Does your dog scratch incessantly at their ears? It is possible your dog may have ear mites. If your dog has been diagnosed with ear mites, it is something that can be easily treated. Proper ear mite treatment for dogs can help your pup get rid of those pesky parasites in no time.
Here are our top choices for over-the-counter ear mite treatments:
| Four Paws Ear Mite Remedy | |
| Miracle Care R-7M Kit | |
| Adams Ear Mite Treatment | |
| Bio-Groom Medication For Ear Mites | |
| Arava Botanical Ear Mite Treatment | |
| Eradimite Ear Mite Treatment | |
| Hartz Medication For Ear Mites |
Disclaimer: This post is meant to be informative and should not be taken as medical advice. Talk to your veterinarian regarding any health concerns you may have for your dog.
What Are Ear Mites?
Ear mites, or Otodectes cynotis, are parasites related to spiders and ticks. They live on the skin of their host and feed off the wax, oils, and debris inside their ear.
What Do Ear Mites Look Like?
Ear mites are very tiny and may not be seen with the naked eye.
If your dog has dark discharge coming from their ears, you can look at a sample of it and see if you notice any white specks moving around. Those would be the ear mites.
What Causes Ear Mites In Dogs?
Dogs usually get ear mites by being exposed to another animal that has them. Mites are common in dogs, cats, and ferrets.
If you have a dog and a cat living in the same house, the chances of your dog getting ear mites is higher than if you just had a dog.
Are Ear Mites Contagious?
Yes! Ear mites are highly contagious. For this reason, it is recommended that if you are treating one animal in your household for ear mites, you should treat all of them at the same time.
Can Humans Get Ear Mites From Dogs?
It is possible for a human to get ear mites from a dog, but this is a very rare occurrence. If it does happen, it can manifest in a human as a rash or possibly infect a human’s ear as well.
How Do I Know If My Dog Has Ear Mites?
If your dog has ear mites, they may exhibit certain signs or symptoms. Among them:
- Excessively scratching at their ears.
- Frequently shaking their head.
- Dark discharge from the ear that resembles coffee grounds.
- A foul odor coming from the ear.
To know for sure if your dog has ear mites, it is important to have them evaluated by your veterinarian.
Your veterinarian can look into your dog’s ears or take a sample from your dog’s ears to look at under a microscope to give you a definitive diagnosis.
It is important not to diagnose your dog’s condition on your own. Other ear conditions can mimic the symptoms of an ear mite infestation, such as a yeast or bacterial ear infection, and you want to make sure your dog gets the proper treatment for their condition.
What Is The Best Treatment For Ear Mites In Dogs?
Once your veterinarian has diagnosed your dog with ear mites, they will determine the best course of treatment for your pup.
A prescription ear mite medication will usually do the trick. This could be medication called Selamectin, which is a topical treatment used to kill ear mites. This can be found in medications such as:
- Senergy.
- Revolt.
- Solaris.
- Revolution.
Another topical parasiticide used to kill ear mites is Ivermectin. This can also be a topical treatment applied to your dog’s ears to kill the mites or it can be given as an injection.
The dosage of each type of treatment is dependent on your dog’s weight.
No matter which ear mite treatment your veterinarian recommends for your dog, treatment can take up to 3 weeks or more.
Is There An Over The Counter Ear Mite Medicine For Dogs?
If your dog’s case of ear mites is not very severe, you may be able to treat them with an over the counter medication specifically designed to kill mites.
Check with your veterinarian before using one of these products to be sure your dog is getting the correct treatment.
Here are some over the counter ear mite treatments for dogs you can try. Information is according to the manufacturer.
Almost all ear mite treatment for dogs are intended for those 12 weeks and older.
Before administering the medication for your dog, make sure to properly clean your dog’s ears beforehand. This will help the medication to penetrate into the area better.
What Are Pyrethrins?
Pyrethrins are a group of chemicals derived from the chrysanthemum flower and is considered a pesticide. They are toxic to insects and cause their deaths. Pyrethrins are used to kill ear mites, fleas, and ticks and are a common ingredient in these ear mite treatments. It is important to follow the product information carefully. For more information on Pyrethrins, check out the Centers For Disease Control and The National Pesticide Information Center.
Four Paws Ear Mite Remedy
- Contains Pyrethrins.
- For dogs 12 weeks and older.
- Kills ear mites.
- Removes excess ear wax.
- Includes Aloe Vera to soothe skin.
- Made in the USA.
Check Price At: Chewy; Amazon; Walmart
Miracle Care R-7M Kit
- This is both a cleaner and treatment.
- Uses Pyrethrin based liquid.
- Controls ear mites.
- Kills ear mites.
- The cleaner reduces odor and wax build up.
- For dogs 12 weeks and older.
Check Price At: Chewy; Amazon; Petco
Adams Ear Mite Treatment
- Kills ear mites.
- Helps remove wax build up.
- Pyrethrin based.
- For dogs 12 weeks and older.
- Contains aloe and lanolin to soothe.
- Use daily for 7-10 days.
- Made in the USA from US and imported ingredients.
Check Price At: Chewy; Amazon; Walmart
Bio-Groom Medication For Ear Mites
- Available in 2 sizes.
- Lotion.
- Kills ear mites.
- Non-oily.
- Non-greasy.
- Contains Pyrethrins.
- Includes Aloe Vera to soothe skin.
- Removes excess ear wax.
- For dogs over 12 weeks old.
Check Price At: Chewy; Amazon; Walmart
Arava Botanical Ear Mite Treatment
- Made with natural oils:
- Peppermint.
- Cinnamon.
- Clove.
- Lemongrass.
- Thyme.
- Geranium.
- Cedarwood.
- For dogs over 9 months old.
- Need to use for at least 10 days.
- Repels insects and parasites.
- Restores clean and healthy ears.
- Made in Israel.
Check Price At: Amazon; Walmart
Eradimite Ear Mite Treatment
- Kills ear mites.
- Removes excess ear wax.
- Includes Aloe Vera to soothe skin.
- Contains Pyrethrin.
- For dogs 12 weeks and older.
Check Price At: PetMeds; Amazon; VetRx; Walmart; Allivet
Hartz Medication For Ear Mites
- Comes with 3 treatment tubes.
- Kills mites.
- Made with Pyrethrins.
- Contains Aloe Vera to soothe skin.
- For dogs 12 weeks and older.
- Made in the USA.
Check Price At: Chewy; Amazon; Walmart
Is There A Home Remedy For Ear Mites?
While it may be tempting to try a home remedy to treat your dog for ear mites, there have not been any at home treatments proven to work to treat ear mites in dogs. Your best option is to get a prescription from your veterinarian and use something proven to kill ear mites.
No one wants to hear their dog has ear mites. Luckily, there is an ear mite treatment for dogs available to help eradicate your dog’s ear mites with several options available to get the job done.
Please check out our other posts on Health, Indoor, Outdoor, and Travel accessories for your dog, as well as Reviews of various products and travel destinations.