Ear mites in dogs

Ear mites can rarely be seen by the naked eye. We're showing you how to tell if your dog has ear mites, and answering all your questions about the diagnosis, treatment and contagiousness of ear mites in dogs.

What are ear mites?

Ear mites are a fairly common parasite that can affect dogs and cats. They live on the skin of the ear canal and feed off ear wax and skin oils. Adult ear mites live for around two months, but they can multiply quickly. Their eggs take just four days to hatch and a further three weeks to develop into an adult mite, ready to breed again.

Ear mites look like tiny white dots in appearance, but as they are microscopic, they can barely be seen with the naked eye. A microscope is normally needed to confirm if your dog has ear mites.

What are the signs of ear mites in my dog?

An ear mite infection will cause your dog’s ears to itch, which often results in them shaking their head excessively, or scratching at their ears with their paws. Ear mites can also cause your dog's ears to:

• produce wax
• become irritated, causing them to look red and inflamed
• produce a dry black ear discharge
• smell unusual

Irritation in your dog's ear can be caused by many other things. Allergies are a common cause of ear irritation, but it can also be caused by a bacterial or yeast ear infection.

It's important to book an appointment with your vet so they can determine whether ear mites are the cause of your dog's irritation.

How are ear mites diagnosed?

Ear mites are very difficult to detect with the naked eye, so your vet will need to confirm their presence by looking inside your dog's ear. This is normally done with a tool called an otoscope.

How are ear mites treated?

Depending on which is most suitable for your dog's condition, there are a few treatment options that your vet may recommend.

Spot on flea treatments

Many spot on flea treatments prevent and treat ear mites. If recommended by your vet, this is the easiest way to protect your dog from the parasites. They are less stressful for your dog than ear drops, and one or two applications is usually enough.

Ear drops

Ear drops are also available. Ear mite eggs take 21 days to develop into adult mites, which means that ear drops are often needed for around three weeks. It's really important to use ear drops as prescribed and for the recommended time period.

It's not always easy to confirm the presence of ear mites in a dirty ear, so ear drops are useful as they can also be effective against yeast and bacteria infections.

How do dogs catch ear mites?

Ear mites transfer between animals – or ‘hosts’ – through close physical contact.

Are ear mites contagious to other pets?

Yes, ear mites are contagious to other dogs and cats in your home. Even if other pets are not showing symptoms of ear mites, it’s essential that they are treated at the same time. Cats are the most prone to catching ear mites due to their lifestyle habits.

Can humans catch ear mites from pets?

In extremely rare cases, dog owners have been known to develop  a skin rash if their dog has ear mites. But the ear mites that infect dogs are different from the parasite that affect humans.