Ear mites are tiny crab-like
parasites that live on the surface of the skin in the external ear canal, they
can also live on the dogs head or on the skin although they are most commonly
found in the ear canal and this is where they will do most damage. They spend
their entire lives on the host laying eggs.They eat tissue debris and fluids. Ear mites are zoonotic they can
spread easily to other animals and can also rarely spread to humans.The signs of ear mites in your dog include,
head shaking, and a waxy build up in their ears which will look very dark,
inflammation and redness in the external ear canal and frequent ear scratching.
These signs are thought to be due to a hypersensitivity reaction, this will
mean that not all dogs will show these signs as not all dogs will react to the
hypersensitivity reaction, which is equivalent to an allergy.Ear mites are small but you will probably be
able to see then with the naked eye and most certainly be able to see them with
some magnification. Treatment of ear mites is available from your veterinary
surgery; the treatment is normally in the form of flea sprays as flea
treatments also kill ear mites. When treating ear mites it is very important to
treat the dogs’ ears, fur and the environment as the mites can live for short
periods of time without a host. In severe cases your vet may use ivermectin
which is an experimental drug for cats. Once ear mites have been contracted
secondary infections are very common and can complicate diagnosis. In extreme cases ear mites can cause deafness
if not treated correctly or early enough, due to this it is extremely important
to rid of them with flea treatment before they multiply and cause worldwide
problems.
