What are ear mites? What are the symptoms of ear mites in dogs?

Jul 26,2025
3Min


What are ear mites

Ear mites are common ear canal parasites. Most of them live in the ear canal of dogs, but a few can also appear on the head, neck and tail. Ear mites feed on lymph fluid and skin cells, relying on tissue residue and tissue for nourishment and hygiene. If a dog has three to four adult mites in its ears, that's enough to make the dog very uncomfortable.

What are the common symptoms of ear mites

Ear mites are the most common cause of otitis in dogs. Usually ear mites will collect a small amount or a large amount of waxy or crusty secretions in the dog's ear canal, which are dark brown to black in color. Mites biting and crawling in the ears will cause severe itching in dogs. At this time, dogs will usually shake their heads, scratch their ears, and bang their heads on the floor or furniture.


What are the dangers of ear mites

A healthy dog’s ears are clean and odorless. If the dog’s ears have a bad smell and are accompanied by some dirt, it is very likely that the dog’s ears are smelly. The dog has developed ear mites. Ear mites are contagious and can cause temporary infection in severe cases. Ear mites can cause unbearable itching and yellow purulent discharge in dogs. When a dog scratches frequently, it is easy to cause hair loss on the ear pinna or head, and in severe cases, it can lead to ear hematoma.

How to treat ear mites

If a dog suffers from ear mites, healthy dogs must be isolated from dogs with ear mites and treated separately. Dogs infected with ear mites need to seek medical treatment in time. Simply giving the dog ear cleaning solution will not solve the problem of dog ear mites. It needs to be treated with medication.
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