By Clare Bartholomew

Many pet owners have heard of ear mites and ear infections, but there seem to be some common misconceptions that prevent pets from receiving appropriate treatment for their ear ailments. Consulting a veterinarian is always the best option when a pet is showing signs of ear discomfort, but I’ve found many pet owners decide to take matters into their own hands for various reasons. Considering the difficulty of finding timely veterinary care in a remote area such as the Mendocino coast, especially for low-income pet owners, I hope this article will help some uncomfortable ears find relief a bit sooner than they would otherwise.

Ear mites are very tiny parasites resembling ticks that live in the ear canal and feed off of ear wax and skin oil.

They are essentially microscopic but are sometimes visible with the naked eye, appearing as tiny, moving white dots. Ear mites are transmitted very easily between pets through physical contact.

They cause intense itching and inflammation and are often accompanied by dark ear discharge resembling coffee grounds. While ear mites can affect both cats and dogs, they are much more common in cats (especially those that go outdoors). Because of their easy transmission, ear mites tend to be present in all cats within a household.

There are multiple treatment options for ear mites. Over-the-counter ear mite medications can be purchased online or at a feed/pet store, but most of these products need to be applied into the ears every day for a few weeks to work. There are also products (such as Milbemite) that only need to be applied to the ears once to be effective, but these products are available through veterinary prescription only. Other prescription products containing selamectin (such as Revolution) can be applied to the skin once monthly for effective flea, heartworm, and ear mite control. Regardless of the product used, the key to successful treatment is using the product exactly as directed and treating all affected animals (usually cats) in the environment.

While it may be a reasonable first step to treat your outdoor cat’s itchy ears with ear mite medication, this is not usually true for dogs. Dog ear infections are most often due to bacterial and/or yeast proliferation, which can occur from underlying skin allergies, foreign bodies such as foxtails, or breed-related differences in ear shape or ear canal conformation. Bacterial/yeast infections tend to cause intense pain and itching and are often accompanied by foul-smelling ear discharge.

Treatment for bacterial/yeast infections typically includes antibacterial/antifungal ear flushes and medications instilled into the ears. More severe or chronic cases can require additional and ongoing therapies, and infection may return if the underlying cause is not treated. For pets with underlying flea allergy, for example, consistent prescription flea control may be needed to prevent repeated ear infections. In addition to causing chronic discomfort, recurrent ear infections can cause permanent damage to the ear canal and can even affect the surrounding bone.

In summary, both cats and dogs can get ear infections of all types, but ear mites are a much more common cause in cats than in dogs.

It is always best to have your pet’s ears evaluated by a veterinarian before attempting to treat them yourself. If that is not possible, however, hopefully this information will help direct you to the most appropriate over-the-counter product for your pet. Just make sure to only use products labeled specifically for dogs and cats and to use them exactly as directed on the label. If your pet’s ear issues persist after treatment, consult with a vet as soon as possible.

“Ask the Vet” is a monthly column written by local veterinarians including Colin Chaves of Covington Creek Veterinary, Karen Novak of Mendocino Village Veterinary, Clare Bartholomew of Mendocino Coast Humane Society and Kendall Willson of Mendocino Equine and Livestock. Past articles can be found on the Advocate-News and Beacon websites by searching “Ask the Vet.”