Untreated Ear Mites In Cats
Ear mites in cats may seem like a mild annoyance thats easy to treat, and they are, but if they go untreated for too long, they will start to do some serious damage to your cats ears.
Ear mites are literally feasting on your cats skin, and they will start to do real damage to the delicate skin of their ears and deep into the ear canal if you dont act quickly. Your cat could end up with a bacterial infection that could do even further damage to the skin and spread beyond the ears.
Mites love ears, but will opportunistically spread to any parts of your cats body that provides a tasty food source. This could lead to intense itch, and even mange, the disease caused by a full-blown mite outbreak.
How Does The Vet Treat Ear Mites
Once the vet has determined that a cat has ear mites, they will have you treat all other animals in the household as well, and youll need to thoroughly clean the house.
Before treating, youll need to clean your cats ears well with an ear cleaner or a natural ear cleaner that are designed for pets. This is to remove as many of the ear mites as possible before treatment. Most ear mite treatments are typically a parasiticide with the ingredient pyrethrin, which you can buy without a prescription online or at your local pet store.
You place a specific number of drops in each of your cats ears and massage them in. This continues for 7 to 10 days and is only repeated when necessary.
Mites and fleas tend to flock together, so your cat should be treated for fleas as well. Always double-check your cats tail because the tail tends to lie close to their heads and ears.
Ear mites are parasites that if left untreated, will not only cause significant discomfort for your cat but can also lead to bacterial infections and eventually, either partial or total hearing loss.
How Do You Get Rid Of Earmites What Treatment Is There
Prescription products offered through your veterinarian are very effective at treating earmites. It is important to always follow the veterinarians treatment recommendations so your pet can heal quickly. Your vet may also recommend cleaning your pets ears to help remove some of the discharge, which in turn helps reduce the irritation associated with mites.
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Avoid The Spread Of Infection To Other Pets
Because of how easily these parasites can be spread from one pet to another, if you have more than one animal in your family, even if only one of them has an ear mite infection, you need to treat them all. Even if your pet is an only pet, it is important that you restrict his contact with other animals during treatment to avoid passing on the infection to others.
Sometimes the irritation caused by the mites is so severe that animals will scratch until their ears are raw, causing secondary bacterial infections.
Ear Mite Treatment Methods
There are a number of ways to treat these little parasites. There are over-the-counter medications and home remedies, but:
- They are often less effective than prescription medications,
- They often require treatment over a longer time period, and
- There are no over-the-counter or home remedies that will treat ear mites in a single application.
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How Do Dogs And Cats Get Ear Mites
They can be transmitted fairly easily from one infected animal to another. Cats are more likely to get ear mites than dogs but these parasites can be transferred from dog to dog or between different pets such as cats and rabbits. They can infect each other. Puppies and kittens often get them if their mother is infected.
How Did Your Cat Get Ear Mites
Mites are highly contagious and opportunistic, so your cat can easily get mites from contact with any other animal that has mites. Typically, because mites complete their life cycle on their host, direct contact with an infected animal is the most likely way of contracting these pests, but they can spread without a live host in a very limited capacity.
This could mean another pet in your house, a neighbours pet, or even a wild animal.
If you are thinking – But my cat is indoors! Hes never interacted with another pet! – then the transitory host might be you or someone else in your house!
Thats right, cat owners can make a suitable host for mites too, though it is quite rare. Rather than set up shop on your skin, the mites may just use you as a means of travel to a more suitable and susceptible host, being your kitty.
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What Are Ear Mites In Cats
So what are these invisible pests that have taken over your cats ears? Ear mites are parasites, scientifically named ear mites Otodectes cynotis. These little spider looking mites have
They thrive in moist, dark, and warm environments which is why your cats ears are the perfect home for ear mites to flourish.
What Else Can I Do
Adult ear mites can live for a little while outside of the ear, which is why they are so easily transmitted to other dogs. They can also lay their eggs on other parts of your pet’s bodyâ âthe neck or around the base of the tail are common places.
So, being vigilant, washing all your pet’s bedding and restricting contact with other pets and animals will all help in preventing re-infection or spread of the mites.
How to get rid of ear mites is easy if you follow veterinary advice. You need to be 100% certain of the cause so that another ear problem is not misdiagnosed.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the authorâs knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
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How To Treat Your Cat For Ear Mites
Ear mites are the most common cause of ear infections in cats.
These microscopic, white parasites live on the surface ear canal, but sometimes can migrate to other parts of the body like the head and neck. Ear mites feed off dirt, wax and tissue fluid in your felines ears. Beyond the obvious physical discomfort to your pet, untreated ear mite infestations can cause ear inflammation, bacterial and fungal infections. Severe cases can lead to hearing loss or ear damage from scratching, so prompt treatment is important.
Symptoms:
- Depending on the severity of the infection, frequent scratching and head shaking are two common signs that your cat may be infected. Some cats are more bothered by ear mites than others.
- Mites also stimulate the wax producing glands inside the ear canal. The result is a black, crusty build-up in the ears that resembles coffee grounds. This discharge is made of blood, wax, debris, and mites themselves. In some cases, this crust can thicken enough to block the ear canal.
- If you think your cat is infected, then your vet can easily diagnose the problem using a magnifying otoscope. Your vet will be able to see them moving about in the ear or on a slide. A professional diagnosis is also a good idea, since ear mites are not the only cause of feline ear infections.
Treatment: Otodectes cynotic is the common cat ear mite.
Cleanse:
If Your Cat’s Ears Look Very Sore Or The Mites Don’t Respond To Treatment
If your cats ears are very red or sore, please take them to a vet, as there are some other conditions with symptoms similar to ear mite infestation.
With a typical ear mite infestation, there is usually some debris, and the ears may be a little pink. If kitty appears to be in significant pain, seek professional help.
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How Do I Know If My Cat Has Ear Mites
Mites are tiny, barely visible to the naked eye. They chow down on the wax and oils in kitty’s ears.
Though the mites themselves are hard to see, what you can see is, well mite poop. They leave behind dark debris that looks something like sticky coffee grounds.
If it gets bad enough, the mite infestation may completely clog the ear canal with debris, and/or lead to ear inflammation or infection.
With some cats, you may notice excessive exterior ear grooming, leading to hair loss on the back of the ears.
- Pink and swollen interior of ear
- Scratches or scabs near the ear
Can Humans Get Ear Mites From Their Cats
Thankfully, ear mite infestations in humans are very rare. It’s still a good idea to keep your ears clean, and don’t encourage kitty to lick you due to risk of cat scratch fever transmission.
Cat scratch fever, unlike the name implies, does not need to be spread by scratching. It can also be spread by licking.
Dogs and other pets may be susceptible to mites, so make sure to check all furry pets and thoroughly clean surfaces.
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Natural Remedies For Mange In Cats
Mild cases of mites/mange in cats can be remedied at home. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
First, wash your cat’s bedding and anything the mites may have come in contact with in hot water. If your cat is a good sport about baths, use a gentle soap, such as this Oatmeal & Honey Shampoo Bar and warm water. Comb through the hair. Use soothing Skin Tonic spray to hit those itchy hot spots. Organic neem oil is a natural remedy for dry, irritated skin, and is gentle enough to spray anywhere on your cat’s hair and skin. It’s also a natural antibacterial and antifungal so, in addition to easing your cat’s discomfort, it will help skin heal and prevent secondary infections. You can use it several times a day until the symptoms have cleared up.
Its also important to clean your cat’s living environment. Vacuum your rugs, carpets, and fabric furniture, and wipe hard surfaces with cleaner. Continue to treat irritated skin as needed. Symptoms of mites should clear up completely within a couple weeks.
Feline skin is very sensitive, so it’s best to stay away from harsh chemical insecticides, which can do more harm than good by irritating already raw and itchy skin. These sprays and dips may kill the pests behind the mange, but gentler remedies can also kill them without the bad side effects.
What To Do If Your Cat Has Ear Mites
Lots of things can make cats scratch their ears. When it’s a problem and not just everyday itching, the culprit might be ear mites. You may first notice this pest when your cat is shaking her head or pawing at her ears. Or it could be that while you’re petting your cat and notice clusters of black coffee-ground-like specks inside the ears. Gross! Read up on what to do if those pesky bugs could be whats making your cat uncomfortable.
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Ear Mite Treatment For Cats
Its important to bring your cat to the veterinarian if she exhibits any ear problems. Left untreated, an ear mite infestation can cause serious damage to the cats ear canal, especially if the cat develops a secondary bacterial infection.
Untreated ear infections are not only very painful, but they can cause hearing loss and balance problems due to loss of equilibrium. Your vet will do a full physical exam and look into your cats ears with an instrument called an otoscope.
The veterinarian will also collect a sample of the ear debris with a swab to be looked at under a microscope to determine the root cause of the problem and what treatment is needed.
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Ear Mites In Cats Easy Treatment With Coconut Oil
To use coconut oil to clean and remove ear mites in cats, first make sure your oil is in liquid form. The melting point of coconut oil is around 75°F, so in summer your oil may be liquid without heating.
You can also use fractionated coconut oil, or gently heat the oil. I heat up less than a tablespoon, and that’s more than enough to do 3-4 cats.
Make sure the oil is warm, not hot. Kitty’s safety is a priority.
To make it easier to handle your cat, you may wrap the kitty tightly in an old towel, tucking in paws and claws. We call this the kitty burrito.
Use a small syringe to squirt a little oil into the ear canal. Never force anything deep into the canal.
Gently massage the ear area to work the coconut oil into the mites and debris. Use a cotton ball or cotton swab to wipe the debris and mites from the ear. Again, never force anything into the ear.
Be extra careful if using swabs, because the cat may get annoyed at having their ears touched and shake their heads aggressively. You don’t want the swab to poke too deep into the ear.
Once visible debris is removed, make sure to give kitty lots of love before releasing. Repeat in 5-7 days for bad infestations, or any time you notice your cat grooming their ears excessively.
Coconut oil is naturally antibacterial and and antifungal, so it will also help to heal and soothe any scratches in the ear.
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Check Your Other Animals
- If you have more than one pet and you, therefore, suspect that one of them has ear mites, then you should ensure that you check all of their ears.
- This is due to the fact that ear mites spread easily between the animals if they sleep together or even groom each other.
- If you only treat the affected animal, then it can be that other pets are harboring the parasite but dont indicate any signs, and might thus act as a reservoir for a re-infection.
- If one pet is having ear mites, then it is likely that you are required to treat all the pets in the house so as to do away with an infection.
To Treat Ear Mites Start By Cleaning Out Your Pet’s Ears With A Small Amount Of Mineral Oil And A Cotton Ball To Get Rid Of Any Dark
Ear mites in kittens how to treat. An Itchy Cat Ear: How to Treat Ear Mites in Cats. Ear mites are small parasites that invade your cats ear canal skin and call it home. As parasites, they feed off of cat ear wax and oils and usually cause a lot of itchiness for kittens. They love ear wax and being in a moist and warm place so much, that it takes quite a lot of effort to kill. Ear mites are tiny creatures that like to live in the ears of cats. The ear is a warm, cozy home for them, but their presence will cause lots of irritation and distress to your cat. It is important to treat ear mites right away to prevent permanent damage to your pet’s hearing. Suggested Articles Aural Hematoma Deafness Feline Ear Disorders Otitis White cats and blindness/deafness Care for Cat Ear Mites: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment Ear problems in general are uncommon in cats, but among the afflictions that do occur, ear-mite infestation is frequently diagnosed. Although it cant hop or fly, an ear miteotherwise known as Otodectes cynotiscan crawl. And if.
Otodectes Cynotis is the most common species of mites that is responsible for ear mites in 90% of the cats. Ear Mites is the severe condition that causes the itching sensation in a single or at times in both the ears of the pet which in turn causes the irritation and scratching that leads to affect the entire ear.
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Ear Mite Medicine For Cats
Treating cats with ear mites typically involves cleaning their ears with veterinary-recommended ear cleaning solutions.
âIn addition, your veterinarian will likely recommend a topical medication, which can be applied to the skin or directly in the ear, which will kill the ear mites,â Dr. McCullough says. âAll pets in the household will likely need treatment because ear mites are very contagious.â
Your cat will most likely recover from ear mites within 2 to 4 weeks by following your veterinarianâs instructions. In addition, you can lower the general chances of your cat getting ear mites by asking your vet about monthly flea preventatives.â
Why You Need To Be Sure It Really Is An Ear Mite Problem
There are many other ear problems with bacterial or fungal causes that can mimic the symptoms of ear mites by causing irritation and a build up of ear wax that can mimic the debris from mites.
So, your vet may take a swab from the ear canal and examine this under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis.
If no mites are found during the microscopic analysis of the swab, it will be sent for lab culture to see what might be causing the irritation so that it can be treated accordingly.
This is one of the reasons why, even when you strongly suspect ear mites, you should consult your vet.
Ear infections can become extremely serious and just like in humans, can cause tremendous pain, loss of hearing, and balance problems due to infection getting into the middle ear.
This poor cat has a badly infected ear and looks absolutely miserable. Prompt treatment could prevent this.
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