Ear mites are a common infection suffered by cats and dogs. They are more popular amongst cats. The mites resemble ticks and they are parasites that feed off of the animals ear wax. When a pet has these mites, it is best to seek a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Typically, an infection will show a black, crusty discharge. This is a mixture of the pet’s blood, ear wax and the mites. Veterinarians will test the presence of ear mites by examining the cat or dog’s ear wax under a microscope. If they do in fact see that this is the result of an infection caused by mites in the ear, they will prescribe the proper treatment.
The actual ear mites live on the surfaces of the cat’s ear and feed off of the ear wax. When the infection is really bad, the mites might spread to other areas on the body. This causes a lot of discomfort for the animal and must be treated. As the mites spread throughout their hosts, they will lay more eggs and hatch more mites.
The ear mites do not have a very long life cycle, therefore they continue to hatch new eggs. This process will continue until the eggs are killed off by using the right treatment. There is either prescription or over-the-counter treatments that are suitable for cats and dogs. But it is best to see a veterinarian to see which treatment will best suit your pet’s needs.
It is also very important to seek medical attention because this type of infection is very contagious. If your cat or dog is infected, they must receive treatment as soon as possible. All it takes is for one animal to come in direct contact with another infected animal to spread. Dogs or cats that are infected should be isolated from other animals until the infection is gone. Once treated, it typically does not take that long to get rid of the mites.
A mite infection in the ears of cats and dogs are very uncomfortable for the animal. The skin becomes very irritated and sore from the infection. If not treated, the infection can lead to other types of skin diseases. There are many types of treatments available but it is important to first consult with your pet’s veterinarian.
Ear mites can be treated by many over the reverse treatments that are obtainable in pet stores. These treatments kill the eggs that are laid by the mites. They operate in accordance to the existence cycle of the mite which is around three weeks. If the an infection is severe, it is much better to get prescription medication from a veterinarian. The veterinarian can prescribe more effective treatments that will get rid of the an infection in much less time.
