Creepy Crawly Critters!

Today’s topic is both super gross and really cool at the same time! Creepy crawly critters that live in our pet’s ears………………Ear Mites! Let’s talk about what they look like, what age of animal we typically find them in, and how we treat them.

When a pet owner brings in a new pet to see me, I always do a complete physical examination. Part of this examination is a thorough check of the pet’s ears. Are they perfectly clean? Is there any debris? If there is debris, what color is it? Are the pet’s ears super itchy? Is one ear more affected than the other, or are they equally affected?

If I see a YOUNG dog or cat with black debris in the ears, that is my first clue that it may be ear mites. Older pets get ear mites MUCH less frequently than young pets.

Yeast infections also produce a dark debris, and are very itchy, and can be present in very young animals as well. Taking a sample, or swab, of the debris is the first thing we need to do to figure out just what is causing the problem. To check for a yeast infection, the debris is rolled onto a microscope slide, heat fixed, and then stained with three different colors to help us see the yeast bodies under the microscope. To look for ear mites, we simply put a drop of oil on the microscope slide, scrape some of the debris into the oil, crush the debris, and look under the microscope.

It’s very obvious if the pet has ear mites……take a look at the picture below. WOW. And when a pet has ear mites, there usually aren’t just a few, there are HUNDREDS of these critters in the ear. Keep in mind, our sample was just a tiny amount of the debris in the ear and we found this many in that tiny amount. These critters are just the tip of the iceberg in your pet’s ears. Gross, right!

This is the part of the visit where I love to include pet owners or their kids. Once I find these under the microscope, I like to invite the parents and kids to take a look. The reaction is always priceless! I do find that most people really appreciate knowing AND seeing what is happening in their pet’s ears. Knowing is the first part of the battle.

Next, what do we do to treat these little critters? If this is the only pet in the household, that will make it easier. I clean the ears really well, and then apply a medication that will kill the mites. It is typically a one time treatment.

Is there a treatment available over the counter? Yes, but it doesn’t work nearly as well as what your Veterinarian carries at the Animal Hospital. And, remember how I said that many ear mite infestations look just like a yeast infection? So many people have come to me saying that they’ve been treating their pets for ear mites, and when I look under the microscope, there’s not a single mite…..it’s been a yeast infection all along. A lot of damage can be caused by repeatedly using the wrong medication for the wrong problem! Let your Veterinarian diagnose and treat the problem correctly!

Back to treatment…..if you have multiple pets in the home, treatment will be a little different. These little critters love to find other animals to live on.

Often, all or most pets in the home will be affected if one has ear mites. Revolution is a topical product that does a great job in a multiple pet household. It is applied between the pet’s shoulder blades, on the skin, and works for a whole month. Not only does it treat ear mites, but is also a Heartworm preventative, and an intestinal parasite dewormer as well. Be sure to gently clean your pet’s ears on a regular basis during this month, as that will help remove all the mite debris in your pet’s ears.

Okay, that was a fun little subject to cover! Check your pet’s ears on a regular basis. If they are itchy, smelly, or full of debris, schedule an appointment with your Veterinarian to correctly diagnose and treat those ears!