How do dogs get ear mites?
Any dog can become infected with parasites, including ear mites. However, ear mites in dogs are most common in puppies, who have not built up some level of natural resistance to them over time. Dogs that spend time outdoors in wooded or rural areas are also prone, as are dogs that live in animal shelters, or that spend time socializing with other dogs. Ear mites are contagious and can be acquired through dog-to-dog and other animal contact. According to VCA Hospitals, this type of mite also affects cats, rabbits, and ferrets.
Ear Mite 101
Ear mites—or Otodectes cynotis—are tiny parasites that live in the ears of cats and dogs.1 While almost invisible to the eye, they can sometimes be seen as white specs. And as unsavory as it may sound, they survive off the blood in your pet’s ears.
Here’s the thing about the tiny mites that live in your dogs ear—they’re highly contagious. Luckily, there are several signs that your dog might have ear mites so you can mitigate their ear problem right away.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the signs of ear mites.
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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.