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Are Dog Ear Mites Dangerous to your Pet?
Like ticks and fleas, dog ear mites are external parasites that live on infected dogs and puppies. If you leave your infected pet untreated, he can develop bleeding sores, ear infection and even a permanent hearing loss.
While ear mites are more common in cats than dogs, they are still common enough to infect many dogs.
While there are plenty of over-the-counter medications that you can use to successfully treat your pet, if you suspect him of being infected with ear mites, talk to your veterinarian first.
Some Background...
Contradictory to the term "dog ear mites", these parasites can live anywhere on your dog's body and are highly contagious to other pets that live in the same household.
Cats, rodents, etc. can easily infect your dog and just as easily can get infected by your dog. Humans, on the other hand, can't get infected.
There are several species of mites that can infect your dog, but the most common is Otodectes cynotis. Actually, the species is not important, since the treatment will be the same (more on ear mites treatment in a moment).
Symptoms Of Dog Ear Mites
The most telltale sign that your dog may be infected with ear mites is if you see him constantly scratching around his ears. Another common sign of dog ear mites is if your dog is shaking his head, as if trying to get something out of his ears.
A less obvious symptom is presence of blood in your dog's ear canal. Take a look inside your dog's ear. If you notice a dark mass resembling ground coffee, that's probably dried up blood. Fresh blood is easier to recognize.
If you notice any of these symptoms, discuss your concerns with your veterinarian. Ear mites are easy to get rid of, but if left untreated, they can cause great damage to your pet.
The Treatment
Dog ear mites are susceptible to several medications, but make sure that the medication you buy contains an insecticide. If it doesn't, it will not eliminate mites.
The most commonly used insecticide is Pyrethrins. Any product that contains this ingredient will do the job.
Here is an example of one such product - Eradimite Ear Mite Treatment.
It will not only kill off ear mites but it will also remove ear wax. Eradimite is non-prescription and sold over-the-counter.
To kill off all adult mites, as well as eggs, treat your dog for at least 2 to 3 weeks.
Because mites don't live just in ears, treat the whole body, from head to tail.
To kill mites on your dog's body, you can use one of many tick and flea medications (read the label to make sure it will work on mites).
Revolution, from Pfizer Animal Health, treats not only from dog ear mites, but also from fleas and American dog tick.
Unlike Eradimite, it's sold by prescription only. You can buy it directly from your vet or, to save money, buy it on-line.
To learn how to buy prescription-only medications from on-line pharmacies, visit dog ticks page. Once there, scroll to the bottom of the page. I'll also show you where I buy all medications and supplements for Bo and why you need to be extra careful when you purchase medications (for your pet as well as for yourself) on-line.
Dog ear mites are just one species of parasites that can do a lot of damage to your pet's health. The others are…
- Ticks
- Fleas
- Worms
To learn how to keep your dog healthy and parasite-free, visit…
...pages. For additional information on dog ear mites, visit dog mites page.
I hope you will find this information useful and it helps you to recognize some common health problems your pet may be experiencing. However, if you suspect your pet is ill, immediately contact your veterinarian. He or she will be able to help you decide the best course of action when it comes to caring for your pet.
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