How do you tell if your dog has ear mites or just dirty ears?
Judson Ondricka
2025-08-20 12:27:16
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If your dog is scratching their ears more than usual, it could indicate that they are suffering from mite infestation. The parasitic infestation can cause extreme discomfort. Some symptoms to look out for are brown or black waxy ear secretions and a strong odor from the ears. Other symptoms are ear inflammation, debris in the ear canal, hair loss, and excessive scratching, rubbing, or itching of the ears. Skin issues like scabs or dermatitis around the ears and persistent shaking of the head can also signify mite infestation. Ear mites are extremely small, making it difficult to spot them. If you use a soft cloth to wipe the dog’s ears, you may be able to spot the mites in the residue. They appear as tiny white dots. Symptoms of ear mites can be like those of ear infections. One of the easiest ways to know the difference is by examining the debris or discharge from the ears.
Rusty Reichert
2025-08-12 19:40:07
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The best way to tell if your dog has ear mites vs ear wax is to take them to the vet and request a diagnosis. The vet will use a microscope or otoscope to look in the ear and see if there are mites looming in the canal. You won’t be able to see an ear mite, but wax buildup will appear brownish in the ear canal and may give off a strong dog ear stench. If you don't see your dog scratching but suspect they have mites, hair loss in the area around the ear can be an indication. Ear mites may cause additional symptoms like inflammation, redness, or blisters in the ear canal. The most common symptom of both conditions is excessive itchiness in your dog’s ears. If your pup cannot stop scratching, have them checked for both problems.
Mercedes Labadie
2025-08-03 02:31:49
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Ear mites can rarely be seen by the naked eye. A microscope is normally needed to confirm if your dog has ear mites. Dogs with ear mites will often shake their heads excessively and scratch their ears. 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. 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. 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.
Fern Rau
2025-08-03 00:56:19
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Ear mites in dogs typically look like tiny, moving dots in the ear canal, but are so tiny that you may not be able to spot them at all. It takes a vet with an otoscope or microscope to properly spot an infestation. If you want to know how to check your dog for ear mites, it is best to look for signs of ear mites rather than the parasites themselves. Signs of ear mites in dogs include scratching around the ears, head and neck, skin irritation, head shaking, the presence of an ear discharge that is dark and waxy, and an unpleasant odour from the ears. Ear mite infestation may also allow for a secondary bacterial or yeast infection to occur in your dog’s ears, which can increase the severity of these signs. The first thing you may notice is itching or irritation of the ears. Ear mites aren’t the only reason your dog might have discomfort in their ears and so it’s best to consult with your vet who can examine your dog and rule out other potential causes.