Healthy dog ears are clean, dry and odorless. If your dog’s ears smell bad from time to time and may be accompanied by something dirty, then there is a good chance your dog has ear mites. Ear mites, also known as ear scabies, are a common ear canal parasite in dogs. In the ear canal of dogs, ear mites feed on lymphatic fluid and skin cells, rely on tissue debris and tissue nourishment, and often cause itching and secondary infections in the dog’s ear. It is a highly contagious ectoparasitic disease and is the most easily acquired of the ear diseases. It is a highly contagious ectoparasitic disease and is the most common form of ear disease. The male ear mite is 0.35-0.38mm in length and has two long, thin hairs at the end of its third pair of feet; the female is 0.46-0.53mm in length and has an underdeveloped fourth pair of feet that cannot extend beyond the edge of the body and is three times shorter than the third pair of feet; the third and fourth pairs of feet have no suckers. The parasites live in the external ear canal of dogs and live by piercing the skin and sucking lymphatic fluid and exudate, resulting in irritation, inflammation and scab formation. Sometimes, due to secondary infection by bacteria, the lesions can penetrate deep into the middle ear, inner ear and meninges. SymptomsThe sick dog shakes its head, scratches or rubs the affected ear. There is a dark brown waxy and exudative substance in the ear canal, sometimes with phosphorus-like scabs. Examination of the ear canal with an otoscope reveals tiny white or flesh-colored ear itch mites moving on the dark brown exudate. Examination of the exudate with a magnifying glass or under a low-power microscope proves that it is a canine ear itch mite. If it attacks the meninges, the sick dog shows signs of seizures. Diagnosis To confirm whether a dog has ear mites, an ear canal examination is required. The basic examination includes otoscopy and microscopic examination of the discharge. Otoscopy, is to observe the mites (white spots in motion) in the ear canal directly with the help of specialized equipment. Microscopic examination involves taking secretions from the ear canal with an ear swab and observing the mites, worm, larvae or eggs under a microscope. In most cases, anesthesia is not required, and only a few dogs that are more or have severe ear canal pain can usually be examined after sedation for pain relief. The examination should take about 10-15 minutes. Early ear mites can be treated with a special ear mite solution for pets. First clean the ear canal thoroughly with a pet-specific ear wash, then drop in ear mite medication for treatment. The key points of ear cleaning: first pour the ear wash into the ear canal, then use one hand to lift the ear to prevent the ear wash from running out, and the other hand to massage the ear canal so that the ear wash and ear wax can fully function. Then clean the ear with a rolled cotton swab, which can be repeated several times. Because ear mites are easy to detect, treatment when the symptoms are not yet severe can be completely curable.2. Treatment of more serious ear mites For dogs with more serious ear mites, subcutaneous injections of ivermectin with the application of antibiotics and corticosteroids; if the ear mites are so serious that the outer ear canal is hyperplastic, pus-filled and completely clogged with ear holes, hospitalization is necessary. Prevention 1. Clean your dog’s ears regularly every two weeks: a clean ear canal with no ectopic sites will deprive ear mites of food and living conditions, and with proper ear cleaning solution to maintain the acid-base balance in the ear canal, ear mites will not be able to survive in the ear canal. 2. Clean and replace your dog’s blankets regularly, and maintain a tidy environment at home. 3. Keep your dog’s ears dry on a daily basis. Usually put cotton in your pet’s ears when bathing, otherwise water will easily enter. If your dog’s ears get wet, dry them in time.4. Pluck the dog’s ear hair regularly to avoid breeding bacteria and infections.5. Regularly inspect the dog’s ear canal and deal with any problems promptly.6. Use some cost-effective pet ear care products with a good reputation. Paying attention to regular deworming, whether in vivo or in vitro, is one of the most direct means of preventing canine skin diseases and a powerful way to keep dogs from being harassed by parasites.
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