Ear Mites in Dogs: What Owners Need To Know

If your dog has itchy, inflamed ears, it can be distressing for you both. If your dog is constantly scratching or shaking their head, ear mites might be to blame. These tiny parasites can live in a dog’s ear canal and cause significant itching, pain, and discomfort.

In This Article

• • Understanding Ear Mites
  • How Dogs Get Ear Mites
  • Signs of Ear Mites
  • Diagnosing Ear Mites
  • Other Ear Problems to Know
  • Treating Ear Mites
  • Preventing Future Infestations
  • FAQs About Ear Mites in Dogs

If left untreated, ear mites in dogs can multiply quickly and spread to other pets. Make sure to bring your dog to the veterinarian right away, so they can identify the source of your dog’s problem and determine the appropriate treatment. Read on to learn how ear mites spread between dogs, signs of an infestation, and treatment options.

What Are Dog Ear Mites?

Ear mites are arachnids, belonging to the same class as spiders and ticks. The most common type of ear mite in dogs is Otodectes cynotis, a Latin term that means “ear beggar of the dog.” As this term suggests, ear mites in the environment are attracted to skin cells, says Dr. Veronica Villanueva, DVM, medical director at VEG Anaheim Hills. When these tiny parasites enter the ear canal, they can damage the skin’s delicate lining as they feed on wax, oils, and debris.

The entire life cycle of ear mites is three weeks. Typically, adult mites lay eggs in the ear canal. After four days, the eggs hatch into larvae, which continue feeding for another 10 days. As larvae mature, fertilization may occur, leading the cycle to repeat itself.

Ear mites may remain in the ear, but they can also live on the skin or spread to other pets and animals. In fact, they’re highly contagious among dogs, cats, ferrets, and rabbits. “Mites can spread between these species, but mostly dog ear mites are contracted from other dogs,” explains Dr. Villanueva.

How Do Dogs Get Ear Mites?

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There are several ways dogs can become infested with ear mites. Puppies can get ear mites from their mother since they’re often in close contact during nursing and grooming. “If there are multiple puppies, there will be a higher concentration of mites in the environment, and puppies can pass them to each other,” Dr. Villanueva says.

Dogs that spend a lot of time outside are at increased risk of picking up mites from other pets and wildlife. “Cats are frequent carriers, because they’re going outdoors and socializing with other cats,” she says. In addition, mites can multiply wherever dogs congregate, such as when they’re playing or socializing at a park, beach, or doggie daycare.

Mites can also spread quickly in multi-pet households where dogs sleep together or groom each other. “The reason it spreads so easily is that ear mites can reproduce very quickly in the ear canal,” she says. “One pet can infest all the others in the household, even if there’s a small number of mites.” Shared bedding, blankets, crates, and grooming tools can all contain mites.

That said, unlike fleas, ear mites can’t survive for long in the environment unless they have a host animal. “But as long as a dog is infested, ear mites will persist in the environment,” she says. Fortunately, ear mites don’t seem to survive on humans. With prompt treatment, you can help reduce the severity of an infection and eliminate these parasites from your household.

What Are the Symptoms of Ear Mites in Dogs?

Dogs may not show symptoms until the mite population reaches a certain level, Dr. Villanueva says. Often, the first signs of an ear mite infestation are intense itching and head scratching. “You’ll notice your dog shaking their head quite often, scratching their ears, or rubbing their head on the furniture,” she says. They might also yelp in pain or resist when you try to inspect their ear.

Another symptom is ear discharge. “One thing that owners will say when they come in is that they see this crumbly discharge,” she says. “It looks almost like dark coffee grounds.” There can also be dried blood from dogs scratching themselves, giving the discharge a reddish-brown appearance.

Additional symptoms include redness and inflammation of the ear canal, and a strong odor. Dogs may develop cuts and abrasions from scratching and rubbing. Bacteria can also get into the wound, which could cause ear infections. “In severe cases, sometimes you can see scabs around the ear or hair loss from scratching,” says Dr. Villanueva. With heavy infestations, ear mites may travel to other parts of a dog’s body, causing otodectic mange, which requires that you treat the whole body.

How Do Veterinarians Diagnose Ear Mites?

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If your dog is persistently scratching or shaking their head, make sure to consult your veterinarian. Several other ear conditions can mimic mite infestations. For example, dogs can have tiny ticks or fleas in their ear, especially working dogs and hunting dogs. “That’s why it’s so important for them to come in to the vet,” Dr. Villanueva says. Proper diagnosis can help avoid complications such as infections, hearing loss, and balance issues if the middle and inner ear are affected.

“When dogs come into the hospital or clinic, we examine their ear with an otoscope,” she says. “It’s a handheld device that we use to look inside the ear canal.” Next, the veterinarian will take a sample of discharge or debris from the ear. “We’ll put it under the microscope, and if mites are present, we can see them crawling around,” she says.

Other Potential Ear Concerns

During the examination, your veterinarian will also look for other concerns, including infection. Symptoms of an infected ear such as redness, head scratching, dark discharge, and wounds or skin irritation, can resemble those of ear mites. Some dogs may also develop skin tags or papillomas. This can trap debris and lead to infection.

Another common ear condition is a yeast infection. Moisture, debris, and a warm environment make the ear an ideal breeding ground for yeast, which is a type of fungus. Allergies can lead to irritated skin. Scratching and rubbing can then compromise a dog’s skin barrier, providing an environment for yeast overgrowth, she says. In addition to having an awful smell, discharge from a yeast infection can also look brown and cakey, and sometimes look like coffee grounds.

Whether your dog has ear mites, an infection, or both, they might shake or scratch their heads with such frequency or intensity that they damage the blood vessels in their ear. Blood can then pool under the skin of their ear flap, leading to an ear hematoma. These painful blisters can become infected. If left untreated, dogs can develop scarring or hearing loss.

How Are Dog Ear Mites Treated?

It’s best to start with a clean ear before using medication. Your veterinarian will clean your dog’s ear using an ear wash or cleaner to remove as much wax and debris as possible. Next, they will apply an ear mite treatment for dogs that is effective against a range of parasites. Your dog may need antibacterial or antifungal medications if they have an infection.

There are two options for treating ear mites in dogs: topical and oral medications. Topical medications involve giving medicated drops in your dog’s ear. Because these medications can be a bit oily or greasy, Dr. Villanueva recommends doing a dry cleaning of the ear between treatments. This means wiping the ear with sterile gauze or a cotton ball before putting medicine in the ear. Often, vets will use a flea and tick prevention medication to treat ear mites and prevent reinfestations.

Another option is giving your dog a chewable tablet. “Typically, owners prefer the oral tablet because the medicated drops need to be given daily, whereas tablets are given once a week or every couple of weeks,” she says. “Usually, treatment will last anywhere between two and four weeks, depending on the product the veterinarian prescribes.”

If the treatment is successful, you’ll notice less itching both in frequency and intensity. “The main thing is that your dog will seem more comfortable,” she emphasizes. “If there are multiple pets in the home, it’s best to treat the whole household, even if they’re not showing symptoms.” That’s because there’s a risk of dogs reinfesting each other.

“If the infestation has gone on for a significant amount of time and the skin has been chronically inflamed, this can cause thickening of the ear wall,” she says. “And if the ear wall becomes thickened, it can actually affect their hearing.” The longer an infestation persists, the greater the chance of damage to the eardrum and permanent hearing loss.

How Can You Prevent Ear Mite Infestations?

“The biggest way to prevent ear mites is to use a monthly parasite prevention,” Dr. Villanueva says. These chewable tablets protect against fleas, ticks, and ear mites, and often come in beef or bacon flavors to appeal to dogs. In addition, she recommends caution when introducing new pets to the home. “Isolate them for a couple of weeks and make sure they get checked for ear mites,” she says.

Whether you have a single or multi-pet household, one way to prevent reinfestation is to stay on top of cleaning. Make sure to wash dog bedding regularly. Clean up outdoor areas where your dog might be exposed to mites. Although ear mites aren’t contagious to humans, sometimes people develop a rash or irritated skin. If you’re treating your dog at home, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly or wear gloves while applying medication to your dog’s ear.

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Another key to prevention is regularly checking and cleaning your dog’s ears at home. You don’t need to perform a full, deep ear cleaning every time your dog goes swimming, but be sure to dry their ears thoroughly and use an appropriate ear flush. Trapped moisture and debris can easily breed bacteria or yeast, which is the leading cause of swimmer’s ear. “Anytime the pH or temperature is affected, or if there’s moisture in the ear, these conditions can lead to an ear infection,” Dr. Villanueva says.

After your dog has a bath, clean the ears promptly using a medicated ear wash recommended by your veterinarian. Be aware that cleaning ears too frequently or aggressively can disrupt normal ear flora and cause irritation.

Lastly, dogs with itchy, painful ears are more likely to resist handling . In extreme cases, these dogs may require sedation for ear cleaning. “Definitely, with ear infections or anything involving a dog’s ear, you want to get it checked out right away,” she says. “The sooner the better.” Routine care and early intervention can help avoid complications, such as infections, scarring, balance issues, or hearing loss.

Frequently Asked Questions