How Do I Know If a Dog Has Ear Mites?

Ear mites in dogs are usually easy to identify.

Ear mites are tiny eight-legged parasites that are nearly too small to see without magnification. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, these parasites feed on the oil and wax inside your dog's ears, causing inflammation and significant itching. If left untreated, scratching and irritation may result in a secondary bacterial infection or damage to the inner ear. Ear mites are highly contagious, and any animal suspected of having an ear mite infection should be kept away from other animals until treatment is complete.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton balls or pads
• Magnifying glass

Instructions

1. Watch for symptoms of ear mites in your dog, such as shaking of the head and signs of itching or ear scratching. In severe cases, dogs may scratch and rub their head and ears until they bleed.

2. Scrape some wax from the inside of your dog's ears gently using a cotton ball or pad, and examine the wax for mites. Adult ear mites in dogs are sometimes large enough to see, but you may want to use a magnifying lens to check for smaller mites.

3. Look for a dark-colored, waxy substance in your dog's ear canal. This is almost always a sign of ear mites. There may also be black or brown debris in the ears or stuck in the hair around the ears that looks like coffee grounds.

4. Check your dog's bedding for mites. Adult mites are very mobile, and they may move from your dog to his bedding or toys.

5. Take your dog to the veterinarian for a complete examination and diagnosis. If an ear mite infection is confirmed, your veterinarian will prescribe topical medication to kill the mites. He may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications or antibiotics to treat itching and secondary infections.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not attempt to clean your dog's ears or check for ear mites using cotton swabs, such as Q-tips, or other pointed objects. The inside of a dog's ear is delicate, and you may damage the eardrum by inserting a cotton swab too deeply.

References

• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• Parasite Information
• All That You Want to Know About Dog Ear Mites

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish