Skin beetle or ear mites in dogs: treatment at home using medications and folk remedies. Ear mites in dogs: treatment, medications, drops to remove the mites How to treat ear mites in dogs

Ear scabies (ear mites) A common disease, more common in cats, less common in dogs. Young, weakened and old animals are most susceptible to the disease. The disease is caused by ticks of the genus Otodectes, namely Otodectos cynotis.


It should be noted that otodectosis also occurs in pets that do not go outside. . This situation may be due to infection of young animals from their mother, through direct contact with other animals (especially stray ones), and transmission of the causative agent of otodectosis is possible from animal owners (shoes, clothes), subject to their contact with infected animals. Infection is also possible if you take your pet outdoors or to the countryside.

According to a number of scientists (Wall, R., Shearer, D., 2001), more than 85% of otitis (inflammation of the outer ear) in cats, and 50% in dogs, are caused by the presence of ear mites.

Ticks do not pose a particular danger to humans, but they can cause local allergic reactions.

Symptoms of otodectosis (ear scabies):

The most striking clinical symptoms of the disease are:

1. Presence of dark brown crusts in the auricle (many owners mistakenly believe that this is dirt, dirty ears, and do not pay due attention to this sign).



2. The appearance of severe itching. The animal shakes its head, scratches its ears with its hind paws, and rubs against various objects. . As a result, scratches, wounds and abrasions may appear.

3. "Crooked-headedness" - the animal tilts its head to the side the most affected ear.

The diagnosis is confirmed on the basis of the direct detection of mites in smears of exudate from the animal’s ears, during microscopic examination.

Treatment of otectosis (ear scabies, ear mites):

Today, there are a huge number of acaricidal drugs designed to combat ear mites. However, it should be taken into account that, as a rule, otodectosis is complicated by otitis media, of a bacterial, and less often, fungal nature. Therefore, treatment is usually prescribed comprehensively.

The treatment regimen is usually as follows:

1. Thorough cleansing of the ears from scabs, crusts and exudate
2. Treatment with an acaricidal (anti-mite) drug. It should be noted that no matter what drug you choose, a single treatment will not be enough. It is important to treat both ears, even if only one is affected.

sometimes it is also necessary:

3. Treatment with antibacterial agents (and/or antifungal, if necessary)
4. Vitamin therapy (Gammavit, Multivit, etc.)

Sometimes complex preparations are used that have both anti-mite and antibacterial properties.

To clean the ears, you can use special lotions:

You can also use hydrogen peroxide, Sometimes it is recommended to use dioxidine solution:

Treatment with an acaricidal (anti-mite) drug:

It should be noted, that no matter what drug you choose, a single treatment will not be enough .

Today, there are a huge number of acaricidal (anti-tick) drugs, with different active ingredients and different costs.

Let's look at them in more detail:

Aversectin ointment:

Compound: aversectin C

Mode of application: The affected areas of the skin are washed and wiped dry. The ears are cleaned of crusts and scabs, and the hair is cut off. The ointment is applied with a spatula, stick or swab. After applying the ointment into the ear canal, fold the auricle in half lengthwise and massage the base.

Contraindications: animals with infectious diseases; emaciated animals; convalescent animals; pregnant and lactating animals; kittens and puppies under two months; animals with hypersensitivity to aversectin C and other components of aversectin ointment.

Price: 35-50 rub.

Ear drops "Amit"

Compound: amitraz, prednisolone

Mode of application: clean the ear canal from crusts and scabs using a cotton swab moistened with the drug. Then Amit Forte is instilled into each ear, 3-6 drops (depending on the size of the animal) and the auricle is folded in half, lightly massaging at the base to distribute the drug evenly. Treatment is carried out 2 times a day with an interval of 3 – 5 days. In advanced cases of otodectosis, complicated by otitis, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. If necessary, the course of treatment is repeated. The drug is administered into both ears, even in cases of otodectosis affecting only one ear.

Contraindications: Animals with infectious diseases and recovering animals, pregnant and lactating females, as well as puppies and kittens under 2 months of age are not subject to treatment.

Price: 50-65 rub.

Amitrazine ear drops

Compound: amitraz, dimexide

Mode of application: instilled into previously cleaned ears once a day - after three days, until the clinical signs of damage disappear (3-6 treatments).

Contraindications: Pregnancy, individual intolerance to dimexide.

Price: 35-40 rub.

"Amidel-gel"

Compound: amitraz + methyluracil + lidocaine hydrochloride

Mode of application: The external auditory canal is cleaned of scabs and crusts using a cotton-gauze swab soaked in the gel, and then 0.5–2 ml of gel is injected into each ear (depending on the size of the animal). To distribute the drug evenly, the auricle is folded in half and lightly massaged at the base. Treatment is carried out 1 - 2 times with an interval of 5 -7 days. In advanced cases of otitis, complicated by a bacterial or viral infection, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. If necessary, the course of treatment is repeated. Amidel-gel must be injected into both ears, even if only one ear is affected by otodectosis.

Contraindications: Increased individual sensitivity to the components of the drug. It is not recommended to use the gel for kittens and puppies under 2 weeks of age, as well as for patients with infectious diseases, convalescent and malnourished animals. Amidel-gel should not be prescribed simultaneously with other insecticidal and acaricidal agents.

Price: 90-125 rub.

Ear drops "Dekta"

Compound: amitraz, dexamethasone, propolis

Mode of application: The auricles and external auditory canal are cleaned of superficial scabs and crusts, then 3-5 drops of the drug are instilled into each ear using a pipette (depending on the size of the auricle). Treatment is carried out once a day with an interval of 5-7 days, repeating the course 2-3 times. In order to more completely treat the entire surface of the ear and ear canal, the auricle is folded in half lengthwise and its base is massaged. Be sure to treat both ears, even if only one ear is affected by mites. If necessary, the course of treatment is repeated.

Contraindications: Animals with infectious diseases and recovering animals, pregnant and lactating females, as well as puppies and kittens under 4 weeks of age are not subject to treatment.

Price: 60-75 rub.

Ear drops "Tsipam"

Compound: cypermethrin (0.3%), amitraz (0.2%)

Mode of application: The ear canal is cleaned of scabs and crusts with a swab moistened with a solution, and then 3-6 drops are instilled into each ear (depending on the size of the animal). In order to more completely treat the entire surface of the ear and ear canal, the auricle is folded in half lengthwise and its base is lightly massaged. Treatment is carried out twice with an interval of 3 – 5 days.

Contraindications: Individual hypersensitivity to the components of the drug. Pregnant and lactating females, puppies and kittens under 6 weeks of age, as well as animals with infectious diseases and convalescent animals are not subject to treatment.

Price: 100-115 rub.

Ear drops "Demos"

Compound: sulfur

Mode of application: The auricles and external auditory canal are first cleaned of superficial scabs and crusts of exudate, and then 1.5–2 ml (depending on the size of the auricle) of liniment is injected into each ear. The auricle is folded in half lengthwise and massaged at the base. Treatment is carried out 2–5 times with an interval of 2–3 days until the animal’s clinical recovery, which is confirmed by negative results of acarological studies of samples from the ear canal. Both ears are treated, even in cases where only one ear is affected by mites. If necessary, the course of treatment is repeated.

Contraindications: Individual hypersensitivity to the components of the drug. Pregnant and lactating females, puppies and kittens under 1 month old, as well as patients with infectious diseases, convalescent and weakened animals cannot be treated. Do not use the drug in cases of perforation of the eardrum. The drug should not be prescribed simultaneously with other insecticidal and acaricidal agents for animals.

Price: 45-50 rub.

Ear drops "Ectodes"

Compound: sulfur, propolis

Mode of application: Before treatment, the external auditory canal is thoroughly cleaned of superficial crusts and scabs with a swab moistened with camphor alcohol, then 3–5 drops of the drug are instilled into each ear, the auricle is folded in half lengthwise and its base is lightly massaged. Treatment is carried out once a day with an interval of 5 - 7 days, repeating the course 2 - 3 times. Both ears must be treated with ectodes, even if only one ear is affected by otodectosis. In advanced cases of otodectosis complicated by otitis media, treatments are carried out daily for 5 to 7 days.

Contraindications: Individual hypersensitivity to the components of the drug. Pregnant and lactating females, puppies and kittens under 4 weeks of age, as well as patients with infectious diseases, convalescent and weakened animals cannot be treated. Do not use the drug in cases of perforation of the eardrum. The drug should not be prescribed simultaneously with other insecticidal and acaricidal agents for animals.

Price: 40-60 rub.

Spray "Acaromectin"

Compound: ivermectin

Mode of application: Apply from a bottle with a spray to the inner surface of the ear in an amount of 1-2.5 cm3, ensuring uniform wetting of the skin.

Contraindications: individual hypersensitivity of the animal to the components of the drug (including history). Patients with infectious diseases, convalescent and exhausted animals, pregnant and lactating females, as well as puppies and kittens under 1 month of age cannot be treated.

Price: 75-85 rub.

Epacid-alpha ear drops

Compound: alphacypermethrin - 0.1%

Mode of application: For otodectosis (ear scabies) of dogs and fur-bearing animals, the external auditory canal is cleaned of scabs and crusts, the bottle with the emulsion is thoroughly shaken and then, using a moistened swab, Epacid-alpha is applied to the inner surface of the auricle at the rate of 1-1.5 ml.

In order to more completely treat the entire surface of the ear and ear canal, the auricle is folded in half and its base is lightly massaged.

Treatment is carried out twice with an interval of 3-5 days. In advanced cases of the disease, complicated by otitis, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed in accordance with the instructions for their use. If necessary, the course of treatment is repeated.

Contraindications: It is not allowed to treat lactating or pregnant females later than two weeks before whelping.

Price: 25-35 rub.

Ear drops "Dana"

Compound: diazinon

Mode of application: clean both ears, then instill 3-5 drops of the drug into each ear, after which the auricle is folded in half lengthwise and its base is massaged. Both ears must be treated with the drug, even in cases of otodectosis affecting one ear. The treatment is repeated once a day with an interval of 5-7 days, repeating the course 2 times. If necessary, the course of treatment is repeated.

Contraindications: Pregnant and lactating females, patients with infectious diseases, weakened, exhausted and convalescent animals, puppies and kittens under 10 weeks of age (2.5 months), as well as animals with individual intolerance to the components of the drug cannot be treated. Do not apply to wet or damaged skin.

Price: 60-70 rub.

Ivermec gel

Compound: ivermectin, panthenol, lidocaine

Mode of application: The external auditory canal is cleaned with a moistened swab from scabs and crusts and then 0.5 - 2 ml of the drug is injected into each ear (depending on the weight of the animal). In order to more completely treat the entire surface of the ear and ear canal, the auricle is folded in half lengthwise and its base is lightly massaged. Treatment is carried out 1 - 2 times with an interval of 5 - 7 days. If necessary, the course of treatment is repeated. The drug must be administered into both ears, even in cases of otodectosis affecting only one ear. In advanced cases of the disease, complicated by otitis, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.

Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to the drug. Patients with infectious diseases, convalescent and exhausted animals should not be treated.

Price: 230-265 rub.

Cases no self-recovery was observed when infected with ear mites, so you can’t count on everything going away on its own. Delayed treatment or non-compliance with doctor’s recommendations leads to the development of complications and the chronic phase.

What's happening

Ear mites, using the powerful jaws of the chelicerae, destroy the surface of the epidermis and feed on secreted tissue fluid and lymph.

Otodectosis is divided into three stages:

• weak - itching, redness of the skin of the ear canal lasts 4–5 days, crusts occupy a quarter of the ear area;
• medium - brown crusts spread over half of the auricle, exudate with an unpleasant odor is released from the ear, local body temperature rises;
• strong - the dog is in a depressed state, severe scratching of the muzzle and submandibular area is observed, purulent discharge appears, and difficulty chewing food.

Launched the disease leads to otitis media, inflammation and perforation of the eardrum, hearing loss. In severe cases, surgery is required. Hematomas and wounds in the area of ​​the ears are not uncommon. In a chronic process, inflammation of the external auditory canal flows into the tissues of the middle and inner ear, and from there to the meninges. As a result, the dog may die from meningitis.

Ear mites in dogs

How to make a diagnosis

If the dog shakes its head or rubs against a surface, scratches its ears with its claws, which means you need to be prepared for an unpleasant diagnosis. Otodectosis should not be confused with ordinary ear inflammation, in which the ear discharge is not so large.

The basis for determining the disease are:

How Find out on your own at home if your dog is sick, if it is not possible to see a doctor? To do this, secretions are collected from the ears and placed on a white sheet of paper. With otodectosis, dark inclusions are visible. These are waste products of ticks. If there is no inflammation and elevated body temperature, you can start treatment yourself.

Treatment and prevention

First of all, a dog infected with a tick must be isolated from other animals during treatment until complete recovery. It is important to clean the ear very well and the ear canal, otherwise the mites will survive and the treatment will not produce results. Using a cotton swab soaked in chlorhesidine, thoroughly rinse both ears.

How to treat at home

Anti-tick medications are used in strict accordance with the instructions. Treatment at home includes:

Drugs for treatment

Means for treating ticks Available in the form of aerosols, ear drops, ointments. Veterinary pharmacies and pet stores have a wide range of insectoacaricidal drugs that quickly relieve the symptoms of the disease.

Treatment of a complicated form is carried out with antimicrobial drugs of systemic properties. Such medications are administered to a sick dog subcutaneously or intramuscularly. However these agents are highly toxic Therefore, treatment should only be carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian. After the symptoms disappear, the ears are treated with acaricidal preparations for prevention.

When working with acicides comply with personal protective equipment- the dog is treated in a ventilated room, making sure that the medicine does not get on the mucous membranes of the animal and humans.

Prevention

The dog should not have contact with sick animals. It is necessary to ensure (especially in the summer at the dacha) that she is free-ranged as little as possible.

Before treatment, to prevent re-infection, all animals must be treated with acaricides- preparations to combat ticks in the form of powders and sprays for topical use. In pet stores you can buy shampoos with insectoacaricidal properties.

Disinsection (destruction of ticks) must be carried out in all places where the sick dog was.

Surfaces affected by mites become compacted and covered with dried crusts. I must say, the disease looks unpleasant and, when they see formations in a pet’s ears, owners most often think that his ears are simply dirty. In fact, this is far from the case.

As already noted, tick saliva is an allergen for the animal, but not only it, but also all other products of its vital activity are toxic. Getting on the skin and its inner layers, they lead to the appearance of microscopic tears, causing itching in the dog. The pet constantly scratches and shakes its ears. Scratches and wounds appear in the ears and on the outside of the ear. Earwax mixes with lymph and mite feces and forms brown crusts.

In addition, a number of other symptoms are added:

• the dog begins to eat poorly, sometimes at all;
• the pet does not sit still, behaves restlessly;
• with severe damage, the dog may constantly tilt its head towards the affected ear.

In a clinical setting, the resulting material is studied under a microscope. If it really is a tick, then you can see tiny gray-white specks moving.

Consequences of neglected otodectosis

A tick bite is not only an unpleasant sensation for your dog, but also a possible cause of various kinds of complications. If your pet is not treated, this can lead to the following consequences:

• suppuration of the resulting wounds;
• development of the inflammatory process in the ear -;
• damage and further destruction of the eardrum;
• decreased or complete loss of hearing;
• inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord - meningitis.

Statistics indicate that complications develop in one out of ten cases of otodectosis. Naturally, this is not a reason to panic, but a warning - a sick animal must be treated in a timely manner.

Treatment of ear mites in dogs

There are many reasons why you should not, without experience, independently treat your four-legged friend:

• Only a specialist, after a comprehensive diagnosis, can confirm that a pet has otodectosis.
• When selecting a drug, the doctor takes into account the individual characteristics of the dog (breed, tendency to allergic manifestations, advanced disease) and prescribes the optimal remedy.
• An experienced veterinarian will be able to calculate the required dosage, as well as the duration of the course.

Before applying external products, it is necessary to clean the ears from accumulated wax, leaked exudate, and crusts. To do this, you can wrap a piece of gauze or bandage around your index finger and wipe the inside of the sink. The bandage can be moistened with a solution of boric acid, furatsilin or hydrogen peroxide. In the latter case, it is necessary to prevent the drug from flowing into the ear.

You can supplement the procedure by applying vegetable oil to the baked crusts or treating them with freshly brewed tea leaves. To do this, it is convenient to use cotton swabs and change them as often as possible.

For the same purposes, you can purchase special lotions at the veterinary pharmacy, for example, “Epi-otik” or “Otodin”, which will facilitate the removal of crusts, eliminate the unpleasant odor, and they also have a pronounced antipruritic effect. They can also be used as a prophylactic agent.

To treat ear mites in dogs, medications in the form of drops are usually prescribed. It is necessary to instill in both ears, strictly taking into account the prescribed dosage.

Among the well-known ear drops for otodectosis in dogs are the following:

• "Amitrizan Plus";
• "Otovedin";
• "Surolan";
• "Otibiovin";
• "Tsipam";
• "Aurikan";
• "Leopard".

For external treatment, the veterinarian may prescribe ointments:

• "Oridermil";
• "Amidel-gel";
• "Sulfuric ointment";
• "Colloidal sulfur";
• "Aversectin ointment";
• “Balsamic liniment according to Vishnevsky.”

The ointments must be warmed to room temperature and applied to the affected area with light massaging movements so that the medicine penetrates into the deeper layers of the epidermis.

If, after completing the therapeutic course, the subcutaneous mite appears again, it means that we are talking about incorrect or insufficient treatment, or the dog has reduced immunity.

Preventive measures against ear mites

If brownish wax begins to form, it means that the animal has become infected with ear mites.

Like most diseases, otodectosis is very easily cured at the very beginning of its development. At this stage, regular ear cleaning and the use of special drops will help relieve your pet of the disease.

If it was not possible to identify the subcutaneous tick, and it caused significant damage to the dog, then not only otodectosis will have to be treated, but also the associated secondary infection. This will require more effort and time.

Without treatment, the disease can develop into a chronic form and result in deafness or even death of the dog. For the treatment of otodectosis, special preparations have been developed that are easy to use at home. For an accurate diagnosis and prescription of medication, you must consult a veterinarian.

What is an ear mite and how does the disease manifest itself?

Large clusters of mites infect the insides of the ears of small breed dogs and cause them serious suffering:

• inside the auricle, dogs feel a constant unpleasant itch;
• as a result, they painfully scratch their ears and the space nearby - in front of the auricle, behind the ear;
• animals often shake their heads, try to rub their ears against the corners of walls and furniture;
• On the body and delicate skin tissues, in the process of furiously scratching, dogs can leave deep scratches that heal poorly, since the area itches constantly;
• hair loss behind the ears is often observed, skin scabs are possible;
• The dog's appetite may worsen, he becomes nervous and irritable.

Diagnostics

It is impossible to diagnose otodectosis on your own, The dog must be taken to the veterinarian for inspection and analysis. Some symptoms of otodectosis are similar, for example, to otitis media. For correct diagnosis and prescription of effective treatment, scrapings of discharge from the auricle and examination with a microscope are necessary.

Treatment methods for a little friend

To treat ear mites, veterinary pharmacies offer a large arsenal of all kinds of drops and solutions for treating the ears of dogs. It is prohibited to use any drug to treat an animal without a doctor’s prescription.

Rules for processing the ears

A calm animal is picked up and placed on your lap. It is necessary to relax your pet, gently stroke the dog, and talk to him during the procedure. Restless dogs are wrapped in a thick blanket or blanket (since the procedure can be painful, the dog may struggle and defend itself).

Instructions for processing the auricle:

• Using clean cotton swabs, clean the ear sockets from scabs, wax secretions, and mite excrement. Cotton wool can be moistened with hydrogen peroxide. As they become dirty, the sticks are replaced with clean ones.
• Drops (prescribed by a doctor) should be at room temperature. If the medicine is stored in the refrigerator, take it out in advance so that the solution warms up.
• Medicine is instilled into each ear (in the dosage recommended by the veterinarian). For a small dog, 3-4 drops of solution in each ear is usually sufficient.
• To better distribute the medication throughout the ear, a local massage is performed. To do this, the ear with the instilled medicine is pressed to the head (covering the inner part), and the outer surface of the ear (especially the part at the base) is gently massaged.
• At the end of the procedure, it is better to hold the dog in your arms for a while, since, once free, the animals immediately begin to shake their heads and try to remove the solution from their ears with their paws.

Some breeds of small dogs (for example, Yorkshire terriers) have the abundant hair growing there plucked from their ears before treatment with the drug.

Contraindications to the use of medications may be the very young age of the puppies (up to 2 months), the period of pregnancy of the dog (or feeding newborns with breast milk). Some medicinal formulations are contraindicated for use in dogs of certain breeds. Individual allergic reactions to the chemical composition of the product are possible; you must carefully monitor your pet’s reaction after using the drops.

Important! Ear mites are transmitted from animal to animal. If there are several dogs (or cats that are also susceptible to otodectosis) living at home, treatment is carried out on all animals at once.

Medications

• Otibiovin;
• Otoferonol Gold;
• Otovedin;
• Tsipam;
• Oricin;
• Leopard.

Folk remedies

• sea ​​buckthorn oil (it is permissible to add a drop of garlic juice to the oil);
• strong green tea (cooled to room temperature, unsweetened).

On the page, read the information on how to quickly and painlessly trim your dog’s nails at home.

Why you can’t not treat otodectosis

In its chronic form, ear mites lead to serious diseases:

• otitis (inflammation of the middle ear);
• destruction of the eardrum;
• inflammation of the brain, meningitis.

The result of a negligent attitude towards the disease can be deafness of the animal and even death.

At the first symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to immediately take measures to treat the animal.

To combat otodectosis, there are now a lot of effective insectoacaricidal drugs. These are various drops and ointments with an acaricidal component. At the initial stage of development of the process, you can use all the drops that are used to kill fleas and ticks. Video - veterinarian recommendations on how and with what to treat ear mites in dogs:

Ear scabies begin with mild itching that gradually intensifies. The animal becomes restless, scratches its ears with its claws, and injures them. Foci of alopecia, ulcers, and ulcers form.

Foul-smelling purulent contents flow from the external auditory canals, forming crusts when they dry out.

The symptom of bowhead is manifested by the tilting of the head towards the sore ear and the recession of the eyeball.

With the development of tick-borne otitis, the following symptoms increase:

• The dog rubs its ear vigorously, the skin is slightly reddened.
• Increasing itching causes the animal to tear apart the hearing organ. It becomes hot, bright red.
• A discharge of mushy consistency of brownish-brown color is formed, consisting of exudate, dead mites, their excrement, ichor and micromycetes.
• After a few days, the symptoms of scabies spread to the other ear.
• Skin defects are contaminated with secondary microflora. Suppuration occurs.
• The alteration extends to the medial ear and labyrinth. The drum membrane is perforated.
• Microflora penetrates the meninges, meningitis or arachnoiditis develops.
• If treatment is unsuccessful or absent, the disease ends in deafness or death of the animal.

Diagnostics

Microscopy of scrapings from the area of ​​damage reveals mites or eggs. The dog owner is able to independently identify the itching. When heating a black sheet of paper with a paste placed on it, mites are observed running away from the ear canal.

Treatment

Treatment begins with determining the phase of the disease. If the ear discharge has a dry consistency and there is no scratching, acaricidal drops, gels, aerosols, ointments, and lotions are used. It should be remembered that such preparations contain toxic substances, so treatment must be carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Advanced scabies is characterized by the development of otitis media. It is no longer possible to use anti-tick agents; we have to use antifungal medications and antibiotics. Preparing the ear for the use of medications consists of cleaning it of secretions with cotton swabs. Medications are applied to the prepared surface of both ears. The treatment is repeated according to the instructions or orders of the veterinarian.