
You should make it a point to wash your dog's bedding on a weekly basis. Clean any areas in which your dog may frequently sleep or relax. It is also beneficial to keep your dog on a monthly flea preventative. Many of these monthly flea medications can also ward off ear mites and other mite infestations.
Diagnosis
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Diagnosing ear mites is relatively easy. Your veterinarian will look into your dog's ear and in most cases can verify the ear mites immediately. Some veterinarians will take samples from the ear and examine them under the microscope to determine if there are additional infections present. Once the diagnosis of ear mites has been confirmed, you can start treatment.
Treatment
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Prior to applying any medication, your veterinarian will remove all of the debris that is present within your dog's ears. This is important, because otherwise the medication will only sit upon the tops of the debris and will not penetrate the ear. If the medication cannot penetrate the ear, then the infestation and possible accompanying infections cannot be properly treated.
Your veterinarian will apply ear drops. In the case of puppies, one treatment may be enough. However, some veterinarians will send home additional medication that will need to be applied a few days each week until all of the mites have been killed off.
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