Telltale Signs of Ear Mites
Does
it seem that whenever you turn around your pet is
busily scratching her ears or shaking her head? Take
a good look inside her ears. Do you notice a dark-brown,
sometimes pungent smelling wax, or a crusty residue
that looks a little like coffee grounds? If the answer
is yes, your dog or cat may have ear mites. These
tiny, almost invisible eight-legged parasites feed
on the lining of your pet's ear canal and cause great
irritation, and when your pet attempts to get some
relief by scratching, the ear canal becomes inflamed.
Ear Mites in Cats & Dogs Can Be Serious
Left
untreated, the infection could spread to the middle
and inner ear, resulting in more serious problems.
Also, excessive scratching and shaking could cause
the blood vessels inside the earflap to rupture
and leak blood between the two surfaces. This results
in a swelling known as aural hematoma, which typically
requires corrective surgery.
Feline & Canine Ear Mites – Diagnosing a Problem
Your
veterinarian can confirm the presence of ear mites
with an otoscope; he or she will then clean the
ear canals, prescribe medicated eardrops and also
recommend that you treat any other animals in your
house. Remember, mites are easily passed from one
pet to another. These parasites can also live outside
the ear, so your veterinarian may recommend a medicine.
After
the first treatment of drops, your pet should see
some relief in about 10 days, but you'll need to
continue treatment for at least 3 weeks. In addition,
it is suggested that you treat your pet's bedding
and favorite places with an appropriate insecticidal
spray or powder since mites can live for several
months without a host.
In
the future, you can protect your pet against parasite
problems with a once a month routine ear cleaning.
This
information is brought to you by Hartz®, makers
of Hartz® Health measures® Ear Mite Treatment
and Ear Cleaner with Aloe. For more information,
please call
1-800-275-1414, or visit our website at www.hartz.com.
For more information on ear problems, please checkout the topic EAR PROBLEMS.
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