How can I treat my dogs ear mites at home? Here’s What to Expect

Ear Mite Medications

Treat the ears by flushing away the debris and mites using an insecticide similar to that used in flea treatments. The medication is often suspended in a bland medium, like mineral oil, which when squirted into the ear, helps suffocate the bugs not killed outright by the insecticide. The solution also floats debris out of the ear canal as you gently massage the ear base. A number of commercial products are available for treating ear mites; ask your veterinarian for a recommendation.

Holistic veterinarians agree that commercial products work well, though puppies sick with ear mites may have other common health challenges that need treatment. It may be less stressful to shoo away the bugs with more natural treatments and let the vet handle other issues. Cleaning the ears with soothing solutions is the first step.

Antiseptic Tea Rinse. Green tea is a natural antiseptic. It can be used to flush out all the ear mite debris—that crumbly brown/black stuff that clogs the puppy’s ear canal. Steep a tablespoon of green tea leaves in a cup of hot water for three or four minutes and then strain it. Let it cool to room temperature before using it once a day for a month.

Oil Treatment. Oil helps soothe sore ears and also can float debris out. Oil also can suffocate the mites. Holistic vets say it doesn’t really matter what kind of oil you use, although some recommend almond or olive oil. For the best benefit, crush a couple of garlic cloves in a cup of the oil and let it marinate overnight. Garlic naturally kills bacteria that might develop secondary to the mite infection. Remember to remove the garlic before using the oil to treat your puppy’s ears. You’ll need to treat the ears with the oil/garlic solution daily for at least a month.

Avoid tea tree oil because it can be toxic for cats and smaller pets like young puppies.

What Are Ear Mites (Otodectes cynotis)?

Sometimes people say “ear mites” to refer to mange (sarcoptic or demodectic).

But there’s a specific kind of ear mite we’ll cover in this post. It’s called Otodectes cynotis and it’s one of the most common types of ear mites (1). It’s also a type of mange, also called Otodectic mange.

So what are these annoying little pests? They’re actually arachnids … the same family as ticks, spiders and scorpions. But unlike their cousins, they don’t bite.

Ear mites usually live in your dog’s ear canal … but occasionally on the body. They feed off wax and oils in your dog’s ears. And that makes your dog itchy.

Ear mites are parasites. They don’t live long without a host … so when they find your dog, they’re eager to move in and set up house. And the ear canal is a nice cozy place to live and eat.

These mites are more common in cats … but your dog can pick them up too. They’re also quite contagious to other dogs, cats and ferrets. So if you have other pets, you’ll want to tackle the problem quickly. (Don’t worry, ear mites don’t usually affect humans. Rarely, people might get a skin rash from them.)

Younger dogs may be more susceptible to ear mites. But any age dog can get them.

Your dog can pick up ear mites from the outdoors. But most often they come from another animal … a dog, cat or ferret. Outdoor cats are a common source of infection. (Foxes also get ear mites … but your dog probably isn’t hanging out with them!)

According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council, cats may have 1000 mites in each ear. Dogs usually have far fewer. (The site also has some good enlarged photos of ear mites … in case you want to see what they look like!)

Once your dog gets ear mites, they spread fast. Female mites can lay 15-20 eggs during their few weeks’ lifetime. The eggs hatch in 4 days … then the offspring lay more eggs themselves. The egg-to-egg cycle takes about 18-28 days.

As mentioned, they spread easily, not just on your dog, but to your other pets. So if your dog has ear mites, check your cat or ferret too. You may need to treat them as well.

Ear mites are almost invisible to the naked eye. And the symptoms are similar to other ear problems.

Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

Although not exactly a way to prevent mites, making sure your dog is in good overall health can help them fight off infections faster, like those from mites. Dogs with healthy immune systems are more likely to heal faster from skin infections, compared to dogs with underlying conditions.

Making sure your dog eats a balanced, nutritious diet, gets enough exercise, has good hygiene, and goes to the vet regularly can all help keep their immune system high and ready for battle.

How Can I Treat My Dogs Ear Mites at Home [3 AMAZING Home Remedies]

Ear mites are itchy little buggers. Highly contagious, and highly common; if you own a dog, you will almost definitely have to deal with your canines ear mites at some point. The good news is that these parasites are easy to diagnose and treat. If you have to deal with ear mites in dogs, its best to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for some professional help.

Most commonly, ear mites in dogs (or ear canker mites) are caused by the Otodectes cynotis mite, an eight-legged, white arachnid that isn’t visible to the naked eye.

Studies show that usually its passed on by another infected animal, with the most common culprit for contamination being a cat (1, 2); its less likely to be a human or other dogs. Surprisingly, cats are far more likely to suffer from this parasite than dogs.

The most common symptom of ear mites in dogs is your pet incessantly scratching one or both ears. Other symptoms include:

Depending on the severity of the ear canker mite infestation, you may be able to treat this problem fully at home using different home remedies or commercial products. There are several types of antiseptic dog ear cleaners available. Mild cases of ear mites in dogs can also be treated with non-chemical treatments such as honey, vinegar and mineral oil. Ill get into that more in just a moment.

When your dog is in the throes of a more serious issue, for example, a skin, or ear infection, then medical treatment at a vet clinic will likely be needed. Your veterinarian may decide to put your dog on a round of antibiotics or conduct a deep clean of his ears under sedation.

Now, lets discuss ear mites in dogs in more detail and talk about some of the specific scientifically proven treatments and preventative measures that are available.