Ear mites: prevention and treatment

Author:

Savina Elizaveta Sergeevna

therapist, surgeon, dermatologist, work with small rodents and rabbits

Ear mites (Otodectosis) are a problem not only for homeless and street animals, but also for completely healthy pets. Most cat owners experience this disease, but this disease is by no means uncommon in dogs. The consequence of this pathology is otitis media in animals.

Few people know how to treat it, much less how to detect it. Often, owners think that the animal has simply dirty its ears, since, apart from constant itching, this disease has no more characteristic and noticeable symptoms, and increased secretion of wax is mistaken for ordinary dirt.

The causative agent of the disease

The causative agent is O. cynotis - a scabies mite-carpet beetle of oval, tortoise-shaped shape, off-white color, with a brown tint in places with stronger chitinization. The head, chest and abdomen are fused into one whole. The proboscis is located on the front of the body. Females are much larger than males. The size of females is 0.32-0.75 mm, males 0.2-0.6 mm. In females, the posterior end is rounded, and in males it is equipped with two abdominal processes with a tuft of setae on each. There are four pairs of legs on the ventral side of the tick. Each leg consists of five segments (coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, tarsus). At the tops of the tarsi there is a soft membranous pretarsus (sucker or ambulacra). The first three pairs of limbs are well developed, the fourth pair is rudimentary in females. The suckers in females are tulip-shaped, located on short non-segmented rods on the first and second pairs of limbs, in males - on all four. The proboscis is gnawing, horseshoe-shaped. Mites live on the surface of the skin and feed on exfoliated epidermal cells, scales and dry crusts of the skin.

The anal and copulative openings are located at the posterior end of the body. The female lays from several dozen to hundreds of eggs during her life. The eggs are oval in shape, covered with a thin shell, 0.18-0.2 mm long and a maximum width of 0.08-0.09 mm.

Arthropod parasites settle in the hearing organs of a pet, injure delicate skin, and their saliva and feces activate irritation and itching. Insects live only on animals, so people do not become infected.

They prefer to feed on lymph, blood and skin particles.

Where can you get infected?

Let's now look at where a cat can become infected with this mite.

Option #1. If you bought a kitten, and it complains about its ears, then in this case the infection occurred from its mother, the cat.
Option #2. If your pet left the house, even for 5 minutes. He went out to the entrance, went to the dacha, exhibition, mating, etc.
Option #3. You picked up a stray animal and brought it home for a while, even for 5 minutes, and you already have a cat. This is also enough for your pet to receive a portion of ticks.
Option number 4. There are 2 cats living in the house, one has constant problems with her ears, and the other is fine. This suggests that there is a hidden carrier in your family, i.e. He doesn’t get sick himself, but he constantly infects others. Can you guess who it is? Yes, it is the cat that does not complain about its ears that is the hidden carrier of the tick.

Main symptoms of ear mites

Signs of otodectosis damage appear immediately:

the pet becomes restless. Constantly shakes his head, scratches his ears with his paws, trying to get rid of the unpleasant itch from tick bites;
ears are hot to the touch and swollen;
when examining the inner surface of the ear, dirty accumulations of tick excrement mixed with blood from scratching and bites;
an unpleasant odor emanates from the ears due to suppuration of the wounds, as bacterial microflora attaches;
the pet loses activity and its body temperature may rise.

The initial stage of the disease occurs in a latent form and is not always detectable.

It is much easier to diagnose the disease in a clinic than at home. The specialist carefully examines the pet, identifies primary signs of otodectosis and conducts microscopy. If the animal’s condition allows it, then it undergoes an otoscopy - an instrumental examination of the surface of the auricle and membrane. A positive result and the overall clinical picture influence the choice of therapy.

Treatment of ear mites in dogs and cats

You can cure otodectosis - you can get rid of mites in the ears if certain conditions are met. The most important thing is to start treatment in the early period of mite infection, when the population of this ectoparasite is small and has not spread deep into the ear canal.

The next condition is to thoroughly clean the animal’s ears. Otherwise, treatment of the uncleaned ear canal will not bring the expected result. For ear sanitation, we recommend the following medications:

"Cliny"
Dewdrop,
EpiOtic,
Otifri,
Otik,
Otoklin,
Ear Cleaner and others.

The third condition is the use of drugs against otodectosis.

See the smallest details

An endodontic microscope completely solves the problem of insufficient lighting and provides maximum detail of anatomical structures and/or materials previously used in treatment. By adjusting the degree of magnification, focus, and direction of the light beam, the doctor gets the most complete idea of the degree of development of the pathology, determines the location and scale of the lesion.

In addition, during the treatment process, photo or video recording of the visual field is carried out in parallel. In clinically complex cases, the doctor has the opportunity to review the examination record and consult with colleagues to develop optimal treatment tactics. The same recording will help to clearly explain to the patient the essence of the problem, the sequence and purpose of further medical manipulations.

Medicines against ear mites

OTOFERONOL

OTOFERONOL is an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drug intended for the treatment of otodectosis in cats and dogs. It is active against sarcoptic mites – the causative agents of “ear scabies” in animals. It also has antifungal and antibacterial effects, enhances tissue regeneration processes, and relieves itching. It has a detrimental effect on ticks when they swallow the components of the drug or through direct contact. It is practically not absorbed by the skin, acting only locally.

ORIDERMIL

ORIDERMIL is an ear ointment for dogs and cats that has antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects.

OTIDEZ

OTIDEZ - highly effective ear drops intended for the treatment of acute and chronic otitis, superficial dermatitis of the outer ear and ear canal of bacterial, fungal, allergic and parasitic etiology in animals.

STRONGHOLD

STRONGHOLD contains selamectin as an active ingredient. In appearance it is a transparent, colorless or pale yellow solution for external use containing 6% or 12% selamectin. Selamectin has a wide spectrum of systemic antiparasitic action against nematodes, insects and sarcoptic mites that parasitize dogs and cats. Stronghold has a detrimental effect on the larvae of round helminths and also has ovicidal properties.

INSPECTOR

Inspector drops are a complex antiparasitic drug, the action of which is aimed at combating external and internal parasites. The drug is based on substances such as Fipronil and Moxidectin, which are effective against lice, demodectic, ixodid and sarcoptic ticks, lice and fleas. Also, the active ingredients of the drug are active in the fight against mature intestinal nematodes and their larvae.

LEOPARD

Insecto-acaricidal drops Bars are a medicine for the treatment and prevention of arachno-entomosis in dogs and cats. The drug contains as an active substance the synthetic pyrethroid permethrin (5%), as well as auxiliary components: isopropyl alcohol, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, Tween-80, polyethylene glycol 400.

FRONTLINE

Frontline Spot contains fipronil as an active ingredient. Fipronil has a pronounced contact insecto-acaricidal effect against ectoparasites: lice, fleas, lice, ixodid mites, as well as cheyletiella and the causative agent of ear scabies.

Eliminate with pinpoint precision!

By accurately determining the boundaries of the lesion, the doctor has the technical ability to act with pinpoint precision, preserving as much healthy tooth tissue as possible. This is a real chance to save a tooth, which just a few years ago would most likely have been considered hopeless.

High precision of teeth processing in preparation for the installation of veneers, lumineers and other structures for aesthetic restoration ensures their perfect fit to the surface. This is the key to achieving long-term results.

All medical procedures performed using a dental microscope are performed with the greatest possible comfort for the patient.

Working with an endodontic microscope is a high-tech type of medical care. This means that all our doctors have undergone additional training and are highly qualified.

The price of dental treatment under a microscope is higher than similar procedures performed using more conventional methods. The effectiveness, comfort and long-lasting results of treatment are truly worth the money.

Act now

Many owners are frightened by the complexity and painstakingness of therapeutic procedures. In the early stages, the disease is treated for 7 days, then preventive measures are started. In an advanced state, drug therapy will take at least a month, after which a long rehabilitation and restoration of immunity is carried out. During therapy, the pet is quarantined, completely excluding its contact with other animals.

It is important to adhere to all instructions from a veterinarian.

If you notice alarming symptoms, do not let the situation take its course. Remember that despite a positive prognosis in 90% of cases, 10% result in complete hearing loss or death in affected animals. An ear mite that has reached the nerve tissue is the most dangerous possible outcome.

Monitor your pet's condition and do not forget about prevention. If you suspect otodectosis, do not hesitate and do not try to treat the animal yourself. After all, an incorrect diagnosis can cost lives.

You should acquire a useful habit: make an appointment at the veterinary clinic once a month. During a structural examination, the doctor will pay attention to all the details in your pet's health, which will prevent any diseases and maintain his health.

The health of your pet is entirely in your hands, so you need to carefully monitor it!

How contagious

Otodectosis is a contagious disease, as already mentioned. In most cases, even 5 minutes of interaction with an infected animal is enough for your pet to become infected from someone. But a person need not be afraid of ear mites - our body temperature is not suitable for the parasite to reproduce.

The only danger is pseudoscabies (rash) caused by bites from frequent contact. Drops will not help here, so you should simply use gloves when treating infected areas of your cat. We must not forget that a person can suffer otodectosis (through clothes, shoes).

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of Otodectosis is made based on clinical symptoms and microscopic examination of the contents of the ear canal.

Veterinary dermatologist Goncharova A.E. conducts a microscopic examination of a smear

Prevention of otodectosis

Avoid contact with stray animals.
Hygienic cleaning of ears if necessary.
Preventive treatment with insectoacaricides against ticks throughout the warm season.
Timely contact a veterinarian if signs of itching in the auricle appear for differential diagnosis of ear scabies and early treatment.

The prognosis of the disease largely depends on when treatment was started. It is important not to interrupt the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor if the symptoms disappear. This prevents the disease from becoming chronic.

It is useful from childhood to accustom four-legged pets to simple manipulations - trimming their nails, examining the oral cavity and cleaning their ears. Manifestations of aggression during ear treatments make treatment very difficult, especially when it comes to cats.