Do ear mites hurt dogs? Simple and Effective Tips

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What are the symptoms of dog ear mites?

  • Itching: The first sign of an ear mite infestation may be your dog scratching his head.
  • Dark, crumbly reddish-brown discharge: This is often composed of dried blood and will resemble coffee grounds.
  • Wounds, inflammation, and infections: The scratching may lead to cuts and infections in the ear. The most common sign of a mite infestation is a scab or abrasion at the base of the ear, which is the result of a dog scratching with his hind limb claws. Bacteria can infect the open wounds, leading to infection.
  • In heavy infestations, ear mites may start to invade other parts of the dog’s body.

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    If your dog is shaking and scratching his head, it may be because Otodectes cynotis has taken up residence in his ear canal. The bug’s Latin name translates as “ear beggar of the dog.” It is an arachnid, in the same family as spiders and ticks.

    The name perfectly describes what these tiny creatures do, which is to feed on wax and oils in your dog’s ears. Their presence causes itching and that makes the dogs scratch. While the parasites themselves don’t bite skin, the secondary damage caused by scratching can be serious.

    So it’s important to move quickly to clear up ear mite infestations as soon as you suspect them.

    What Are the Symptoms of Ear Mites in Dogs?

    Ear mites in dogs cause an intense itch. The most common symptoms of ear mite infection include scratching at the ears, shaking the head, and dark discharge or odor from the ears.

    Small bumps and scratches can develop around the ear, neck, rump, and tail from the scratching and shaking, as well as secondary skin infection. Other ear infections can look like ear mite infections, including bacterial infections and yeast infections.

    Ear Mites in Dogs

    Ear mites are tiny skin parasites that cause intensely itchy ears, a build-up of earwax, and ear infections. Ear mites can affect dogs of any age but are most common in puppies. They can also affect other animals such as cats and ferrets.