What are ear mites in dogs?

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 mites can be treated with products your veterinarian will prescribe that are applied directly in the ear or parasite medications that are applied right to the skin. If the ears are infected or have a build-up of debris, gentle cleaning may be required with cotton and a canine ear cleaner. read more

Dogs that are afflicted with ear mites will typically scratch at the ears excessively and shake their heads, even pulling out their own hair as they scratch. Some dogs will shake their heads so much that an hematoma of the ear will form (with blood pooling in the ear due to breakage of a blood vessel). read more

Causes of Mites in Dogs' Ears. The biggest cause of ear mites in dogs in being in close proximity to a cat that has them. Cats are much more likely to host mites than dogs. Ear mites don't usually affect adult dogs either, BUT if you have a puppy, or a dog that lives with a cat or other small pets, then they are susceptible to ear mites. read more