How to Get Rid of Ear Mites in Ferrets

If you have noticed your pet ferret scratching his ears or rubbing his head against hard surfaces, he may have ear mites. Ear mites are tiny insects that crawl into, breed in and feed inside an animal's ear canal. Ear mites are commonly transmitted to ferrets from other pets in the home, such as a dog or cat. Successful removal of ferret ear mites is a simple process that does not require any special skills.

Things You'll Need

  • Ear mite medication
  • Clean washcloth
  • Warm water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase ear mite medication.

    • 2

      Remove the gritty black debris that ear mites leave behind before you apply the medication. Dip a clean washcloth in warm water. Clean inside your pet's ear and ear canal.

    • 3

      Gently turn your pet's head to the side. Get help from a friend or relative if necessary.

    • 4

      Open the bottle of ear mite medication and apply three to five drops of medication directly into one of your pet's ears.

    • 5

      Hold your pet's head tilted sideways for a minute or two to keep the medication inside the ear. If you release your pet immediately, you run the risk of letting the ear mite medication seep out.

    • 6

      Repeat the process of cleaning, applying the medication and holding your pet's head sideways if the other ear is also infected by mites.

    • 7

      Reapply the medication in a few days. Ear mite medication is only effective on mites that have hatched. If there were any ear mite eggs in your pet's ears when you applied the medication, you will need to reapply the solution in order to kill the newly hatched mites.

    • 8

      Observe your ferret for several days to ensure that you eliminated the ear mites. If you notice your pet scratching or rubbing his ears, apply the solution again. You may need to repeat the process three times to get rid of all the mites.