[SOLVED ] Q. Brown stuff I think ear mites

Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :

A. Ear mites are microscopic spiders that lives in cat’s and dog’s ears because they love a dark and wet environment full of wax to eat. Is something that need to be treated as is quite infectious and your vet is the best person to diagnose it and prescribe you a proper treatment. Also some spot on treatments can cover mites like Advocate from Bayer.

How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?

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Mites also stimulate the wax producing glands inside the ear canal. The result is a black, crusty build-up in the ears that resembles coffee grounds. This discharge is made of blood, wax, debris, and mites themselves. In some cases, this crust can thicken enough to block the ear canal.

Dark brown or black—This type of earwax is commonly associated with yeast and/or bacterial ear infections. It`s a good idea to consult with a veterinarian if earwax is this color. Brown—Light brown earwax is normal and expected. If the wax is accompanied by odor or inflammation, it can be a sign of infection.

Dark, crumbly reddish-brown discharge: This is often composed of dried blood and will resemble coffee grounds. Wounds, inflammation, and infections: The scratching may lead to cuts and infections in the ear.

An ear mite infestation produces a buildup of brownish ear wax that resembles coffee grounds.

Several drops of the ear cleaning solution or warm oil should be put into the ear canal and gently massaged. Massaging will dislodge the impacted debris and bring it up to the outer part of the ear where it can be wiped away with a cotton ball or tissue. Using cotton swabs (Q-tips) should be avoided.

Look for brown earwax that resembles dirt or dried blood inside the ears. Ear mites may also stimulate the wax-producing glands inside the ear to produce black, crusty build-up that resembles coffee grounds. In addition to a bacterial ear infection, brown or black ear discharge may be an indicator of: Allergies.

Healthy dog earwax tends to range from pale yellow to light brown, whereas darker colours tend to be associated with infections and should be observed by a veterinarian.

Ear mites cause intense scratching. If you look in your dog`s ears and see dark brown debris that resembles coffee grounds, then your dog most likely has ear mites. This parasite can be shared with cats, dogs and other animals (like the family ferret).

Baking Soda. Baking soda can be an effective treatment for ear mites in dogs, but be careful not to allow your dog to ingest it. Mix one cup of warm water with one teaspoon of baking soda. Soak this in a cotton ball and use it to rub your dog`s ear.

Life cycle stages include egg, larvae, two sequential nymph stages referred to protonymphs and deutonymphs, and adults. The complete egg-to-egg cycle takes 18 to 28 days. The life cycle usually occurs entirely within the ear canal of the host.

Your cat may scratch at his itchy ears or start shaking his head a lot. While the mites are microscopic, they can be quite pesky. Just imagine feeling hundreds of little crawly things in your ears! Feline ear mites on the insides of the ears will look dirty, usually with a dark brown or reddish-brown debris.

A single dose of NexGard^® or NexGard SPECTRA^® is highly effective at treating ear mites in puppies and dogs. Dogs with ear mites may develop secondary ear infections which require additional treatment. If ear irritation persists, always consult with your vet.

To ensure all mite eggs have been eliminated treatment needs to continue for a minimum of 3 weeks. If using a single use product such as Revolution one dose is often enough to get rid of an ear mite infection but it will still take up to three or four weeks for the infection to completely clear up.

Ear mites are pesky creatures that can be found on animals as well as humans on rare occasion. Spotted within Jazmine`s ear canal, mites may also live on the skin or even underneath it to feed off dead skin tissue or human secretions like ear wax and skin oils.

The healthy discharge will have no smell and be accompanied by a pink, clean inner ear canal. However, black, dark brown, or irregularly pigmented discharge in a cat`s ears, accompanied by a foul smell, is a red flag to a health problem.

Ear mites are tiny animals and are a fairly common parasite in both cats and dogs. They look like tiny white dots, but can barely be seen with the naked eye.

If we determine that your pet has ear mites, we will clean the ears thoroughly before administering some medication. The most common forms of medication used are moxidectin and selamectin, which are used to treat many types of parasites.

Dog Ear Mites vs Ear Wax: How Can You Tell The Difference? Ear wax is normal in healthy dogs, but regular ear wax is light brown and doesn`t have an odor. The wax in dogs with ear mites is usually darker brown or black, resembles coffee grounds, and can give off a foul odor.

Normal earwax colors

Dark brown or black colored earwax is typically older, so its color comes from the dirt and bacteria it has trapped. Adults tend to have darker, harder earwax. Dark brown earwax that is tinged with red may signal a bleeding injury. Light brown, orange or yellow earwax is healthy and normal.

If your dog has a yeast ear infection you may notice one or more of the following symptoms: Red or brown waxy discharge in the ear. Itching, scratching & pawing at the ear.

If you can`t get to a vet immediately, you may look to use home remedies for ear mites when your dog seems to have them. Ear mites are very itchy for dogs, and highly contagious to other pets in the home. If one pet has ear mites, all of the other dogs, cats, and ferret friends also need treatment.

The most common type of ear mite is Otodectes cynotis, which live in the ear canal and feed by piercing the thin skin. This causes severe itching and, if left untreated, can cause bacterial infections, swelling of the ear canal and eventually partial or total deafness.

Mite infestations can cause a foul odor in your dog`s ears. You may also see a buildup of dark debris in your dog`s ears, similar to coffee grounds. As you examine your dog`s ears, look for redness in the ear canal as well as the outer ear, as this is another sign of ear problems in dogs.

Ear mites are very tiny, so tiny that you cannot see them with just the naked eye. You have to either use a microscope and sometimes you can see with an otoscope as little white spots in the ear.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Q. One of my pet’s ears seems very irritated. What I can use to clean it with?

ANSWER : A. Ear Irritation can be caused by a number of things ranging from allergies, ear infections or even mites. Dirty ears can also cause irritation and problems. Knowing the type of problem is best for figuring out how to treat it.

For plain dirty ears that do not have any odor, redness or leakage of discharge/debris, a simple over the counter canine ear cleaner can be used. Gently soak some cotton balls or a washcloth with the cleaner, and then use these to wipe out the flap of the ear and opening to the ear. Do NOT use Q-tips as these can become stuck or lodged in the curve of the ear canal and may cause injury to the ear drum.

If the ear is bright red or itchy without any dirt or debris in it, it may indicate an allergy. Sometimes an allergy medication can help provide relief in this situation. Your vet can give you the correct dosages of an over the counter allergy medication to use, or may recommend one specifically for dogs.

For infections and mites, changes to the ear such as bad smell or lots of debris and discharge, flecks of black or brown debris, or scabs and sores in the ear may be present. In these cases, it is best to have your vet take a sample of the ear debris to test for mites or infection. Your vet can then give you an ointment that is placed and left in the ear between ear cleanings. Most vets will then recommend cleaning the ears twice daily and then leaving in the ointment after for a period of ten days.

Ear mites ARE contagious to other pets, so if your dog does have them, it is best to treat any other pets in the house at the same time to prevent the mites from spreading around continuously.

Read Full Q/A … : How to Treat a Dog's Ear Infection Without Vet Help

Q. I have two problems with my 16 yrs old dog: he’s constipated and has a ear ache. What can I use to relieve these?

ANSWER : A. Constipation is a common problem in dogs that can be due to a number of things. However it is a good idea to make sure the constipation is not actually diarrhea, as some dogs can strain after a bowel movement, making it look like such. If constipation is present, adding a little pumpkin puree or plain yogurt to the diet can help make digestion easier and make stools easier to pass. However if symptoms do not resolve after a few days, it is best to speak with your vet.

For ear aches, it is best to have your vet examine the ear as many things including allergies, ear infections, mites and more can cause ear problems. If the ear is just dirty, then cleaning the ear gently with cotton balls or a clean washcloth and a dog ear cleaning solution can help. Do not use Q-tips as a dog’s ear has a 90-degree turn in it and placing Q-tips in the ear can cause damage to the canal or inner ear. However if the problem persists or cleaning does not help, it is best to seek care.

Read Full Q/A … : Dog Constipation Causes and Treatment – pets.webmd.com

Q. My dog is having ear problems. I have had her at two vets and they can not seem to find the cause. Can you help?

ANSWER : A. For a pet with chronic ear issues I would recommend checking her thyroid levels. Hypothyroidism can be a cause of chronic ear infections.

Then I would recommend having a bacterial culture of the ear debris to ensure the appropriate antibiotic is chosen to completely rid the bacteria in there. If there is resistant bacteria, the ear will appear to get better at first but then once ear meds are stopped they will thrive again and cause a re-emergency of the ear infection. Also longer treatment may be needed, for example instead of 7-10 days, perhaps 14 days continuously.

If all else fails, I would recommend a skull radiographs to look for signs of a narrow ear canal and/or an inner ear infection which will require not only topical antibiotic ointments put into the ear, but also oral antibiotics.
Most ear infections are caused by moisture in the ears, narrow ear canals, hypothyroidism or skin allergies. Each one has to be gone through systematically.

Read Full Q/A … : Dog has ear problems; flaking and smelly – Questions …

Q. My dog has ear mites and mange. Have been using Revolution Selamectin on her for 40 days now, but ears are badly sore at the top, next to head

ANSWER : A. If the mites and mange have not begun to clear up yet with the current treatment, it may be a good idea to speak with your vet about attempting a different treatment. Ivermectin is typically the main treatment for mange, while a topical ear solution is used for ear mites, however there are some alternate choices if those do not work or your dog cannot use ivermectin products (it should never be given to collie dogs).

Mange and mites can take a long time to recover until the skin begins to heal, and even if the underlying mite issue is resolved, the skin may have a secondary bacterial or fungal infection causing the sores to appear. Additional treatment or testing of the area can help. Ear mites are also very contagious and can be passed back and forth from pet to pet, so if you have other pets in the house, treating them for ear mites at the same time can help break the cycle and prevent them from spreading back and forth.

In some dogs, Demodetic mange *can* be genetic, making it more likely to be chronically there for a longer period of time. English Sheepdogs and Shar Pei dogs as well as other dogs with large folds in the skin may be more prone to this type.

Read Full Q/A … : Best Ways to Get Rid of Ear Mites – GETRIDOFTHiNGS.COM

Q. My dog scratches his ears (inner) a lot. I looked online and they said that dogs easily get ear mites. Does having ear wax mean having ear mites?

ANSWER : A. Most common reason for itchy ears and excessive wax production is bacterial ear infection. Ear mites can happen but are less common than bacterial infection. most of ear drops for dogs contain medications for all fungal, bacterial and parasitic infection.

Read Full Q/A … : PetMeds® My Dog Has Red Ears – Is It An Ear Infection …

Q. Dog has dry ears and it itches him. Any recommended soothing lotions??

ANSWER : A. I will answer this question as if you are speaking of the inside of the ears (not the external). Most dogs ears aren’t dry unless they have other skin issues such as skin allergies, which can be seasonal or year around and caused by many different things, such as foods, environment, dust, grass, pollen, and products (shampoos, perfumes, etc). Check in the ears for waxy build up. The ears should be clean of any wax and dry. If they have build up, I would take a cotton ball, and soak half of it in a dog ear cleaning solution. This solution should be made specifically for dogs, and your local vet would most likely sell the appropriate brand.

I would address any possible skin allergies, if they do not have any other skin issues, then looking inside the ears and cleaning with a good ear cleaner (should be alcohol free—because alcohol is very drying) If the ear scratching continues regularly then bring him/her into the vet to have a proper ear exam.

Read Full Q/A … : 4 Ways to Diagnose and Treat Your Dog's Itchy Skin Problems

Q. Can you use Floxin Otic for ear infections on dogs?

ANSWER : A. Floxin Otic is an ear cleaning solution designed for the clearing of ear infections in people. While it may be similar to dog products used for ear infections, it is best to bring it to your vet’s attention first so he or she can compare it to dog-safe products. It may be that it is in the same concentration and can be safely used, or your vet can instead recommend a product that is in the right formulation.

If you are seeing an ear infection in your dog’s ears, your vet can provide you with a dog-safe medication to use. Ear infections are usually treated over a period of ten days and involve cleaning the ear 2x daily and then placing the otic ointment in the ear to stay in place until the next cleaning.

Read Full Q/A … : Ofloxacin Otic Solution for Dogs – Vetinfo.com

Q. My dog keeps shaking his head at night and is very anxious acting? We’ve cleaned his ears and putting ear drops in hasn’t helped?

ANSWER : A. It sounds like ear canal infection. I am not sure if you used ear drops to clean ears (they do not contain antibiotics) or ear drops from your vets to treat ear infection. In case you used ear cleaner only you should take your dog to your vets to get antibiotics. If you are using antibiotics drops and there is no improvement your vet may recommend taking a swab from the ear to check what bacteria, fungus or parasite is responsible for the infection and then pick the most effective medication.

Read Full Q/A … : Idiopathic head tremors – Oh My Dog!