Ear Mite Home Remedies
Author: Kevin Pederson
Ear mites are external parasites infecting cats and dogs. Once cursed, pets seem to have the problem for life. The mites Otodectes cynotis are large enough and easily visible with the naked eye. Ear mites as the names says, lives in the ears as well as on the head and skin of the pets. In just 3 weeks, a mite egg can develop into an adult mite. The adult mite can live its entire life on the pet, enabling it to be highly contagious and can also cause severe inflammation.
Ear mites are highly contagious and readily transmit from host to host by physical contact. You pet can get easily infected if it socializes with other infected animals. Treatment for ear mites is a must for all the household pets.
Shaking of the head and ears is the most common sign of ear mite infection. Dogs scratch at their ears, rub their face and in severe cases, they may even bleed behind their ears to relieve themselves from the pesky little critters. Though some pets can still be infected and not show any signs of itching or head shaking.
Ears that seem very itchy and have dark debris, down in the ear, are the telltale signs that your pet's ears have visitors. Dark brown to black debris accumulates in the ears of infected pets and the mites may be visible as small moving white specks on the debris. Secondary infection with bacteria or yeast is common in ear mite infections and may complicate the diagnosis.
Any natural oil-based ear medication will ultimately drown the mites as the oil covers the mite's breathing pores eventually suffocating them.
Keep your pet and its environment treated for fleas. This also kills any ear mites that might be around to re-infect your pet.
To remove ear mites, mix ½ ounce of almond and vitamin E. Put a dropper or two in each ear and massage it well. Let your pet shake its head and clean out the opening with cotton swabs. The oily mixture smothers the mites and helps healing. Refrigerate the mixture between uses, warming it before use.
Soak a cotton ball in mineral oil and swab the ear canal. The oil soothes skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.
Give your pet mild flea baths during the treatment period to squelch any wayward mites.
Consider using an anti-yeast medication, since secondary yeast infections are commonly found with ear mite infestations.
The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following instructions mentioned in the article. Avoid using if you are allergic to something. The responsibility lies with the reader, not the site, and the writer.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
Home remedies for dog yeast infections in the ears?
My dog has yeast problems and I can't afford the pricey vet bills. I've heard about 1 part water to 1 part vinegar, but haven't tried it yet. Has anyone tried this or have any other things I could try? Her ears are really smelly right now. They don't really seem to be bothering her too much. She scratches a little though. She is also on NZYMES pills from nzymes.com. Thank you!-
ANSWER:
My dog had yeast infections in both ears. I cleaned them with vinegar water every few days, and eventually they cleared up and now she has no more infection. =) There's also a concoction you can make. I've never tried it personally, but it seems like it would work. I have all the things to make it, but never got around to it. xD And I'd also be careful it doesn't stain anything when the dog shakes it out, but here's the link:
http://www.zimfamilycockers.com/EarCleaner.htmlPS: It's not just for Cocker Spaniels, but all dogs. =P
EDIT: Oh, and also, you can get an otoscope to check her ear canals to see if they progress and if whatever you're using is working. Good luck, and hope this helped! =)
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QUESTION:
Does anyone have any home remedies for yeast infections in dog ears?
YES I have taken her to the vet...many times, nothing works...and yes I have been feeding her a food with alternative protein sources which has helped. But her ears are really stinky..right now she is laying under me and I can barely stand it...I have tried just cleaning them regularly but I havent found anything that works really well. The ear medicine from the vet just makes it worse, and any ear cleaners are too chemical and sting her....Also the problem is she uses her feet to scratch her ears and then licks her feet and sticks them in her ears again it makes her feet stink too, I do make her stop but I am noy here all of the time sooo...If anyone knows a remedy that can be used on the feet too? kill the bacteria there as well as in her ears would be nice...
PS the vet told me it was yeast infection... I got her as a stray but I can tell her other owners didnt take care of her ears one is scarred from an hemangeoma (sp) I think that is what its called so anyone with experience of a dog with chronic ear infections would be helpful.....-
ANSWER:
A vinegar solution is pretty good to use. Take 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water. Use something like a turkey baster or a baby nose bulb or a syringe, something to get the solution in the ears. Once the solution is in, rub the ears at the base (on the bottom close to the head) for about 30 seconds. Then take a cotton ball and wipe out any debris that comes out. You should do this 1-2 times a day for 1 week and then as needed.
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QUESTION:
Simple home remedy for yeast infection in dogs ear?
My dog has had 3 ear yeast infections in 2 years. The first time she had it we took her to the vet and payed 80 bucks for drops. She didn't like those so much. >.> The second time she got an infection it lasted several months before going away on it's own. Now she has another one and I can't afford to take her to the vet again. Is there some simple home remedy that I could possibly spray in her ears? I've heard about using alcohol and vinager(sp?) but I don't know what the exact measurments are. >.< I'd rather it be something I could spray in her ears since she dosen't like people messing with them too much.-
ANSWER:
I truly believe I have tried every product/home remedy on one of my dogs who suffered from yeast infections in her ears. None worked. What did work was changing her diet. Look for a grain-free food, or one without corn, wheat, and rice. Wellness Super 5 Mix, (formerly fish & sweet potato,) is what I use for her, and she never has yeast infections any more. (Except when she breaks into the chicken/cat/guinea pig/rat/human food
Good luck.
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QUESTION:
does anyone know any home remedies for a dog who has a yeast infection in their ears?
our female english mastiff has an ear infection, and we want to know if there are home remedies or herbs we can use to clear it up, not something expensive we have to get through a vet or some website, something we can buy at a store and use at home.-
ANSWER:
since it is a yeast infection..don't laugh, it really works..monistat or any other feminine yeast product will work on your dogs ears! it has essentially the same basic ingredients as the mometomax that your vet will prescribe.no treatment will work however if you don't take precautionary steps to preventing another infection. first, clean the ear well with an ear solution (from pet store) and cotton balls. apply some of the monistat into the ear canal and massage the ear thoroughly (you want the medicine deep into the ear). clean and apply med once daily until a significant imporvement is seen, then move to once every other day, and ween off like that.. yest is caused by moist dark places, so do everything within your power to keep your pup's ears dey.
good luck hope this helps
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QUESTION:
Can someone tell me the home remedy for curing yeast infection in a dogs ears?-
ANSWER:
Don't think that yeast is common in a dogs ears. Yeast usually happens in warm moist areas. Anyway yeast prefer alkaline environments. Dilute vinegar, 1/2 cup to a quart of water, can be put on a washcloth and the ears wiped out several times per day. If no help, see the vet. Would not use the creams for human skin in a dogs ear.
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