When Scratching Is Not a good Idea: Ear Mites
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“When the itch is inside the boot, scratching outside supplies little consolation” ~ Old Chinese Proverb.
Although ear mites are very itchy, they normally do not infect an area that cannot be reached. The problem is that continuously scratching the ear for that bit of consolation may cause a severe secondary bacterial skin infection. the best way to supply any enduring relief for the itch that accompanies ear mites is by actually treating to cure the underlying condition itself.
Ear mites are quite tiny and they resemble microscopic ticks. Rabbits, ferrets, dogs and cats are prone to this infection; however, cats are the most frequently infected. Ear mites do not burrow into the skin but derive their sustenance from tissue and ear wax causing discomfort, irritation, and itching. Mites that do burrow into the skin are responsible for causing mange. The life cycle of the ear mites consists of 4 stages:
1st Stage: Eggs from the female are deposited in the ear canal. The female mites normally lay several eggs a day for their entire adult life.
2nd Stage: The eggs hatch and become larvae. The larvae feed for about 4 days then, during the 5th day, they rest as they molt in the nymph phase.
3rd Stage: One stage of nymph (protonymph) molts into the deutonymph after feeding for 4 days. The deutonymph has the ability to begin mating.
4th Stage: The mite at this stage appears white, is mature, and feeds off of skin tissue debris and wax in the ear.
Ear mites are very contagious between family pets that are in contact with each other. They normally come off one pet and climb onto the other. Fortunately, ear mites do not seem to affect humans although some people may develop rashes.
When an animal has ear mites, they will scratch around and inside the ear as well as shaking their head. The infection produces what has been described as looking like “coffee ground” discharge. This is normally caused from the dried blood and crusts from the mites and debris due to the scratching. Cats that have ear mites often show a scratching movement of the back leg when the ear canal area is rubbed. This reflex is rarely seen in cats that do not have mites. other symptoms of ear mite infection may include fever, walking in odd patterns such as circles, and loss of balance. A veterinarian is best qualified to make a proper diagnosis.
Luckily there are lots of treatment options for animals with ear mites. A product called Eradimite Ear Mite treatment does not require a prescription and consists of pyrethrins that work as an insecticide to kill ear mites. The way to use this product is to apply 10 drops to each ear and massage in well. This treatment is repeated every 2 days until the condition is cleared. Mita-Clear is also over-the-counter, and is very effective at killing both adult and larval stages of ear mites. This product comes as a convenient lotion that is normally applied to the affected area after the ear has been cleaned by a separate ear cleaning option such as the 1800-PetMeds Ear cleaning Solution. another treatment which is also applied topically is called Tresaderm which consist of thiabendazole. This medication does require a prescription and kills yeas and mites as well as their eggs. Tresaderm also consists of an antibiotic to help treat any secondary infection that might have been caused by the constant scratching. revolution for cats is also a prescription product that may be used for the treatment as well as for the prevention of ear mites. Selamectin, the active ingredient in Revolution, is effective against ear mites as well as heartworms, fleas, roundworms and hookworms.
There are other treatments that may be used for ear mites that your veterinarian may choose to recommend or prescribe. It is very crucial not to make any assumptions about ear mites on your own, and always take your pet to be examined by a veterinarian. even though ear mites seem easy to identify, the discharge could be a sign of a a lot more severe infection. If ear mites are diagnosed in a multi-pet household, all family pets will a lot of likely have to be treated to stop the back and forth spreading of the mites. After treatment is completed, it is also crucial to take the pet in for a recheck to make sure that the infection has been absolutely eradicated and to make sure there is no secondary bacterial infection that still remains untreated. Also, don’t hesitate to call your PetMeds pharmacist who is always a lot more than delighted to answer any of your medication related questions or concerns.
Ears