How do dogs get ear mites?

What Causes Ear Mites in Dogs? Highly contagious, ear mites are most common in outdoor cats, which can infect their canine companions. They are most often passed from pet to pet in casual contact at home or outside. Humans are generally immune to ear mites. read more

There are several types of mites that can live in your dog’s ear, but the most common are Otodectes cynotis -- tiny, eight-legged parasites that feed on the wax and oils in a dog’s ear canal. An individual mite has a three-week life cycle, and is barely detectable by the naked eye. read more

Ear mite infestations are one of the most common ear problems in dogs. Several species of mites can live in the canine ear canal, the most common being Otodectes cynotis. Ear mites can actually be found anywhere on the body and can be carried by cats, hamsters, gerbils, ferrets, mice and rabbits. read more

Over the counter ear mite treatments will be of no benefit to other types of ear infections that can commonly affect dogs. Ear mite infection may be misdiagnosed by the dog's owner often causing a delay in getting the correct treatment from their veterinarian. read more