Ear mites are a common pest among pets. They are one of many that need to be quickly and effectively dealt with. It is easy to learn how to treat ear mites. This keeps pets from getting permanent or serious damage from an infection.

These creatures are microscopic. They are invisible to the human eye. Unless there is a massive infestation, one will not actually see these tiny critters. They are transmitted between animals through physical contact. Humans do not need to worry as this is only an animal to animal problem. Humans do not get mite infestations.

It is a good idea to frequently clean the ears of a pet. This can be done by using a solution of equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide. Dip a cotton swab into the solution and gently clean the insides of the pet ears. Make sure to use a separate swab on each ear. This will help prevent the spread of an ear infection from one ear to the other. Cleaning ears also helps to see if any discolored discharge or build up is in the ears.

One symptom of infestation is it makes a pet itch its ears. This is because they cause inflammation within the ear canal, causing irritation. Pets will also shake their heads. Blood will also be noticeable as a discharge. This is usually dry and looks similar to coffee grounds. However, it can also be fresh. More serious infestations can cause an animal to be unbalanced. This is similar to people who have inner ear problems. If the pet has mites elsewhere, they might not be bothered by them.

If a mite infestation does not get treated, serious side affects can occur. These include permanent hearing loss due to damage to the ear canal and ear drum, skin disease and ear infections.

Treatment is available in many forms. There are over the counter treatments. These are liquid and are put in the dogs ear. These take twenty one to thirty days. This is because they do not kill mite eggs. The time is needed to kill off all mites plus give time for the eggs to hatch and kill the new mites as well.

Prescription medications are available at a veterinary hospital. These have a shorter treatment time of ten to fourteen days. These do have mite egg killing medication in them. They come in liquid drop form or can be injected.

Flea and tick medications, like shampoos and drops, will kill mites that are outside the pets ears. A pet on a flea treatment should not have mites on their body.

When treatment is required to rid the pet of a mite infestation, if there are multiple pets, all pets must be treated at the same time. This prevents repeat infestations.

When an animal has recurring infestations, severe symptoms or prescription medication needs to be obtained, the pet needs to be taken to a veterinarian. Repeat infestations can be the result of not treating all animals in the household at the same time.

It is important to treat ear mites at the first signs of infestation. This will prevent the problem from worsening. Learn to treat ear mites and know the symptoms to help keep pets healthy.

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