Dog Ear Mites are parasites that live in the ear canal. Ear mites are found more commonly on cats than dogs. And outdoor cats are more likely to have ear mites than indoor cats.
They are easily transferred by direct contact from one animal to another but do not survive on humans.
Check out this video clip of active ear mites by YouTuber “chrisbentonvet”.
Life Cycle of an Ear Mite
An ear mite lays eggs in the ear canal, which hatch after 4 days and reach maturity in about 3 weeks (at which time they can lay more eggs). An adult ear mite can live up to 2 months.
They feed on the skin debris, oil, and wax in your poodles’ ear canal. This causes irritation, redness, severe itching and possibly swelling – complicated further by constant scratching of the ear.
Diagnosing Dog Ear Mites
The symptoms of an ear mite infestation are similar to a dog ear infection.
- Incessant ear scratching
- Shaking the head
- A crusty discharge in the ear canal that resembles black coffee grounds
- A strong odor
- Inflammation – swelling
Because ear mites can be easily confused with other parasites or a dog ear infection, it’s important to get a proper diagnoses before starting treatment.
Your vet may examine your poodles’ ears using a lighted Otoscope, which is a special microscope that actually attracts the ear mites to the surface where they can be seen.
They are tiny and white (barely visible to the naked eye). Or he may choose to take a swab of the ear canal and examine it under a microscope.
The following video clip is from Dr Tim Klein of “All Pets Medicine, Surgery and Rehabilitation Clinic” in Mapleton, Mn. It shows live footage of ear mites crawling around in a dogs’ ear.
Treatment for Dog Ear Mites
Once dog ear mites have been identified as the problem for your poodle, your vet may recommend a number of different options:
- He may recommend a one-time treatment that is applied to the skin as you would a flea and tick medication (behind the shoulders). A second application a month later may be required to kill the next generation of eggs.
- He may recommend prescription ear drops that would require repeated applications (most likely twice daily, but follow your vets instructions).
- It may be necessary to also treat your pet for a dog ear infection.