What does ear mite look like in cats and how can it be cured?

Ear mites in kittens and adult cats are not so rare. In the absence of timely, qualified treatment, a pet can not only lose hearing, but also die. That's why it's important to keep an eye on your animal: if your cat is shaking its head and scratching its ears, it's time to check it for ticks.

Features of the disease

Otodecosis in cats is caused by the microscopic (about ½ mm) insect Otodectes cynotus.
The parasite has a whitish oval body and jointed limbs. It loves moisture and warmth, so it parasitizes inside the animal’s ear canal, feeding on skin scales, blood, and lymph. Outside the host's body, the tick can live for about two months. In most cases, the parasite affects both ears of the cat. The likelihood of infection is especially high during the warm and humid seasons - spring and early autumn. The risk group includes kittens under one year old and weakened animals. It may take several years from the moment of infection to obvious signs of the presence of a tick. The disease manifests itself especially clearly when a bacterial infection is added to the skin damage by the parasite. Due to itching and pain, an exhausted pet cannot sleep or eat.

Briefly about the pathogen

Otodectes cynotis, the causative agent of the disease, is so small that it is difficult to see with the naked eye. Its body dimensions are approximately 0.2-0.5 mm. However, if you examine with a magnifying glass what an ear mite looks like, you can see slowly moving pale yellow, white dots. The parasite feeds on skin scales from the ear canal of animals. Lives on the surface and does not dig.

The life of a tick lasts 3 weeks:

1. Females lay eggs and attach them to the skin with a viscous substance and cement them. Each female lays 5 eggs per day.
2. After 4 days the larvae appear. Within 3-10 days they begin to actively feed. Then comes the rest phase (from 10 to 30 hours).
3. The cycle changes and the larvae move into different stages of development (protonymph and deutonymph).
4. While in the deutonymph stage, the larvae attach themselves to the males. And if the deutonymph is a future female, then when she becomes an adult, she already turns out to be a carrier of eggs.

An adult lives on average 2 months. Life outside the animal lasts approximately 12 days.

The danger of ear mites for cats

Ear mites feed on skin particles, causing severe damage to the skin. If left untreated, your cat may develop serious health problems:

• unbearable itching causes constant scratching of the ears, which leads to damage to the capillaries and the appearance of extensive hematomas;
• Bacterial and fungal infections penetrate into places where the skin is damaged, the inflammatory process begins, the ear tissues swell, redden, and fester;
• gradually the inflammation spreads to the eardrum and to the inner ear - otitis media and myringitis develop.

Further delay with therapy will lead to weakening and then loss of hearing. Pain and itching interfere with normal rest and eating. The animal becomes irritated, nervous, and aggressive. Over time, inflammation can penetrate the membranes of the brain, resulting in death.

How do you get infected with otodectosis?

Ear mites in cats can appear if the animal has been walking outside and has been in contact with other cats. Most homeless animals suffer from otodectosis. If you let your pet outside, you should carefully examine it after a walk and do not neglect the rules of hygiene.

There is a possibility of introducing ticks on shoes or clothes. The owner can pet an infected feline or simply walk past a pack of stray animals - and this will be enough for the parasite to travel to a completely domestic cat.

There is a high risk of the disease appearing in those homes where similar cases have already occurred. Ear mites in a kitten are transmitted from the mother, as well as through carpets, various products, home furniture - everything that can accumulate dust particles and microorganisms.

Routes of transmission of ticks from one individual to another

The most common variant of infection is contact with already sick animals. It is enough for one cat to sniff another for several parasites to leave the host and be transmitted to a healthy animal. But there are also indirect methods of infection.

Cat ear mites live up to two months in their natural environment, which means they can be picked up through indirect contact. The disease is transmitted through care products: scratchers, carriers, bedding. Sometimes the infection is carried by fleas or flies.

If a room is not regularly cleaned, the mite settles there, waiting for a host. This should be taken into account when moving or when leaving a cat as a guest for a while.

At elevated temperatures the parasite lives even longer. It stays on clothing and shoes. Therefore, it is important to protect your cats from contact with outdoor shoes and outerwear - ideally, there should be a closed closet in the apartment.

To summarize, we can say that the main “helper” of otodectosis infection is unsanitary conditions. A domestic cat that is carefully cared for, vaccinated and kept clean has the least chance of getting sick.

Progression of the disease in stages

Otodectosis is the most popular skin disease. Ear mites in cats are diagnosed in 85% of cases when breeders treat suspected otitis media. The carpet beetle corrodes the upper surfaces of the epidermis, located on the inside of the shell. The disease proceeds as follows:

1. Mechanical injury. At this point, the upper layers of the dermis are damaged. With its powerful mouthparts, the parasite chews the surface, obtaining blood and lymph. The nerve endings become irritated, resulting in severe itching.
2. Blood vessels begin to thin out. They become filled with blood, redness and swelling appear.
3. You may notice persistent discharge in areas of damaged skin.
4. Dark brown scabs form from dead skin cells, as well as other waste products of pests. The whole process is accompanied by the formation of putrefactive microflora.
5. There is a gradual accumulation of scabs and crusts, which leads to the formation of a plug. Hearing begins to become dull. If measures are not taken, the eardrum will rupture. The infection opens up to the middle and inner ear.

If parasitosis is advanced, then an active inflammatory process develops in the inner and middle ear. The symptom is a certain behavior of the animal: the sick person walks with his head turned 90 or even 120 degrees. The ear that hurts will point downwards. This process leads to the spread of pathology to the membranes of the brain, sepsis and, as a result, death.

Breeders need to remember that such a simple disease can result in disastrous consequences. But even in advanced cases, it is possible to successfully treat ear mites in a cat and avoid serious consequences.

How can a pet become infected?

A cat can pick up ear mites on the street, through contact with sick animals or in walking areas. Most stray cats suffer from otodecosis, so letting your pet roam freely is fraught with negative consequences.

The parasite can be picked up on shoes by the owner while accidentally walking in places where stray cats like to gather. An owner can bring ear mites home after petting someone else's pet with otodecosis. In addition, there is a high probability of disease in homes where there have already been (or are) cases of the disease in other animals.

Kittens can become infected at birth from a mother who is a carrier of ear mites. Infection through bedding, carpets, household furniture or dishes is possible.

Danger to humans and other animals

Many owners fear that ear mites are dangerous to humans. However, otodectosis is not transmitted to people or even small children. But for other pets the disease is dangerous, as it is easily and quickly transmitted.

It is worth remembering that a person can become a carrier of parasites without getting sick. Therefore, it is easier to keep the house clean and care for your pet than to treat it later.

Symptoms of ear mites in cats

There are practically no symptoms of ear mites in cats at the onset of the disease. You should take your pet to a veterinarian if the following signs of illness are detected:

• frequent scratching of the ears, leading to bruising;
• head shaking, restlessness;
• discharge from the ear canal of liquid, stuck together pieces of sulfur of a dirty gray or dirty brown color;
• glued fur on the ears;
• hair loss in the ear area;
• purulent ulcers on the outer ear;
• swelling and redness of the ears;
• unpleasant odor;
• the animal walks with its head bowed.

You should suspect odecosis if your cat periodically shakes its head and scratches its ears. Discharge, odor and other signs appear later, when the disease takes an advanced form.

How a tick bites

There are more than 54 thousand species of ticks in nature. About 114 of them are already fossils, but the remaining ones are enough to follow basic safety rules when walking in nature. Although only the encephalitis tick is dangerous, it is almost impossible to distinguish it from other species without the proper knowledge and equipment.

Often people panic when they see this insect on their skin and, not knowing how to pull out the tick correctly, try to do it in any available way. This is not only useless, but also dangerous. Any mechanical or chemical effect frightens the insect, which leads to the injection of infected saliva under the skin. And if during removal the head or proboscis comes off, then inflammation is not far away.

It is worth considering that blood-sucking parasites, to which this group of insects belongs, have a special oral apparatus, since they feed only on one substance and are not allowed pickles.

Diagnosis of otodecosis

Even if there are seemingly obvious signs of ear mites, the cat should be shown to a veterinarian. Similar symptoms may appear with dermatoses, lichen, fungal and bacterial infections. In addition, there is another type of external microscopic parasite that lives on the ears of cats. Therefore, before starting treatment, a diagnosis is required.

The diagnosis is made based on examination and microscopic examination of scrapings from the surface of the auricle. Under a microscope, the doctor will quickly identify the parasite and prescribe appropriate treatment.

If laboratory diagnostics are not possible, you can try the home method. To do this you will need a black sheet of paper and a magnifying glass. You need to take a little discharge from the inner surface of your pet’s ear and smear it on paper. If there is a parasite, then on the leaf it looks like a moving whitish dot.

Complications

If the disease is ignored, it gradually leads to a deterioration in the animal’s health. Some conditions can be very dangerous and even fatal. Among the unpleasant consequences:

• spread of the lesion to other parts of the body;
• self-injury (due to scratching);
• purulent otitis;
• hematoma of the auricle;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes under the jaw;
• damage to the central nervous system;
• meningitis;
• deafness.

Medicines for ticks

Medicines for ear mites are available in the form of ointments or drops. Among the large assortment, it is difficult to choose the right remedy on your own: you should take into account the degree of damage, the presence of concomitant infections, and the age of the animal. In the treatment of otodecosis, the medications listed below are most often used.

A drug

Course of treatment, dosage

Note

Amidel

The gel is applied to the cleaned surface of the ear 3-5 times at intervals of one week.

Do not use on kittens under 2 months of age or on cats during pregnancy.

Otoferonol Gold

Apply twice with a break a week. Dosage – 3 drops in each ear.

Do not use on kittens under two months of age or pregnant cats. The product destroys the parasite and has an anti-inflammatory effect.

Aversectin ointment

Apply 2-4 times, interval – 7 days.

Do not apply the ointment to kittens under 2 months of age or during pregnancy.

Amitrazine

The course of treatment includes 4-5 procedures. The breaks between instillations are three days. Dosage – ½ ml in one ear.

Not for use in pregnant cats.

Dekta

Ear drops are used every five days, 4-5 drops once. A total of 2-4 procedures are required.

The product is not suitable for babies under 30 days old and pregnant cats. The composition includes an antibacterial component.

In difficult situations, the veterinarian will prescribe injections or antibacterial drugs.

How to treat the ears

You need to treat the ears of your furry pet as follows.

• Before using the medicine, the cat's ears are cleaned of accumulated plaque. This will allow the medicine to penetrate deeper. For cleansing, use special solutions or regular vegetable oil. The surface of the ear is wiped with a cotton pad or a piece of bandage soaked in the solution. Hydrogen peroxide or other agents should not be instilled into the ear canal!
• Apply ointment or drops to the clean surface of the auricle in the amount specified in the instructions for the drug.
• To ensure that the medicine is distributed evenly, the ear needs to be massaged a little.
• If drops are used, the cat's head should be supported to prevent shaking and the medicine being thrown out.
• In conclusion, it is recommended to wipe the auricle again with a cotton pad soaked in the same product.

Attention: it is not recommended to use cotton swabs to treat the ears of an animal - the likelihood of injury to the ear canal and infection in the deep parts of the ear increases.

How to properly clean a cat's ears

To remove ticks, you need to know how to properly clean your cat's ears.

1. To carry out this procedure, use a cotton pad that is soaked in lotion.
2. After which they are carefully passed along the visible surface of the auditory canal.
3. Next, the ear is pinched and massaged for several seconds.
4. Then you need to clean the surface of the sink with a clean cotton pad.

Such manipulations are carried out several times until the inner surface is completely cleared of sulfur secretions and waste products of pests. Next, you can begin applying medications.

On a note!

To prevent the development of the disease, experts recommend cleaning both ears, regardless of which one is infected with mites.

Concomitant therapy

When treating ear mites, you need to keep in mind that the parasite can spread to the cat’s body, so in parallel with treating the ears, antiparasitic procedures for the whole body should be carried out. To do this, just apply a few drops of a special preparation to the pet’s scruff or treat it with a spray. Among the sprays, the most popular are Frontline and Cyodrin. It is imperative to ensure that the animal does not lick its fur for a certain period of time.

You should also take care of your furry pet’s immune system. The stronger the immune system, the faster the recovery, and the greater the chance of avoiding re-infection. A cat's diet should contain a large amount of vitamins and be varied. You can add ready-made vitamin complexes to the food. It is also recommended to carry out a course of therapy with drugs that enhance the body’s defenses - Gamavit, Tentravit.

Prevention

The appearance of ticks is a case more typical for “walking” animals. However, even if your pet has never left the walls of the house, this does not guarantee that you will not encounter the disease. The reason may be the use of other people's carriers, bedding or toys.

Preventive measures include:

• regular ear cleaning (Bars Lotion, Otifri, Otodepin are excellent);
• preventing contact with stray animals;
• periodic disinfection of paraphernalia (beds, bowls, etc.);
• strengthening the immune system (it is recommended to include foods high in microelements and vitamins);
• the use of special drugs during the period of parasite activity.

Give your furry friends more attention, which is expressed not only in affection and feeding. Do not forget that they, like any living organism, require care. After all, when the animal receives it at the proper level and is in a calm state, then the owner is happy. Good luck!

Treatment with folk remedies

Treatment with folk remedies is permissible only at the very beginning of the development of the disease. In case of obvious symptoms of ear mites, they are suitable only as auxiliary methods. In addition, folk recipes can be used to prevent odecosis.

One of the most common cat ear care products is green tea. Its strong infusion acts as an antiseptic. After the brew has cooled, soak a cotton pad in it and wipe the external auditory canal. The decoction can be used both to cleanse the ears before instilling drops, and for regular care.

Hydrogen peroxide is used in the same way. It cannot be instilled into the ears; it is only allowed to moisten the crusts and wipe the surface of the cartilage.

Vegetable oils are widely used to clean the ears. Any oil will do: olive, sunflower, vaseline, camphor-based. Oils are not suitable for preventing the disease, but they can soften and remove scabs. After applying the oil, the animal’s ears should be wiped with a clean disk so that the oil film does not interfere with the absorption of the medicine.

Sometimes it is recommended to use garlic pulp or juice to combat ear mites in cats, but its irritant properties in this case will be stronger than its antiseptic properties. In addition, garlic will still not be able to destroy the parasite, so this remedy should be abandoned.

Methods of infection

The disease is highly contagious (highly contagious). There are two main ways of contracting otodectosis. More details about them:

1. On the street. Stray animals (cats or dogs) are carriers of ear mites in almost 80% of cases. Pets easily become infected upon contact with them.
2. The parasite can be brought home by the owner on his shoes.
3. Fleas can also be carriers of ticks.

After entering the external auditory canal, the parasite begins to multiply quickly and moves to the second ear.

Main rules of treatment

When treating odecosis at home, you need to follow a number of recommendations.

• If there are several animals in the house, all of them need to be treated for ticks, regardless of the presence or absence of the parasite. It is better for kittens and cats to use spray products during pregnancy.
• Be sure to treat your pet's bedding with an antiparasitic agent. If possible, it should be boiled.
• Until the product applied to the withers has dried, it is important to monitor the cat, preventing it from licking itself.
• Since recovery depends on the state of the immune system, it is necessary to provide your pet with a balanced diet and include vitamin complexes in it. Periodically take the animal out into the fresh air.
• Ear mites can also live on furniture, carpets, floor cracks and other objects, so wet cleaning should be done by adding an acaricidal agent to the water.
• Do not use ethyl alcohol-based products to clean your cat's ears.

Why is an integrated approach to treating your pet important?

Compliance with all measures prescribed by a veterinarian is necessary to achieve a speedy recovery, as well as to prevent re-infection. It is extremely important to combine local acaricidal agents with agents applied to the withers in the form of drops, since if all ticks are not destroyed, the disease will return. The use of antibacterial and antifungal drugs is important because the accompanying bacterial or fungal otitis media poses a risk to the cat's health. Desensitizing agents prescribed by a veterinarian effectively stop allergic inflammation that otodectosis causes in some cats and prevent the development of complications associated with it. The recovery of pets with an advanced form of the disease, as well as elderly and weakened cats, can be accelerated by immunomodulators and agents that improve metabolism.

Video: treatment of otodectosis in pets

Are there strong remedies for ear mites?

There is a stronger way to get rid of ear mites than ointments and drops. These are injections. Their distinctive feature is that you can get rid of all parasitic insects at the same time (if they are present). At the same time, the use of this method is fraught with negative consequences - the active substances are toxic to the cat’s body. Their use can provoke allergies, baldness, dermatoses and other complications. The use of such drugs is contraindicated during pregnancy and for kittens.

How to prevent otodecosis

In most cases, tick damage to a cat's ears can be prevented. To do this, you should adhere to the following preventive measures:

• periodically inspect your pet’s ears for scratching, redness, swelling, and scabs;
• regularly clean the external auditory canal;
• do not allow communication with unfamiliar animals;
• strengthen the cat's immune system.

Paying close attention to your pet and promptly seeing a doctor will help avoid health problems.

How to remove a tick

In principle, you can remove the bloodsucker yourself or go to a doctor at an emergency room or private clinic. Among the options for how to get rid of a tick on your own, there are quite practical and downright strange, so you should approach the issue wisely. First of all, you need to remember that pulling, trying to crush or pouring alcohol, oil, or cologne is useless and risky. When subjected to rough mechanical action or an attempt to block its access to air, the insect reflexively secretes saliva, which may contain pathogens of dangerous diseases. The remaining fragments of the proboscis provoke inflammation and will have to be treated comprehensively. proven and relatively safe ways to remove a tick .

Tweezers for removing ticks

The best option. There is a specially designed very convenient model that anyone can use without any training. It takes into account all the nuances, including the fact that you cannot crush or pull the insect, scare it or provoke it to release saliva. Therefore, there are no pincer-like elements there. Tweezers for ticks https://klinver.by/ are convenient to use even for bites in hard-to-reach places. It is simply brought with a fork under the insect’s body, fixed and carefully unscrewed, like a screw. Thus, there is no pressure, the proboscis does not have time to catch on the skin, and the pest is pulled out unharmed.

The convenient size and shape will allow you to easily grab the parasite, and the bright color eliminates the possibility of losing the tweezers. The set includes 2 devices of different sizes; they are accompanied by a disposable test tube for the extracted tick with a ground-in stopper. Traveling along the spring trails with such a device is much safer; you can quickly help yourself and your loved ones.

Tape or Band-Aid

Bloodsuckers are securely attached to the skin; their proboscis has reverse serrations that make it difficult to pull it out with your fingers. However, you can use a piece of adhesive tape of any kind, but it must adhere well to the skin. A strip is cut and glued to the affected area. There is no need to press down hard so as not to crush the insect. One corner is left free. Then, with a sharp movement, the patch is removed along with the parasite stuck to it.

Regular thread

Any long enough piece of thread will do. It should be thin and durable. A loop is knitted from it, placed on the tick as close to the skin as possible, without touching the abdomen, and then tightened and smoothly rises up. The secret is to pull strictly vertically, without allowing deviations to the sides.

Tweezers

Experienced travelers will definitely have this useful item in their travel pharmacy. It is needed in many situations. Almost anyone can cope with the task of how to remove a tick with tweezers The main thing is to carefully grab it as close to your head as possible and remember not to press. You will have to pull very smoothly and carefully, and immediately place the extracted specimen in a container of water and securely close it with a lid or stopper. The bite site is treated with any antiseptic.