How to treat ear ticks in dogs: the most popular drugs, review and prices

Greetings! A healthy pet is always a joy. But, unfortunately, animals cannot complain if they have something wrong with their health. Some diseases appear and go unnoticed, and with some the animal organism is not able to cope on its own.

The main thing here is to pay attention to the symptoms and changes in the behavior of the animal. For example, if a dog begins to actively comb its own ears, then it’s just right to be puzzled than treating ear mites in dogs. I talk about how to cope with this infection.

Ear tick in dogs: treatment, drugs, drops to remove the tick

When the dog begins to scratch his ear intensively, shakes his head, tilts his head to one side, black peels are found in the ear - the owner may suspect that his pet is suffering from otodectosis (ear mite).

This disease causes a microscopic tick parasitizing in the auricle. However, such symptoms can be with other pathologies of the ear, so you should definitely show the dog to a veterinarian.

What is this tick

The Otodectes cynotis tick lives in the external auditory canal of many carnivores (dogs, cats, ferrets, Arctic foxes). It feeds on blood, lymph, earwax and particles of the skin, constantly releasing, of course, its waste products.

A dog can become infected at any time of the year. This is due to the fact that ear mites live in a confined space (auricle), where suitable conditions for their life and development are constantly preserved.

But the number of parasites can vary and will depend on the physiological condition of the dog. That is, the younger the dog (still weaker immunity) or the weaker the animal’s health, the higher the risks of developing otodectosis.

The ear tick affects animals of various ages, but young animals from 1.5 to 6 months suffer more.

How infection occurs, how the ear tick is transmitted

An ear mite is transmitted when a healthy dog ​​comes in contact with an infected one. Cases of infection through individual things (shoes, etc.) are recorded, but more often this is true for small dogs and animals with weakened immunity. In young puppies, the source of infection is often the mother.

Symptoms

An ear mite causes an invasive disease in a dog, which usually proceeds chronically. In the habitat of the ear tick occur:

• redness,
• swelling
• during inflammation, a characteristic fluid is released, which, together with dead skin particles, earwax and mite waste products, forms black-brown crusts in the dog’s auricle,
• with complications of secondary microflora, the process switches to secondary and internal care, and then to the meninges (rarely).

When parasitizing an ear tick in a dog, the owner may note the following symptoms:

1. persistent itching: the dog tries to scratch its ears on objects or intensively scratches them with claws of its paws (often up to blood),
2. the dog’s head position becomes unnatural: the head is lowered or tilted towards the affected ear,
3. with the advanced form of the disease, pus forms in the auricle, which sticks together the wool on the lower edge of the ear,
4. in the case of the transition of inflammation to the meninges, nerve disorders develop during which the dog dies.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is made on the basis of signs characteristic of the presence of an ear tick, as well as mandatory scraping. To do this, the earwax collects dirt from the inside of the auricle and apply them to a glass slide.

After confirming that the dog has an ear tick, appropriate treatment is prescribed.

Treatment

Special treatment is carried out only after thorough thorough cleaning of the auricle from all contaminants. Now there is a large selection of various tick remedies that differ in the active substance, the manufacturer and, of course, the price.

Immediately remove the ear tick does not work, so it is important to have patience and observe the specified interval between the use of various medicines.

Folk remedies for the treatment of otodectosis in a dog do not exist. Applying various decoctions and infusions, you only give the dog unnecessary torment and delay the treatment, which will really help get rid of the tick.

Prevention of otodectosis in dogs

• Inspect your dog’s ears regularly.
• in the presence of impurities, the ears clean and observe how quickly new impurities appear, what color and consistency they are,
• prophylactic treatment with special drops from parasites for dogs (for example, Stronghold),
• if the owner suspected otodectosis in the dog, you can once apply any tick remedy and observe the dynamics. If the pollution does not become less, most likely, the reason is not in the ear tick and how to treat the dog will be established by the veterinarian at a more thorough examination and any tests.

How to brush a dog’s ear

Many dogs do not really like the procedure for cleaning the ears, so the pet will have to be fixed. Small breeds can be wrapped in a towel or blanket so that only the head sticks out. To hold a large dog, most likely, you will need a second person who will hold the body of the dog.

It should be noted that some pets, on the contrary, become more worried if they begin to be fixed and exert some kind of pressure. Therefore, for starters, you can try to clean your ears without any methods of coercion. In case of severe itching, the dog can reflexively produce characteristic movements of the hind limbs during ear cleaning.

How to clean

You can clean the dog’s ears with ordinary ear sticks or a cotton pad, wrapping it around your index finger. The use of medical instruments (for example, it is convenient to hold a cotton swab with a clamp) requires some experience.

How to start? With the left hand, holding, straighten the ear of the dog. With their right hand, they begin to clean out the impurities from all the anatomical grooves in the ear, gradually deepening to the auditory meatus.

Movements must be from top to bottom so that dirt is lifted outward, and not pushed even deeper. Do not be afraid to stick the ear stick too deep, the dog’s ear is arranged differently from a person’s and you will not damage the eardrum.

Use of lotions. There are many special lotions for hygienic cleaning of pet ears. Such lotions have a softening effect: reduce itching and redness in the ears.

Of course, their correct use will greatly facilitate the cleaning process, but they cost more than conventional products (peroxide and chlorhexidine). A few drops of the lotion are instilled into the dog’s ear and massage the auricle for a minute.

The components of lotions soften all accumulated dirt, and they lag behind almost by themselves. The dog is allowed to shake its head, after which the remaining part of the lotion and contaminants are carefully removed with a cotton pad.

How to instill ear drops or apply ointment

In long-haired dog breeds, it makes sense to cut off the hair from the inner surface of the auricle for the duration of treatment, otherwise the drugs will not enter the deeper sections and the meaning of the treatment disappears.

The auricle of the dog is straightened towards the back of the head (as if it were turned out). The nose from a tube of ointment or from a bottle of drops is immersed as deep as possible, but so that you can see how much drug you introduce. Then the ear is returned to its natural position and massaged for a minute to evenly distribute the drug.

Some medications can cause the dog discomfort (burning), especially when there are wounds in the ear. Therefore, it is necessary to be patient with the dog and at the end of all procedures to encourage the pet treat or distract the toy.

Veterinary ear tick remedies

1. Drops in the ears of Anandin. After cleaning the ears, 3-5 drops of the drug (depending on the size of the dog) are instilled into each ear, even if only one is affected. Drops are used 1 time per day for 4-7 days until the discharge disappears. The price of the drug is 55 rubles.
2. Drops from the Amitrazin ear mite .1-2 ml of the drug is instilled into each ear. Repeated injections are made 1 time in 3 days until complete recovery. The cost is about 70 rubles.
3. Drops "Bars". 3-5 drops are instilled in two ears, repeated after 5-7 days. The price is 95 rubles.
4. Ivermek gel. A strip of 0.5-2 cm gel is applied deep into the ear canal (in both ears) and massaged thoroughly. Processing is carried out twice with a break of 5-7 days. The price of a tube for 30 ml is 400 rubles.
5. Alone. This tick medicine is also instilled in both dogs ears for 3-5 drops, twice with an interval of 5-7 days. The price of the bottle is 40 rubles.
6. Tsipam. 3-6 drops in each ear with an interval of 5-7 days. The price is 140 rubles.

How to treat an ear tick in a dog at home

Some parasitic diseases in domestic animals are so "boring" to breeders that they practically do not pay attention to them.

A good example of this is otodectosis in dogs. But the disease is actually very dangerous! Therefore, today we will tell you how you can (and should) treat an ear tick in a dog at home.

What does an ear tick look like in dogs?

Even experienced breeders often have an idea of ​​what an ear tick looks like in dogs. In general, there is nothing strange about this: the pathogen, that is, Otodectes cynotis, does not differ in impressive size. It can generally be seen except in a microscope ..

Then it is necessary to carefully tear off the cotton wool from it and put it in a small glass vial (a container from antibiotics or eye drops is ideal). After the jar is placed in a fairly warm place for about an hour.

After 60 minutes, the container is placed in front of a black background (for example, opposite a sheet of colored paper) and, using a good light source, carefully inspect the inside of the tube.

If you look closely, you will notice tiny, whitish and “self-moving” points. These are ear mites. If you take a magnifier more powerful, you can see more details of the structure of the body of parasites.

One of the interesting features of this type of tick is the almost complete absence of sexual dimorphism: the body length of both females and males is approximately 0.45-0.5 mm. In this they are very different from other species of ticks, in which the female is usually much larger than the males (especially after plentiful feeding).

What is a parasite dangerous?

As we wrote above, many breeders do not even worry about the fact that their pets have an ear tick. This is fundamentally wrong and extremely dangerous error. "Harmless" at first glance otodectosis is a rather unpleasant disease.

But what is the parasite dangerous? A number of unpleasant complications: The most common problem is otitis media. Moreover, in many cases, it has the dangerous habit of rapidly deteriorating, turning, for example, into a purulent form.

With a particularly “successful” combination of circumstances, the dog may well die from the perforation (more precisely, the melting) of the eardrum and pus directly into the brain.

In addition, in recovered dogs, coordination of movements is often observed. This is due to the possible damage to the cochlea and other organs responsible for maintaining a normal body position in space.

Total or partial deafness of the animal. Given that the ear tick in most cases affects both ears, deafness may well be not only complete, but also bilateral. Inflammation of the external and all other parts of the hearing organs.

Important! Any tick-borne (and generally parasitic) infestations strongly “plant” the animal’s immunity, which is fraught with the development of fungal infections. An ideal environment is created in the ear (warm, moist, lots of fertilizers) for the growth of fungi. Similarly, the risk of developing tumor pathologies (both benign and malignant) is significantly increased.

Risk group: which dogs are most susceptible to otodectosis

Frankly, dogs are infected with an ear tick much less often than cats. But there is a certain risk group in the case of these pets: Longhair breeds. Dogs with long ears are highly susceptible to tick-borne infestation. In addition, animals with soft and folded skin (sharpei, for example) are in a similar situation.

But far from always and not in all cases, breed affiliation plays a prominent role. A combination of the following factors is much more important: Fatness and general health of the pet (however, this is true for thousands of other diseases).

The younger or older the animal, the higher the likelihood of illness. Age-related factors have a bad effect on the dog’s immunity, and therefore the latter are much more often and much harder to get sick (of course, this applies not only to otodectosis, but also to many other pathologies).

Of course, initially sick pets are much easier to "catch" parasites. An important role is played by food.The better the pet's diet is selected and balanced, the less likely it is that he will get sick with otodectosis.

Signs of Ear Mite in Dogs

In general, everything is simple here. All signs of an ear tick in dogs are similar to those for any other diseases of the hearing organs: The dog begins to scratch its ears.

At first, it is not strong, but over time, itching becomes more and more severe. After a couple of weeks (depending on the immune system and other factors), he “pulls out” the animal so much that the dog begins to literally tear his ears.

It is not surprising that in sick pets, the auricles quickly become covered with numerous scratches, tears and abrasions. The development of the inflammatory process, in many cases, quickly turning into a purulent form.

Abundant accumulations of brownish-red deposits. These are tick waste products. Accordingly, the more this “sedimentary rock” is, the more intense the infection.

In these cases, the dog starts to smell extremely unpleasant. In addition, with running otodectosis, the dog constantly shakes his head and ears, which makes droplets of foul-smelling exudate scatter in all directions.

Methods of treating otodectosis in clinical and home settings

First, we note that the methods of treating dogs for ear mites can be divided into two large groups: "home" and clinical. I would like to say that to start treating your pet according to the “recipes” read on the first forum that came up is not the best idea.

If you do not know the basic therapeutic principles, then the dog can be harmed faster than contribute to a real improvement in its condition.

Drug treatment

As a rule, drug treatment for an ear tick does not cause any particular difficulties. Provided, of course, that the case is still not too neglected.

There are plenty of preparations for this: The most common Bars drops that are in every veterinary pharmacy. Alone. Tsipam. Aurican and other drip formulations designed to be applied directly to the ear canals.

Folk remedies

Immediately emphasize that the use of folk remedies in the treatment of otodectosis is possible only if the disease is mild. When pus drips from the ears of a pet, the use of “poultices” is just a waste of time.

Experts advise resorting to the following methods: Camphor oil has proven itself well, which is used to clean dog ears up to three times a day. Camphor ticks are strongly disliked, so that in the early stages of infection, it is quite possible to cure the animal.

We highly recommend that you disinfect the ears of a sick pet at least twice a day using a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution for this purpose. Peroxide itself practically does not harm ticks, but this uncomplicated tool prevents the development of inflammatory processes.

It has a slight tanning effect and also prevents the development of inflammatory reactions in the ear canals of the animal. For the treatment of otodectosis, it is advised to use garlic, but we would not recommend using this remedy.

The fact is that garlic contains many deadly substances for dogs. In addition, such a "vigorous" means can simply burn the delicate skin lining the inside of the ear canal. But if there are no other options, then you can use it.

It is necessary to grind into a small and completely homogeneous slurry the smallest clove of garlic. It is mixed with a stack of sterile vegetable oil, and then insisted for a day.The resulting composition is instilled in the ears of the dog no more than one drop per day. You can also use essential oils, including peppermint, eucalyptus, orange.

Once again, we warn that all the means of “folk veterinary medicine” described by us are effective only in the initial stages of the disease. In addition, if you use them too abundantly, you can easily burn the skin in the ear canals of the dog.

How to clean your dog’s ears before using medication

And now you need to talk about how to properly clean the ears of a dog before using fixed assets. This is nothing complicated, but you should always be careful and careful: to clean the ears you must use exclusively sterile cotton swabs.

When cleaning the ears from the crusts and “debris” of tick mites, force cannot be used. Simply put, all crusts and other pieces need to be separated very carefully and gradually.

We strongly do not recommend tearing away scabs, as this will certainly lead to the development of the inflammatory process. To prevent this from happening, you must first soften them with sterile vegetable oil or hydrogen peroxide.

Prevention of infection of the dog with an ear tick

As such, there is no specific prophylaxis. Simply put, there are no vaccines for otodectosis. Therefore, the only reliable way to prevent the disease is to isolate the pet from contact with other animals (especially the homeless).

In addition, it is useful to examine your pet’s ears at least every two weeks. In addition, once a quarter, you can clean the dog’s ear canals with one of the above types of drops.

How to recognize an ear tick in a dog and cure it

The fight against ear mites in dogs is endless. For weeks you torture the animal, treating the ears with ointments and drops, and not even a month passes, when the crumbly black coating and crusts appear again. In the article I will tell you how to identify the first symptoms of the disease, cure it and prevent re-infection.

How to recognize

Inexperienced dog owners think that an ear mite is similar in size to a regular, ixodic tick. But this parasite is visible only under a magnifying glass or microscope. A lesion is recognized by external signs: black plaque and scabies.

Parasitizes Otodectes cynotis exclusively in the inner surface of the conch and on the skin of the outer ear. On other parts of the body, the tick does not take root. Therefore, the first suspect for problems with the ears of the dog is Otodectes cynotis.

However, to see the insect with the naked eye does not work. At home, the scraping is taken with a cotton swab and examined under a magnifying glass. Whitish, translucent grains of sand that move along black mass are parasites. This is what the ear tick looks like.

Symptoms

Settling in the ears, ear mites gnaw through and pierce the skin. So insects get the blood and lymph they need. In parallel, they lay eggs in the wounds. The affected areas become inflamed, itchy, covered with a black coating - a mixture of sulfur with the waste products of the parasites.

The first 2 weeks of otodectosis are difficult to determine. Only experienced owners notice that the pet scratches its ears from time to time and shakes its head uneasily. But from the 15th day, the symptoms intensify.

Dog:

• tears ears apart with claws;
• nervous, worried during rest, walking, feeding;
• rubs ears on the surface;
• constantly shaking his head - at this time black flakes sometimes fly out of his ears;
• presses one ear to the floor.

Another symptom is "crookedness." The pet tilts its head and holds it in this position for hours.
When examining the affected ears are visible:

1. viscous clusters of black, brown or gray;
2. bad smell;
3. crusted wounds and combs.

Otodectes cynotis waste products are similar to dirt. A proven way to distinguish them is to clean your ears and watch for a couple of days. If after 2-3 days the shells are again covered with a viscous, black secret - they are affected by otodectosis.

Infection pathways

Otodectosis does not live long in the external environment - a maximum of 3 weeks at a temperature of + 10-20 ° C. If the thermometer readings fall below -5 ° C, the insect will last 3-5 hours.

But the probability of contracting Otodectes cynotis is high. Otodectosis is transmitted by contact and domestic means:

• when interacting with an affected animal;
• through care items - couches, combs, bowls;
• from clothes and shoes, if the owner stroked another sick pet;
• from mother to puppies.

Dogs are more likely to get ear scabies in early spring and late fall. But you can get infected in the winter or summer. Because the parasite lives on the body of pets, its activity does not depend on climatic conditions. Which animals are at risk? All dogs get sick with otodectosis. But more often, ear mites parasitize puppies and juniors for 1.5-6 months.

Higher risk of infection in breeds with long ears - dachshunds, beagles, basset hounds, spaniels. Closed channel, long hair lead to the accumulation of secretions, dirt, create an ideal environment for parasites.

More often ear mites are picked up by hunting dogs - they become infected from wild animals. Otodectosis is found in other pets. Therefore, if cats and ferrets live in the same house as a sick dog, they are isolated.

What is dangerous

The size of Otodectes cynotis is misleading. In severe cases, a small parasite leads to death: it gnaws the eardrum, through which pus enters the inner ear, and from there onto the membranes of the brain.

But such a complication is rare and only in gaunt animals that are not treated. Other consequences include:

1. the attachment of a bacterial or fungal infection;
2. purulent otitis media;
3. channel obstruction;
4. inflammation of the middle or inner ear;
5. deafness;
6. hematoma - if, when combing, the pet will damage the blood vessels.

Treatment regimen

Therapy of otodectosis is performed in 2 ways: External. Ears are treated with drops, ointments, sprays. Injectable. Under the skin, drugs are introduced that kill ticks - Ivomek, Tsidektin, Aversect-2 in a dosage of 1 ml per 5 kg of weight.

An ear mite is a close relative of spiders. Therefore, acaricides are used against it. The injection method is better: the toxin enters the body of ticks along with eaten blood and lymph.

The following scheme, validated by years and thousands of owners:

• cleansing the external auditory canal with an antiseptic (chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide);
• lubrication of the affected areas with aversectin ointment - twice with an interval of every 3-6 days;
• treatment with acaricidal solutions, drops or sprays - “Stomazan”, “Amitrazin”, “Butox”, etc.

An ointment or gel must be used in addition to solutions - in a greasy environment, parasites do not lay eggs. Both ears are treated, even if one is affected - over time, ticks migrate to the second. Fleas, worms and ticks are an inseparable trio. They carry each other's eggs.

Therefore, dogs are given anthelmintic tablets and antiparasitic drops are dripped onto the withers. At the same time they do antiparasitic treatment at home, because 5-20 days parasites are able to live in the environment. “Butox” or “Neostomazan” is bred in water.

It is advisable to conduct bacteriological culture on the subject of staphylococcus or streptococcus, to examine the ears under the Wood lamp to exclude damage by fungi. If infections join, prescribe antibiotics or antimycotic drugs.

How to prepare your ear for treatment

Any medicine for a tick is ineffective if applied to dirt and sulfur. Therefore, before acaricidal treatment, the auricle is cleaned:

1. long hairs around or inside the ear shear;
2. in a chlorhexidine solution, cotton swabs are moistened, plaque and crusts are removed;
3. move from edge to center;
4. you can’t go deep into the ear - there is a risk of pushing sulfur into the channel and clogging it; they are not recommended to be cleaned with sponges, gauze swabs or cotton wool - this leads to the formation of a cork.

Previously, the dog is put on the table and fixed at the withers, croup, paws. If possible, ask a second person to help. Read an article on how to clean your dog’s ears. Popular drugs Produce many veterinary preparations for ear mites.

• "Neostomazan" costs 20 rubles. 1 ml of the drug is diluted in 200 ml of water, the ears are lubricated with a solution and the area around them. After a week, the procedure is repeated.
• Aversectin ointment costs 60 rubles. Lubricate the cleaned ears once every 3-5 days until complete recovery. Usually you need 2-7 manipulations.
• Gel "Amidel NEO" costs 180 rubles. Enter 0.5-2 g of gel from a syringe dispenser. The ears are folded in half and massaged. Processed 1-2 times every 3-5 days. If necessary, repeat the course after a week. The product contains antibiotics and lidocaine.
• Gel "Ivermek" costs 400 rubles. Generously gel clean ears. The medicine additionally anesthetizes and accelerates wound healing. After a week, the treatment is repeated. In advanced cases, Ivermek is prescribed by injection.
• Drops "Bars" price of 150 rubles. Bury in each ear: 3 drops for small dogs, 4 for medium, 5 for large. The second time is treated after 5-7 days.
• Drops "Amitrazin" price 90 rubles. Dripping 0.5 ml (small dogs), 1 ml (medium-sized dogs) or 1.5-2 ml (large and giant breeds) into the ears. It will take 2-6 procedures, the interval between them is 5-7 days.
• Drops of “Decta Forte” price 110 rubles. Instill 3-5 drops in each ear, massage at the base. Processed 2-3 times with an interval of 3-5 days. In addition to destructive for mites, amitrase contains levomycetin (a broad-spectrum antibiotic), propolis (relieves inflammation, heals), lidocaine (anesthetizes).
• Drops "Tsipam" price 200 rubles. Wet the swab in Tsipama and wipe the ears. After instill 3-6 drops, depending on the weight of the animal.
• Spray "Acaromectin" price of 150 rubles. Abundantly irrigate the sink. Process 1-2 times, the second procedure is performed after 8-10 days.
• Decor-2 price of 70 rubles. The skin is pre-lubricated with vegetable oil, because the drug is burning. Then a medicine is applied with a sponge. Take a break for a week and repeat the manipulation. Do not use for perforation of the eardrum.

Any drug can not be used for infections, exhaustion, pregnancy, as well as puppies up to 1-2 months.

Preventative measures

It is impossible to protect the dog from infection with ear mites. But risk can be minimized. For this:

1. every 2-3 days they examine the ears;
2. note the consistency of plaque;
3. observe the behavior of the pet: alert when scratching, anxiety, shaking his head;
4. every 4 weeks they treat the dog from blood-sucking parasites, every 3 months from helminths; Do not contact stray dogs and pets, in whose health they are not sure;
   every 1-2 months lubricate the ears with acaricidal drugs for prevention.

The best antiparasitic collars are:

• “Preventik” - protects up to 16 weeks, waterproof, contains fatty acids to improve the condition of the skin and coat, price - 650 rubles;
• "Preventeff" - works 4 months, does not cause allergies, costs - 450 rubles.

The ears of dogs are regularly affected by ticks. Any owner will encounter them at least once a year. Therefore, every dog ​​owner must know the treatment regimen and the names of acaricidal drugs.

How to treat an ear tick in a dog at home

Having found signs of an ear tick in dogs, you need to choose a comprehensive treatment method. It is important to understand that the dog will recover faster if you combine medication with folk remedies.

What does an ear tick look like in dogs?

When a dog becomes infected with an ear tick, it is visually difficult to detect the parasite. Symptoms clearly indicate the infection, from which the dog becomes restless and irritable. To confirm the diagnosis, you can try to find ear ticks yourself or go to a veterinary clinic.

When contacting a veterinary clinic, the doctor takes a few scrapings of earwax and examines them under a microscope. If parasites are found, the dog is prescribed treatment. At home, this process is a little more complicated, but at the stage of infection, when the first symptoms appeared, the method is quite effective.

If you want to know what an ear tick looks like in dogs, you will need:

1. Nice, bright lamp and magnifying glass.
2. A sheet of black paper.
3. A few cotton buds.

For examination of earwax, you need to take several samples from different ears. Use a cotton swab only once! If you are unable to get enough sulfur, use a new wand.

Carefully hold the gray wand over a sheet of black paper and tap the plastic tube with your finger. Under bright light, with the help of a magnifying glass, you can find white grains that are somewhat similar to semolina - these are ear mites.

The ear mite shell contains a small amount of chitin, so it is almost transparent. Note! You are guaranteed to see ticks if grains on black paper move.

What is a parasite dangerous?

Ear mites are very dangerous, but at the same time vulnerable. Parasites live and breed in the auricles, since they depend on humidity and ambient temperature. The possible consequences of infection with an ear mite and the absence of treatment are many.

The most common of them are:

• Bilateral, purulent, chronic otitis media.
• Perforation of the eardrum.
• Acquired deafness.
• Neurological disorders associated with damage to the ear nerve.
• Swelling, and then inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and respiratory organs.
• The formation of purulent, painful wounds and crusts in the ears.

It is important to understand that at the initial stage of infection, the ear tick is very uncomfortable, but it is easy to eliminate. The more neglected the infection stage, the longer the treatment and rehabilitation will last.

Risk group for ear tick infection

There is a so-called risk group for ear tick infections and other ear infections. The risk group includes all dogs with:

1. Ears lowered to the head.
2. Short or improperly cropped ears.
3. Predisposition to ear diseases.
4. Wrong eating habits.

Ear mites can hit an absolutely healthy dog, but the rate of parasite development depends on several factors. The hotter and wetter the environment, the faster the parasites lay their eggs and molt the larvae.

An additional incentive for the development of a colony of parasites creates a bacterial infection, which for years may not give obvious symptoms.The development of all of the above factors contribute to: High carbohydrate content in the diet.

Stopping the ears is gradually becoming an unacceptable measure, but in some countries it is widely practiced and not condemned. Since dogs with their ears down to their heads are more likely to develop otitis media, ear control is considered a preventative measure.

Remember! With incorrect stopping of the ears, the shells are defenseless against external factors, which is even more harmful than closed ears. If your pet's ears are down to the head, they need to be closely monitored for cleanliness and health.

Regular preventive cleaning and examinations will prevent the development of diseases or detect them at an early stage. If your dog has improperly cropped ears, in the cold season it is better to walk your pet in a scarf. Cleaning will have to be carried out more often, and in rainy weather it is better to use preventive drops.

Signs of Ear Mite in Dogs

Take it as a fact that it is not possible to protect a dog from an ear tick. Even with regular processing, if your pet comes in direct contact with the ear tick wearer, it is more likely to get infected.

Early signs of ear tick in dogs can be found at home. Typically, symptoms develop according to the following scenario:

• The dog becomes restless, often shakes his head, sleeps poorly.
• The pet scratches the ears and the back of the head, as a result of which scratches and wounds appear.
• Auricles become moist, redden, swell.
• Ear wax takes on a bright orange or dark brown hue.
• A brown, plasticine-like mass appears in the ears - a mixture of earwax, clotted blood and mite waste products.
• Hard crusts appear in the ears, the dog whines when it scratches the ears. There is an increase in the base body temperature, after which purulent otitis media develops.

Important! Immediately after the detection of parasites and until complete recovery, it is better to use the Elizabethan collar. At the stage of infection, parasites enter only one auricle. However, when the dog itches, sulfur from the infected ear remains on its claws and becomes a source of infection for the healthy.

Methods for treating an ear tick in a dog at home

Having found infection, it is necessary to choose a method of treatment. Ear mite treatment can be done under the supervision of a veterinarian or at home if you have experience with ear processing.

If you are not sure of the established diagnosis or are afraid to use medications yourself, be sure to consult a veterinarian.

Drug treatment

Drug treatment involves the use of drugs containing active ingredients with the following effects: Acaricidal - aimed at eliminating ticks and breaking their life cycle.

That is, the drug should kill not only adults, but also prevent the shedding of larvae. Most often, the active substance stops the production of chitin - the substance from which the mite's shell forms.

Antimicrobial. Antibacterial. Antihistamine. Decongestant.Almost all veterinary preparations against ear mites contain several active substances that complement the therapeutic effect.

Among the common drugs, one can distinguish: Amit Forte or an analog of Dect - active substances: amitraz, chloramphenicol and chloramphenicol. Bars - the active substance diazinon. Acaromectin spray - the active substance ivermectin.

Otodectin injection solution - the active substance ivermectin. Ordermil ointment - active ingredients: permitrin, nystatin, lidocaine, neomycin sulfate, triamcinolone acetonide.

First of all, ivermectin gives an increased load on the liver, so it is contraindicated in animals with an unknown history or liver failure. All medications for the treatment of ear mites are used strictly according to the instructions!

Most often, the drug is indicated for use 2-3 times a day, after a thorough cleaning of the ears. In addition to drops or a drug in another form, for the treatment of an ear tick you will need an antibacterial tonic that pre-processes the auricle.

Folk remedies

In the first few days, despite treatment, the dog will be very worried about itching. Since medications are used no more than 2-3 times a day, in between, you can use folk remedies.

Green tea helps relieve swelling, reduce itching and redness of the auricles. Warm green tea is applied to a cotton sponge, after which the auricle is wiped.

If the dog is very painful, green tea can be instilled into the ears for 2-3 drops. Almond oil has a pronounced antiseptic effect, in addition, it reduces irritation and swelling. The oil is applied to clean skin, after which the ears need to be massaged.

Almond oil helps stop the formation of stiff crusts and makes ear cleaning easier.

The solution helps to disinfect the auricles and prevent the development of otitis media. Ear mites, like all arachnids, breathe in the body, therefore fatty creams are effective in controlling them.

After cleaning, the auricle is generously treated with a greasy cream without additives, after which the ears must be closed and massaged. The cream forms a film through which oxygen does not penetrate, and this effect is detrimental to adults.

Important! A greasy film that does not allow oxygen to pass through gives an impetus to the development of anaerobic bacteria, so with inflammation of an unclear etiology, use of the cream should be approached with caution.

How to clean your dog’s ears

Let's figure out how to properly clean the dog’s ears, as this procedure will often have to be done. According to the standard scheme, the ears are cleaned as follows: The recommended amount of a special antibacterial tonic, which can be bought at a veterinary pharmacy, is poured into the auricle.

The auricle closes and is massaged for 10–20 seconds. The dog shakes its head, as a result of which most of the plaque flies out. The remaining softened ear coating is removed with clean cotton sponge.

At this stage, it is important not to “drag” parasites from one ear to the other, therefore all consumables (sponges, cotton buds, gauze cuts, gloves) can be used only once. Plaque removed from the ear and used supplies must be burned or disposed of in another way.

In case of infection with an ear tick, the above procedure is supplemented by the use of:

1. Chlorhexidine or oils - if hard crusts form in the auricles.
2. Antihistamines - if the dog suffers from itching, swelling of the auricles or mucous membranes.
3. Antifungal ointments or drugs containing an antibiotic - if there is a risk of bacterial damage.

After the start of therapy, the symptoms should subside by 2-3 days. If there are no visible improvements, it is most likely that the diagnosis was incorrectly made or incorrect treatment was selected. If the situation worsens or additional symptoms appear, stop treatment immediately and consult your veterinarian.

Prevention of an ear tick in dogs

Prevention of ear mite infection is an essential aspect of pet care. As a prophylaxis, complex preparations against skin parasites are used: drops, sprays, tablets or injections.

The most common means for prevention are drops that are applied to the withers of a dog with a frequency of 1-3 months, depending on the active substances.