Ear Mite Medication for Dogs
Ear mites have a 3-week life cycle, so most treatments will be used for a period of 4 to 6 weeks. This is to ensure that all mites have been killed off. Ear mites are highly contagious, so if one dog in a household is infested, the others should be treated, too. By treating all your dogs, you can ensure that a re-infestation won't occur (see References 2 and 3).
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Symptoms of Ear Mites
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Before you administer any treatment for suspected ear mites, you must verify their presence. One of the most obvious signs of ear mites is a thick, reddish black crust inside the ears. This is often accompanied by obvious irritation, such as redness from excessively scratching the ears. The dog may also have more ear wax than usual. He may frequently shake his head in an attempt to get rid of the irritants (see References 2 and 3).
Cleaning the Ears
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Prior to applying medication, thoroughly clean out your dog's ears. The excess wax and crusty debris must be removed so the medication can fully penetrate. Otherwise, the medication will just float on the wax layer (see Reference 2 and 3).
To clean the dog's ears, use an ear wax cleaning solution from a pet store or your veterinarian. Pour some solution onto a sterile cotton ball and place it in your dog's ear. Do not push the cotton ball down into the ear; pull it up to pull out debris. Do not use cotton swabs, which could push debris farther into the ear.
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Insecticides
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Medications for ear mites go by several names. The most common generic names are Rotenone and Pyrethrin. You may see these names on medication that is directly prescribed by your veterinarian. In a pet store, Rotenone may be called Ear Mitecide, Ear Mite Lotion or Ear Mitecide. Meanwhile, Pyrethrin may go by the names of Nolvamite, Mita-Clear or Cerumite.
All of these medications are a form of insecticide. One of the most common active ingredients in many insecticides is ivermectin, commonly found in heartworm preventatives such as Heartgard, as well as several flea preventatives. Certain breeds, such as collies and Shelties, have displayed hypersensitivity to ivermectin. Owners of such breeds should seek alternative medications (see Reference 3).
Ear Drops
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Ear drops are the most common form of medication prescribed for ear mites. They can be prescribed by your veterinarian or they can be purchased over the counter at a pet store.
For a puppy's first infestation, or even as a precaution, your veterinarian may recommend only one application of medicine. Older dogs with full-blown infestations will require medication two to three days a week over the course of 4 to 6 weeks. For example, medication would be applied on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for 4 to 6 weeks until the infestation has cleared up. However, length of treatment will vary based on the severity of the ear mite infestation.
Topical Creams
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Your vet may prescribe a topical antibiotic cream if your dog appears to have an infection in addition to ear mites. In most cases, ear mite medication and the antibiotics will need to be applied at separate times. Applying them simultaneously may prevent each from having its full effect.
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