Ear Mite Information 

Ear mites can be a source of severe annoyance and disease for your dog and cat. These mites spend most of their life in the ears and are very irritating. Dog ear mites and cat ear mites will often cause your pet to scratch to the point where it tears out all of the hair and creates bleeding sores around the ears.

Constantly scratching can cause damage to the tiny blood vessels inside the dog's ears too, leading to swelling, and possible infections from the broken blood vessels.

This scratching can also result in re-infestation with ear mites from the paw or tail.

Ear mites are extremely contagious and can be passed from cat to cat, but also from other pets like dogs, hamsters, mice, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, and any other furry mammals, caged or otherwise.

Multiple pet households should watch for and treat ear mites in all their animals if ear mites are found in even one of their pets.

The signs of dog ear mites and cat ear mites show up as a discharge or build up of ear wax in the animal's ears that looks like coffee grounds, and the ears have an unpleasant odor. Ear mites will also leave a brown or black crust on the outer ear.

They live deep inside the ear canal in the lining of the skin, and like to feed on ear wax and tissue fluids, while the ear mites' saliva tends to increase the amount of ear wax available to feed on.

Dogs and cats can get ear mites at any age but younger pets are more susceptible. Ear mites are quite different from the mites that cause mange. Ear mites can sometimes be seen without a microscope when in clusters and are visible under a magnifying glass.

More signs that your dog or cat has ear mites can be itchy ears; they will scratch at the base of their ears, or they shake their heads a lot. Another indicator is when you rub your animal's ears hard, they shake their head vigorously when you stop rubbing.

Ear mites in dogs and cats can cause permanent hearing lost if left untreated.

If an ear mite infestation is ignored it will almost always be followed by a bacterial infection because the bacteria find easy access to living tissue through the holes left by the mites. Such an infection can spread deep into the ear and eventually penetrate the brain causing convulsions and death.

Veterinarian treatment is antibiotics, which will weaken your dog or cat's immune system.

Prevent Ear Infections By Getting Rid Of Ear Mites 

One aspect of dog health that is often missed by many is the area of dog ear health

The inside ear of a dog is an extremely sensitive area and can pose many challenges. This is especially true since there are many ear related infections and issues that your dog can get. Another reason why dog ears provide a significant challenge is due to the fact that many dogs have ears that droop over the ear canal, which provides an unhealthy environment for earmites and bacteria to breed.

Anyone should be able understand, that if the inner ear is left neglected and not groomed properly, there is a high probability of ear infections. Ear problems in dogs can be categorized based on the ease of diagnosis:

The easiest to diagnose is the presence of ear mites. A simple microscopic examination of the ear or the wax that has been scraped off the ear is enough to determine whether your dog has ear mites or not. Though you should check for the presence of ear mites regularly, excessive shaking of the head, itching and scratching should make you do a thorough and detailed check up.

Other dog ear infections that can be a cause of concern are those related to bacterial or yeast infections in the ear. These are relatively more difficult to diagnose since the bacteria and yeast are not visible to the naked eye. To determine whether your dog suffers from such an ear infection, a visit to the veterinarian becomes mandatory.

The third kind of ear infection that is the most difficult to detect and therefore treat are chronic ear ailments. These present a different level of challenge for the dog owner since they tend to re-occur even after having been treated successfully once. Chronic ear infections make the dog smelly and miserable. Some pets can also become extremely irritable and snappy at times. Chronic ear ailments can cause the ear tissue to become thicker and spongier over time. And to add to the misery, the ear wax producing glands become over productive and secrete large amounts of inflammatory wax. The only positive aspect to the whole affair is that this problem is not common among all dogs and is prevalent largely only among those dogs that have ears that cover the ear canals.

Be aware of the issue and be proactive in looking for alternate ear infection cures and treatments for dog ear mites that can be used to prevent and cure such infections.

Prevent Yeast Infections In Dogs by Eliminating Ear Mites 

Yeast infections in dogs can be detected by the presence of scales on skin. These scales give out a fetid greasy smell and can be extremely offending.

The scientific name of the yeast that is usually present in dogs is Malassezia pachydermatis. It can appear in the ear, rectum, vagina or anal sacs. The name pachydermatis comes from the fact that the yeast infected skin is similar to the thick skin that most pachyderms have. And therefore the infected area of the skin resembles the tough skin that elephants, rhinos and hippos have.

The mere presence of yeast usually does not cause any major problem for the dog. But in most cases the yeast infection indicates the presence of another infection. These other infections and allergies can cause abnormal itching in a dog. This makes the dog skin more vulnerable to yeast attacks. To confirm the presence of a yeast infection in your dog, all you need to do is to scrape some skin off the infected area and get it examined under a microscope in a laboratory.

To treat the yeast infection effectively, it is essential to target the fundamental infection that causes it.

One such infection that can cause yeast infections to spread is the presence of dog ear mites.

Oral drugs and derma creams used to treat infections are expensive. Home remedies for dog ear mites on the other hand are less expensive but equally effective in removing the real cause of the problem.

Since the ear infections can develop into complications like hematoma, it is prudent to try and prevent dog ear mites from occurring in the first place.

Yeast infections can also be prevented by ensuring that your dog has healthy skin. Use degreasing shampoos to remove excessive oil from overactive sebaceous glands. Yeast infected parts should be washed with acetic acid wipes and cleaned later. A home remedy for cleaning these areas is vinegar mixed with water.

Deb's Alternative Pet Medicine Suggestion For Ear Mites 

EAR DR. IS FOR CAT EAR MITES TOO!

As I stated above, Veterinarians will treat ear mites with antibiotics, and antibiotics can weaken your dog's immune system.

PetAlive's Ear Dr. contains a blend of natural, herbal ingredients in a medicinal olive oil base, all specially selected to treat and prevent ear infections and ear mites without the side effects of prescription drugs or the health and environmental risks associated with commercial synthetic pesticides.

Ear Dr. can provide safe yet effective relief from your pet's ear problems and helps to prevent the spread of mites from one pet to another.

Ear Dr. also reduces your dog's pain, itching, inflammation, and discomfort, in addition to preventing their constant scratching of the ears.

All natural Ear Dr. treats and prevents infections of the ear without any of the side-effects and adverse effects on immune functioning that antibiotics do.

Customer Testimonial
"My poor puppy has been scratching his ear and the side of his head against furniture and anything he can find recently - the itching of his ear was so severe that his desperate attempts to scratch even caused sores behind his ear that would bleed intermittently. Ever since using your Ear Dr. oil his ear seems to have cleared up - I am so relieved as it was terrible to see him in such a state. Thanks for a great product that works so quickly and effectively!" - Dana

Dog and Cat Earmites Medicine Alternative Has A Guarantee! 

A Video Showing How To Take Care Of Your Dog's Ears 

More Dog Health Problems Can Be Solved With Natural Medicines 

Alternative Pet Medicines are Better Dog Medicines!

Dog Health

Important dog first-aid instructions, dog cpr instructions, information about vitamins and minerals, nutrition, and the signs to look for in a healthy dog, (temperature, eyes, nose, and skin, etc.)

Dog Medicines and Their Side Effects

The 5 classes of medicines used for dogs are listed with their harmful side effects. An in-depth research result for you from Deb.

Flea Control

Find out all about fleas, and how to get rid of them! Deb recommends a safe, non-toxic flea control that you can use everywhere!

Dog Worms

Want to know about heartworms, tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, or whipworms in dogs? Find out here, plus there's 1 product offered that will get rid of them all, safely, with no chemicals or toxins. Psst...There's an in-depth research on the side effects of the most widely used and prescribed Heartworm Preventative (Heartgard) too!

Dog Seizures

Find out about the types of dog seizures, what causes them, the harmful side effects of dog seizure drugs, what you can do for your dog while having a seizure, and a safe, natural, non toxic dog seizure treatment is offered.

Dog Diarrhea and Dog Constipation

Read about the reasons dogs suffer from both of these, their causes, and their treatments. Plus a better, safe, and natural way to treat them is offered.

Dog Arthritis

The harmful side effects of dog arthritis medicines, the NSAIDs are listed. Did you know that Aspirin, Tylenol, and Aleve are classified as NSAIDs? What can be done for dog arthritis? Find Deb's recommendation for an effective, non toxic, with no side effects pain reliever for dog arthritis here.

Dog Ringworm

Dog ringworm? Yes, dogs can get ringworm too. Dogs can get AND give ringworm to other dogs, cats, AND people.

Dog Allergies

A Very detailed research on dog allergies, including all the medicines used for a dog allergy, and their harmful side effects. Deb shows you each type of dog allergy and what the common veterinary treatment is for it, then gives you a better alternative to control and relieve your dog's allergies.

Aggressive Dogs and Problem Dogs

There's so many reasons and causes for aggressive dogs, including their health. Find out why dogs bite and are aggressive, continously bark, dig everywhere, or hump your leg....and what you can do about it.

More Great Dog Resources For You 

Dog Beds

Large dog beds, Small dog beds, Orthopedic dog beds, Heated dog beds, and even Designer dog beds, they're all here! My owner Deb the flowergardener wants to help you shop for the best dog bed for your dog. She has put together a great and easy way fo...

Dog Kong Toys

Dog Kong Toys are widely used for therapy and prevention of boredom, separation anxiety and other behavioral issues. The regular use of dog Kong toys can also improve oral health. The Kong's unpredictable bounce lures most dogs into a game of chase,...

Dog Collars

Leather dog collars, Designer dog collars, Fancy dog collars, Personalized dog collars, and Rhinestone dog collars, they're all here! My owner Deb the flowergardener has put together this page so that you can shop for dog collars in an easy way. My n...

Greenies

Greenies has become America's #1 dental chew and dog treat with more than 850 million sold globally. Greenies has a longstanding commitment to improving the lives of pets and their owners. The Greenies company is committed to the cause of dental care...

Bully Sticks

Give Your Dog A Healthy Bully Stick For A Treat! Natural proteins found in meat are important to a dog's health and well-being. Natural Dog Treat Bully Sticks are from beef muscles and tendons, they become chewy when wet, and provide a natural way to...

A New Dog Health Care Book! 

Natural Medicine Alternatives For People 

Natural Medicine

The world's greatest natural medicines were used ages before there was ever such thing as a patented drug - or an FDA. We've only been using patented synthetic medications and drugs to treat illness and disease since the time period of the Civil War....

Share This Page 

Backup Your Computer And Lens! 

Ear Mite Guestbook 

Did You Find the Dog Ear Mite Info You Needed? I Sure Hope So!

Not a member of Squidoo? You can still leave me a comment! Come have fun with us, and you could even earn a little money! Click Here To Sign Up FREE!

Frankster Excellent lens. 5 stars, favorite and I'm a FAN! Bear hugs, Frankie Posted May 04, 2008

flighty02 Great informative lens... well wort 5 stars! Posted May 02, 2008

lucidbot Great research, I am glad to see that people actually believe you can treat problems without synthetic chemicals. 1000s of years and people just let ear mites destroy their dogs and cats? Probably not. Posted April 06, 2008

Marilee Great article about the ear mites. We have had problems with the little devils and they are hard to be free of. I am going to get better at the treatment thanks to your article. Posted March 08, 2008

thomasz Nice lens. Great info. That's some nasty stuff about ear mites. Posted February 06, 2008

Aika well done lens, very informative. 5 stars from me. ^__^ Posted January 14, 2008

rockycha Great lens! high fives Posted January 04, 2008

Classic What an informative work! Very important, too! I gave you 5*s! Thanks for visiting my lens about the Snow Leopard Posted June 22, 2007