If you notice your dog shaking his head from side to side and scratching his ears more than usual, he may have ear mites, tiny parasites that live inside the ear canals and cause ear itching, odor and a discharge similar in texture to coffee grounds. Take the dog to your veterinarian for an examination. Without treatment, ear mites can spread to other areas of the body; excessive scratching can lead to potentially severe secondary infections.
Things You'll Need
- Ear cleanser for dogs
- Cotton balls or pads
Instructions
Clean your dog's ears with an ear cleanser designed specifically for ears. Flush the ears as instructed by your veterinarian and then use clean cotton balls to wipe away any wax or discharge. If your dog resists, consult your veterinarian. You can sedate a dog for ear cleaning if necessary.
Tilt your dog's head to one side, lift the outer ear and administer the prescribed number of miticide drops directly into your dog's ear canal. Repeat on the other side.
Massage the base of your dog's ears for several minutes to encourage penetration of the medicine. If any medication runs out of your dog's ears, wipe away with a clean cloth.
Apply a steroid or antibiotic, if prescribed, to reduce inflammation and itching and help treat any secondary infection. Some preparations for ear mites contain a steroid.
Treat secondary skin infections with the topical antibiotic ointment prescribed by your pediatrician. Make sure your dog's skin is clean before applying the ointment.
Continue using any prescribed medications until they are finished or your veterinarian instructs you to stop. In most cases, treatment for ear mites must continue for 10 days to kills adult mites and their eggs. Failure to complete the treatment course can result in reinfestation.
Dry your dog's ears after swimming or bathing to help prevent a recurrence during or after treatment.