You all hear me talk about external parasites, namely fleas and ticks ALL of the time. Today we’re changing it up and talking about ear mites.

Ear mites are microscopic insects that thrive in the ear canals of both dogs and cats. Although we generally find these pests in young puppies or kittens, they can occur in any age group.

Most often, a pet will be scratching their ears, and in the examination I find a dark brown, crumbly discharge in either one or both ears. If this happens, a swab of the debris is taken and evaluated for mites, as well as for yeast and bacteria.

Depending on the results, your vet will prescribe medications to address the mites and or any yeast or bacteria. Sometimes this means a topical medication like Revolution or ointments that you put into the pet’s ear!

Reach out to your vet if your pet has itchy ears!