Several types of mites can invade the ear canals of dogs and puppies. These mites can affect both dogs and cats. In puppies the most common ear mite is Otodectes cynotis. It's not important for the diagnosis and treatment of ear mites to identify the species of the mite. Mites of the ear canal simply referred to as ear mites. Please be aware that ear mites can live anywhere on the animal's body.
How are the mites transmitted?
Ear mites are highly contagious. Mites are able to be passed from the mother animal to the offspring. Mites are easily spread to the other pets within the household this includes cats, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, mice, etc. Humans are not affected by these mites.
What are the symptoms?
Puppies suffering with ear mites will scratch around their ears and/or shake their heads. The amount that they scratch and shake depends on the severity of the infestation. In more advanced infestations, the ear canals will bleed and fresh or dried blood appears inside the canal. The dried blood will resemble the look of coffee grounds. If you look into your pet's ears and start to notice the build-up of a material that looks like coffee grounds, your pet probably has ear mites, but a bacterial or yeast infection can also be a possibility.
Mites are very common, but can still be serious. If left untreated, they can severely damage the ear canals and eardrum and may cause permanent hearing loss.
If the mites start to spread out of the ears and to other parts of the body, the animal may or may not scratch this area.
What is the management?
Various ear products are available to kill the mites. Ear products that do not contain an insecticide will not kill the mites. Products such as Frontline or Revolution have also been used by veterinarians. Depending upon the medication you choose to use, the ears may need the treatment for a period of two to four weeks until all mites are killed completely. Many ear mites live all over the body; this can include the feet and tail. These areas should also be treated products which treat fleas and ticks will be effective. Use products that are approved for the use on dogs. Because ear mites are easily transferred between pets, it's best for all pets within the household receive the same treatment. Most ear mites will not survive long off the pets, so the treatment of the house and garden is normally not necessary.
Can I get ear mites from my pet?
Ear mites are not considered to be a disease which can be transmitted from animals to humans.
What is the cause of middle ear infections?
Most cases of middle and inner ear infections in dogs are caused by an infection of the outer ear.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms for middle and inner ear infections are similar to outer ear infections and can include pain in the ear, head shaking, bloody discharge, and scratching at the head or ear. As the infection progresses, the dog may also suffer from facial paralysis on the infected side due to inflammation of the facial nerve. Signs of facial paralysis include difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids and facial muscles. If the infection progresses on to the inner ear, symptoms will include a loss of balance and a downward head tilt.
How is it diagnosed?
Middle and inner ear infections can be diagnosed with an x-ray of the head. Animals usually need to be anesthetized so they can be properly examined and then the ear can be flushed and treated. A ruptured eardrum or an eardrum that is showing as discoloured and bulging with fluid is a sign of a middle and possibly inner ear infection. In most cases of middle and inner ear infections they usually have signs of an outer ear infection.
Treatment
Treatment can vary depending on the severity of the infection. For mild infections, oral or inject able antibiotics with topical antibiotics are often used. In severe cases, the eardrum could need to be surgically incised allowing the middle ear to be flushed and treated. Some cases invasive surgery which includes the removal of part of the bony covering of the ear (bulla) may need to be performed. In very severe cases, the complete removal and closure of the entire ear canal may be necessary. In cases where tumours or other factors contribute to the cause of the infection, they must also be properly identified and treated for the entire treatment for it to be successful.