Tag Archives: ear mites

How Not to Clean Your Dog’s Ears

My dog Moose has been doing that head shake lately — the one that says ear mites might be to blame. If you’re a dog owner, you may know what I’m talking about: one ear at half mast, frantic head shaking, lots of ear scratching. A quick swipe with a baby wipe showed me that he has debris in the wonky ear. Ear mite debris is usually very dark, and looks a bit like coffee grinds. This was lighter in color, so maybe ear mites aren’t to blame. Maybe he’s got an excess of ear wax, or some other kind … Continue reading →

Ear Mites

There are several types of mites that can invade the ear canals of dogs and cats. In fact, ear mites can live anywhere on an animal’s body! Although humans are not affected by ear mites, many other animals can be. Ear mites are extremely contagious and can affect dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, mice, ferrets, and other furry pets. The most common ear mite seen in puppies and kittens is otodectes cynotis. Of course, that may only be useful information if you’re going to be appearing on Jeopardy. The symptoms of ear mites are pretty easy to spot. Animals with … Continue reading →

First Aid: Ear Mites

Ear mites are a common problem for both cats and dogs. You may notice your pet scratching at his ears or shaking his head. He may hold an affected ear at an odd angle, instead of upright. You may also see a dark colored debris in the ear canal; it can look like coffee grinds. If you suspect your pet has ear mites, take a cotton ball and swab a bit of the dark debris out of the ear. Examine the debris under a light or magnifying glass — if you see any movement, you have ear mites on your … Continue reading →