How to Clean a Dog's Ear with Ear Mites

Sasha the Samoyed shares her yard with several neighborhood feral cats, who like to share—their time, their half-eaten mice... and their ear mites! Now Sasha has itchy ears and little critters crawling in and around her ears. Before Sasha gets irritated ears that are prone to infection or injury, her humans need to clean out her ears and apply medication or solutions to kill off the mites, ASAP! 

Mites are extremely contagious between animals, common especially in young dogs, and can frequently be picked up from cats. Fortunately, ear mites are not contagious to humans and are usually not serious if treated promptly. With a little attention, Sasha’s ears will be itch-free, provided she doesn't pick them up from the cats again. 

Mites in your dog’s ears are itchy and you will notice your dog scratching at their ears and shaking their head if infected with mites. You may also notice brown, crusty, coffee ground-like secretions in the ear, and your dog’s ear may become red and inflamed from mite irritation or scratching. The secretions are often associated with a strong, foul odor.

Many dogs experience allergic reactions when they have mites, which causes them further misery. Bacterial and fungal infections are also more likely where parasitic infections are present, and scratching the ears can result in damage to delicate ear structures. Cleaning and treating your dog's ear mites quickly is important to avoid such complications.

Proper ear hygiene discourages the presence of ear mites. Have your dog's ears cleaned regularly—book a Grooming service with a Pet Caregiver near you.

• Do not point applicators or syringes down into the ear canal in case your dog moves and the applicator tip damages ear structures. Hold the syringe or applicator at an angle to the entrance of the ear canal, so that if your dog moves unexpectedly, the tool will not enter the ear canal.
  
• Do not use cotton swabs inserted into the ear.
  
• If excessive odor or bleeding occurs, seek veterinary attention in case fungal or bacterial infections or ear structure damage has occurred.
  
• Treat other pets in the home with oral or topical anti-parasitic medication to address contagious ear mites.
  

Ear mites are pesky and inconvenient, but treatable and usually not serious. These common parasites, if addressed quickly, rarely cause complications. Because of their contagious nature the source of infections should be located and treated, or avoided if possible, and other pets that have been exposed to ear mites will also need treatment.

Cleaning the ear mites and debris prior to treatment with commercial medications is effective for addressing ear mites, as are several home remedies including mineral oil, vinegar and water solutions, and honey applications. Be sure to monitor your dog's ear mite infection and get professional assistance if required.

Cleaning your dog's ears regularly can prevent ear mites. If you're not confident about doing it yourself, book a Grooming service with a Pet Caregiver near you.