Ear Mites In Cats And Dogs
Ear mites are tiny white insects that live in the ear canal. They most commonly find their way into the ears of cats, dogs, and other small and furry animals.
It is not common to find an infection of this type in humans. If it is suspected that you may have mites, visit your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Luckily if you do, they do not burrow and instead stay in the ear canal and feed off wax and skin oil.
Infection in animals is spread through direct contact with other infected animals. Outdoor pets are therefore the most commonly affected and infection spreads among animals very quickly. The mites, if untreated, will lead to a variety of health issues. These issues include skin diseases and infections in areas other than the ears as well as eventual deafness.
The symptoms are quite recognizable. The most commonly recognized feature is the appearance of dark and crumbly material in the ears. A close look may even result in finding the small white mites themselves amongst the debris. Incessant scratching, head shaking, imbalance, and the appearance of sores are other signs of this infection.
If your animal does not go outdoors, and has not had contact with other animals but still shows some or all of these symptoms, they most likely are suffering from something else and should not be put through what will turn out to be an ineffective treatment. A visit to the vet is recommended to discover the cause of the symptoms. Be wary if your animal did not have contact with another animal that could have given them the infection, and the vet diagnoses ear mites.
The infection is treated relatively simply. The vet can provide you with an anti-parasitic treatment that will kill the mites. The ears should be cleaned by removing any debris and then the treatment should be applied. There is also an oral and an injection treatment available.
The various treatment options vary in the amount of time that it takes to kill the infection. Over-the-counter topical treatments are of an older variety and take at least 21 days of application as they do no kill incubating eggs. Prescription topical treatments generally take only up to ten days and other options take only one treatment. As the infection and treatment can be quite uncomfortable it is recommended that a shorter treatment duration be used.
This is a very uncomfortable infection to have as an animal and requires medical attention. It is important that it is treated relatively early in the infection so that complications do not manifest themselves as a more serious and more expensive medical problem for your pet.
It is not common to find an infection of this type in humans. If it is suspected that you may have mites, visit your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Luckily if you do, they do not burrow and instead stay in the ear canal and feed off wax and skin oil.
Infection in animals is spread through direct contact with other infected animals. Outdoor pets are therefore the most commonly affected and infection spreads among animals very quickly. The mites, if untreated, will lead to a variety of health issues. These issues include skin diseases and infections in areas other than the ears as well as eventual deafness.
The symptoms are quite recognizable. The most commonly recognized feature is the appearance of dark and crumbly material in the ears. A close look may even result in finding the small white mites themselves amongst the debris. Incessant scratching, head shaking, imbalance, and the appearance of sores are other signs of this infection.
If your animal does not go outdoors, and has not had contact with other animals but still shows some or all of these symptoms, they most likely are suffering from something else and should not be put through what will turn out to be an ineffective treatment. A visit to the vet is recommended to discover the cause of the symptoms. Be wary if your animal did not have contact with another animal that could have given them the infection, and the vet diagnoses ear mites.
The infection is treated relatively simply. The vet can provide you with an anti-parasitic treatment that will kill the mites. The ears should be cleaned by removing any debris and then the treatment should be applied. There is also an oral and an injection treatment available.
The various treatment options vary in the amount of time that it takes to kill the infection. Over-the-counter topical treatments are of an older variety and take at least 21 days of application as they do no kill incubating eggs. Prescription topical treatments generally take only up to ten days and other options take only one treatment. As the infection and treatment can be quite uncomfortable it is recommended that a shorter treatment duration be used.
This is a very uncomfortable infection to have as an animal and requires medical attention. It is important that it is treated relatively early in the infection so that complications do not manifest themselves as a more serious and more expensive medical problem for your pet.
About the Author:
Darn those mean ear mites! They won't stop biting. Wait a second, with the right treatment for ear mites, you can put a stop to them. Listen to your pet and get help.
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