When your pet is uncomfortable, so are you. The constant scratching, out-of-character behavior and pain is one thing; knowing that they can’t communicate their discomfort is another. If you find out your four-legged friends have ear mites, that adds an extra layer, since mites are highly contagious, easily transmittable, and can cause serious problems, infection, and hearing loss.
Luckily, listening to the experts and employing some natural remedies for ear mites can help make you and your pet feel better in no time.
These microscopic mites are certainly mighty in their short four-week lifespan, causing the majority of ear infections in cats while creating inflammation in both dogs and cats that can lead to itching, redness, skin diseases, and deafness. Even a brief encounter can be long enough for the eight-legged mites to be transmitted between animals.
Pet parents usually notice darker-than-normal ear wax that accompanies the scratching; this may turn to a material that crumbles easily. If you see the tiny white mites, it’s time to take action.
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Natural Remedies for Ear Mites
Thoroughly Cleaning Your Pet and Residence
Just as you would with many other pests, a detailed cleaning is in order. Start by cleaning your pet’s ears with one of the many cleaning agents designed to get rid of ear mites. These will clear out the built-up wax and discharge while removing the mites and warding off any infections.
Your vet can make a recommendation for a pesticide or oral medication that will treat your pet from ears to tail, since those body parts may also become infected. These will usually provide immediate relief.
Mineral Oil: An Oldie but a Goodie
Available at most stores, a few drops of mineral oil in your pet’s ear will help to dissolve the residue while killing both living ear mites and their eggs. You can either use a dropper to put a few drops in the ear canal or can soak a cotton ball with the liquid on the outside of your pet’s ear. It won’t be an immediate treatment, but if you repeat this daily for three weeks, you’ll see your pet’s comfort improve and ear mites disappear.
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Oregano Oil Is a Good Option — Add Garlic to Make It Better
Mix half a teaspoon of oregano essential oil with half-an-ounce of olive oil. Let it sit for 48 hours, and then put two drops in each ear, twice a day. Oregano oil is an antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal oil that will help to clear up the ear mites quickly and safely. If you soak a clove of garlic in olive oil overnight, you’ll end up with a liquid that has similar characteristics and can also be used to effectively treat your pet’s ear mites.
Look in Your Kitchen
Another popular treatment option for most any kind of pest, vinegar’s antimicrobial and antiseptic qualities make it an ideal solution to getting rid of your pet’s ear mites. Take care not to place it on open wounds, as the acidity will be painful. Dilute one part vinegar with two parts water and gently pour the liquid into your pet’s ear canal.
Clean it with a piece of cotton wool that has already been soaked in the solution.If you want to find something a little sweeter, consider mixing two teaspoons of honey with two ounces of water, and using a dropper to place a few drops of the liquid in your pet’s ear canal. The antimicrobial, healing properties of honey will soothe your pet’s ear while killing the mites and preventing infection. Continue this process daily until the mites are gone.
Hydrogen Peroxide Can Clear Ear Canals
This is an effective solution that requires slightly more precaution, as hydrogen peroxide should be kept from your pet’s eyes. Soak a cotton ball or Q-tip in the liquid and wipe the areas of the ear that have been affected by ear mites.
An upward motion will keep the debris from getting in your pet’s ear canal. This should be done daily for a week to make sure the mites are all dead and your pet’s ear is healed.
Treat Your Other, Mite-Free Pets
Since mites have a tendency to spread quickly, you’ll want to treat all of your pets at the same time, even if only one is showing symptoms. This involves using the same home remedies and, more importantly, keeping the area where your pets live clean.
Use pesticides to treat bedding, clean their ears and their spaces frequently, and make sure to regularly inspect both their spaces and ears to catch any mites before the problem grows. Many vets also offer preventative medication for ear mites.
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Conclusion
While ear mites can be a sticky situation for everyone involved, treating your pets for these pests doesn’t have to be, too. I hope this list has helped you find some quick, alternative remedies for treating ear mites. If you liked this post, please share it with your fellow pet-owners, and let us know in the comments what ear mite treatments you’ve tried that have worked with your pets.