Ear Mites in Dogs and Cats Natural Treatment and Remedy
★ 4 min read
In This Article:
- About Ear Mites
- Symptoms of an Ear Mite Infestation
- Dogs and Cats Most Vulnerable to Ear Mite Infestation
- Natural Treatment for Ear Mites in Dogs and Cats
- Natural Remedy to Help Prevent Re-infestation of Ear Mites
- Not Recommended for Treating Ear Mites
1. About Ear Mites
Ear mites are tiny surface mites, about the size of a pinhead. Ear mites can infest cats, dogs, ferrets, fox, guinea pigs, rabbits, other small animals, ruminants and humans (rare). Ear mites are highly contagious and can be passed from one species of animal to another.
Ear mites spend the majority of their time in the dark, warm, moist environment of an animal's ear canal. Mites feed on dead skin cells, keratin and fatty compounds naturally present in live skin cells. The life cycle of an ear mite is approximately 3 weeks. Female ear mites fasten their eggs to the keratin in the ear canal. The eggs hatch, grow into adult mites and lay more eggs.
Left untreated or improperly treated an ear mite infestation causes great discomfort, can result in secondary ear infection (bacterial or fungal), and ultimately cause damage to the ear.
2. Symptoms of an Ear Mite Infestation
When ear mites infest your dog and cat's ear canal, the skin becomes irritated and inflamed. The body reacts by producing ear wax. The ear wax builds up, causing additional irritation. As ear mites die, hatch and reproduce the ear wax becomes thicker, laden with detritus and dead mites. Eventually the wax can block the ear canal.
To help relieve the discomfort your dog or cat may excessively itch and scratch her ear. This can cause broken skin, resulting in a secondary bacterial or fungal infection.
Symptoms of an ear mite infestation include:
- Red, inflamed skin of the ear flap and/or ear canal.
- Itchy ears.
- Repeated shaking of the head.
- Dark thick brown, crumbly waxy discharge from the ear.
- Unpleasant odour emanating from the ear.
- Fur loss around the ear flap.
- Thickening of the skin.
- Blockage of the ear canal.
3. Dogs and Cats Most Vulnerable to Ear Mite Infestations
Dogs and cats with an under-performing immune system are most vulnerable to ear mite infestation. The primary cause of acquired, (as opposed to inherited) immune system vulnerability includes:
- A highly processed dry food or wet food diet.
- Conventional flea, tick, heartworm products.
- Conventional medications.
My dogs and cats and my client dogs and cats don't get ear mite infestations. Why? Because they are on a species appropriate diet, natural insect, parasite preventative aids and no conventional medications. Their immune system is naturally supported making them unattractive to insects and parasites.
4. Natural Treatment for Ear Mites in Dogs and Cats
To treat your dog and cat's ear mite infestation use natural ear drops applied directly to the ear and ear canal.
Garlic Oil Ear Drop Recipe
Garlic is a traditional herbal medicinal, natural anti-parasitic, anti-microbial, broad spectrum antibiotic and anti-fungal. Read more about the health benefits of garlic here.
Recipe
Ingredients
Garlic cloves, organic preferred. Do not use garlic from China.
Cold pressed, organic, virgin olive oil or almond oil.
Small wide mouth mason jar.
Cheesecloth or other breathable clean cloth.
Small glass dropper bottle.
Preparation
Remove the outer skin from the garlic cloves.
Cut the garlic cloves into thin slices.
Place the sliced garlic in the jar. Leave 1" (2.5 cm) of space at the top of the jar.
Pour oil into the jar, enough to completely cover the garlic. As noted above, don't overfill the jar, leave space at the top.
Cover the top of the jar with the cheesecloth.
Stretch the cheesecloth tight over the top of the jar.
Secure the cheesecloth with a string.
Cure the garlic oil: place the jar in a warm location, secure the lid and allow it to stand for 10 to 14 days.
Then remove the garlic cloves from the oil.
Strain the oil and pour it into the small glass dropper bottle.
Store the oil in the refrigerator.
Instructions for Use
Take the oil out of the refrigerator.
Allow it to sit on the counter to 10 to 15 minutes to warm up to room temperature.
Then place 2 drops in both ear canals. Don't let the dropper touch the ear.
Gently rub your dog or cat's ear in a circular motion.
Then allow your dog or cat to shake her head.
Use a soft cotton or bamboo pad to gently wipe any excess oil and wax from your animal's ear.
Clean the dropper before placing it back in the bottle.
Apply the drops twice a day until the ear mite infestation is resolved.
Then apply the drops one day per week for a month.
Oregon Grape Root Ear Drop Recipe
For dogs and puppies, cats and kittens.
Oregon grape is a traditional herbal medicinal with compounds that are antibacterial, anti-fungal, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic.
RecipeIngredients
Oregon grape root tincture
Warm distilled water
Glass dropper bottle
Preparation
Place 4 ounces of warm distilled water and one teaspoon of Oregon grape tincture in the glass dropper bottle.
Secure the bottle top and shake the bottle.
Store in the refrigerator.
Instructions for Use
Take the Oregon grape ear drops out of the refrigerator.
Allow it to sit on the counter to 10 to 15 minutes to warm up to room temperature.
Then place 5 to 10 drops in both ear canals. Don't let the dropper touch the ear.
Gently rub your dog or cat's ear in a circular motion.
Then allow your dog or cat to shake her head.
Use a soft cotton or bamboo pad to gently wipe any excess oil and wax from your animal's ear.
Clean the dropper before placing it back in the bottle.
Apply the drops twice a day until the ear mite infestation is resolved.
Then apply the drops one day per week for a month.
Yellow Dock Root Ear Drop and Rinse Recipe
Yellow dock root is a traditional medicinal astringent, anti-inflammatory and purifier. In addition to using the garlic oil or Oregon grape root drops, you can use the yellow dock drops and rinse to discourage ear mites.
Recipe
Ingredients
Yellow dock tincture
Warm distilled water
Glass dropper bottle
Preparation
Place one tablespoon of warm distilled water and 3 drops of yellow dock tincture in the glass dropper bottle.
Secure the bottle top and shake the bottle.
Store in the refrigerator.
Instructions for Use
Take the yellow dock ear drops out of the refrigerator.
Allow it to sit on the counter to 10 to 15 minutes to warm up to room temperature.
Then place 5 to 10 drops in both ear canals. Don't let the dropper touch the ear.
Gently rub your dog or cat's ear in a circular motion.
Then allow your dog or cat to shake her head.
Use a soft cotton or bamboo pad to gently wipe any excess oil and wax from your animal's ear.
Clean the dropper before placing it back in the bottle.
Apply the drops twice a day until the ear mite infestation is resolved.
Then apply the drops one day per week for a month.
You can also use the yellow dock liquid solution as a rinse one times per week to cleanse your cats and dog's head, ears and tail to discourage the ear mites.
5. Natural Remedy to Help Prevent Re-infestation of Ear Mites
Support your dog and cat's immune system. A poorly supported immune system and an acidic body provides the perfect environment for parasites.
Highly processed food, use of conventional flea tick heartworm products and overuse of conventional medications harms the immune system.
Naturally support your dog and cat's immune system and overall health by taking the steps just below.
Diet
Transition your dog and cat to a species appropriate raw or gently cooked and fresh food diet.
Learn about fresh foods (animal proteins and plant materials) for dogs and animal proteins for cats here.
See an example of a raw or gently cooked food recipe here.
Natural Wormers and Flea Tick Heart Worm Prevention Aids
Don't use conventional wormers and flea, tick, heartworm products. Choose a natural prevention plan that suites your animal's personal circumstances.
Natural wormers:
- Go here.
Foods that help treat and prevent intestinal parasites and insects:
- Go here.
Natural flea, tick, mosquito sprays, dips, rubs, rinses:
- Go here.
6. Not Recommended For Treating Ear Mite Infestations
I don't recommend use of products such as Thornit. Thornit contains talc and boric. I don't recommend use of products that contain talc or boric due to their health harming properties.
Talc
Topical use of talc powder has been linked to cancer by IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer), the Danish Health and Protection Agency and Health Canada. It's also been linked to scaring of the lungs (inhaled talc particulate during topical application to skin, ears, etc.).
Boric
Boric is the common name for boric acid powder. Boric is not a natural substance and can cause and contribute to health issues in dogs and cats.
More about the health hazards of boric for dogs and cats, go to this article.
