Ask the Vet About Ear Mites in Dogs and Cats

As a practicing veterinarian, Dr. Dym has over 19 years of experience and dedication to enhancing the overall health and well-being of pets. His commitment and passion for pet health continuously drives him to learn more about the art and science of homeopathy through ongoing training and education.
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Question:Can ear mites cause puppies to whine except for when receiving a treat or food?
Answer:Possibly, but so can MANY other things. Have your veterinarian check out the pup if it continues or worsens.

Question:My dog has ear mites and I don’t know how to get rid of the infection. What to should I do?
Answer:It is ideal for your veterinarian to look and make sure the ear drum is intact before putting anything in the ear & be sure there are no ear mites - they are treated differently, but you can try cleaning the ears with a cleaner like Epi-Otic Advanced (http://www.1800petmeds.com/Epi+Otic+Advanced+Ear+Cleanser-prod11109.html) and/or applying Zymox Otic (http://www.1800petmeds.com/Zymox+Otic+Enzymatic+Solution+with+Hydrocortisone-prod10622.html). Both of these are over-the-counter. This combination of cleaning and/or Zymox Otic will work for mild ear infections, but for moderate or severe, you usually end up needing the stronger prescription medications that you would have to get at your veterinarian. Chronic, recurrent ear infections are secondary to something else (allergies usually, but can be other things) so you and your veterinarian must find and treat the underlying cause, not just the secondary infection.

Question:I’ve ordered revaluation plus for 11 plus lbs. I have one very old and skinny cat should I give the full dose or spelt it up.
Answer:Give just half - that is the dosage for a 5.6 to 11 pound cat so she should fall in that range. Certainly if she is less than 5.6 pounds, see your veterinarian to see what is going on before applying.

Question: How to treat ear mites on my dog at home
Answer:Ear infections are much more common in dogs than ear mites. Treating for ear mites when they have an ear infection can be painful and harmful, so ideally have your check him/her quickly before you treat the ear. They can also check to be sure that the ear drum is intact which is important before aquirting medication down in the ear canal.

Question:I read that some flea prevention meds can kill ear mites in dogs. Is this the case and, if so, which brands are most effective?
Answer:Revolution is the only one I can think of labeled for dogs (advantage multi is labeled for ear mites but only in cats).

Question:I just wanted to know if it was ear mites or not and if i can send you a photo???
Answer:We don't have a way for you to attach a photo, BUT it actually wouldn't help without some kind of magnification - like a microscope because macroscopically an ear infection can look exactly like ear mites.. Your veterinarian will have one and be able to tell immediately. It is important to tell the difference because treating an ear infection for ear mites and treating ear mites like an ear infection won't help at all and can potentially hurt.

Question:My oldest cat been Scratching really hard at his ears sometimes it’s red and hot and it feels like water comes out his ear
Answer:It is ideal for your veterinarian to definitively diagnosis ear mites - if it is an ear infection, ear mite medications won't help and may hurt. Ear mites are rare in older cats.

Question:I believe my dog has ear mites but only in one ear. She is shaking her head constantly and scratching to the point she causes herself pain. She has also over scratched it to the point she is bleeding. It smells bad and there is dark discharge in the ear that does look clumpy. The ear is super red inside.
Answer:If it is only one ear, it is probably an infection - which is treated entirely differently than ear mites, so it is ideal for your veterinarina to look down into her ear, make a diagnosis and make sure her ear drum is intact before squirtling medication down in there.

Question:I can't get in to a vet until Aug 5, what can I do for my kittens with ear mites until then. They are about 8 weeks
Answer:There are many over-the-counter products out there, like this one: https://www.1800petmeds.com/Eradimite+Ear+Mite+Treatment-prod3311.html

Question:My 10 year old cat has ear mites what do I give her without going to the vet and spending a ton of money
Answer:It is ideal for your veterinarian to definitively diagnosis ear mites - if it is an ear infection, ear mite medications won't help and may hurt. If it is definitely an ear infection, there are many over-the-counter medications like this one: https://www.1800petmeds.com/Eradimite+Ear+Mite+Treatment-prod3311.html

Question:Is there an online solution I can purchase to get rid of ear mites?
Answer:Yes, there are many over-the-counter and prescription ones. Here is a good over-the-counter one: https://www.1800petmeds.com/Eradimite+Ear+Mite+Treatment-prod3311.html

Question:How to clean her ears
Answer:Here is a link to our article entitled "How to Clean Your Cat's Ears": https://www.1800petmeds.com/education/how-to-clean-cats-ears-6.htm

Question:My 8 year old cat has ear mites.at least that's what it looks like. He rubs his ears a lot and cries. What is the best treatment for ear mites?
Answer:Ear mites are very easy to get rid of, even with over-the-counter products, like Eradimite. What is more common is ear infections secondary to allergies and ear mite medication won't help that at all and would be unnecessarily painful for the kitty, so it is ideal for your veterinarian to check him out and determine what you are treating.

Question:Can ear mites cause serious injuries to my dog and how do I get rid of them for good?
Answer:Ear mites are very easy to get rid of, even with over-the-counter products. What is more common in dogs is ear infections secondary to allergies and ear mite medication won't help that at all and would be unnecessarily painful for the dog, so it ideal for your veterinarian to check him/her out and determine what you are treating.

Question:What is the best over the counter ear mite medicine for puppies
Answer:Eradimite is a good one: https://www.1800petmeds.com/Eradimite+Ear+Mite+Treatment-prod3311.html