Ear mites are tiny white insects that live in the ear canal. They most commonly find their way into the ears of cats, dogs, and other small and furry animals.

Humans are rarely affected by these insects. If you have reason to believe that you have somehow contracted the infection however, you will want to visit your doctor to get it treated. Ear mites luckily do not burrow into the skin and so an infection of the ear canal is the only result.

These mites are spread through direct contact with another infected animal and the infection spreads quickly from animal to animal. It is for this reason that animals who go outdoors are the most commonly affected. If left untreated, they cause ear infection, skin disease in places other then the ear, and eventual deafness.

The symptoms of infection are highly recognizable. The most telltale sign is the appearance of dark crumbly dirt in the ears. If you look closely, you may even see tiny white mites among this dirt. Other signs of ear infection include scratching, shaking of the head, sores in the area of the ears and the mouth, and imbalance.

If your animal does not go outdoors, and has not had contact with other animals but still shows some or all of these symptoms, they most likely are suffering from something else and should not be put through what will turn out to be an ineffective treatment. A visit to the vet is recommended to discover the cause of the symptoms. Be wary if your animal did not have contact with another animal that could have given them the infection, and the vet diagnoses ear mites.

The infection is treated relatively simply. The vet can provide you with an anti-parasitic treatment that will kill the mites. The ears should be cleaned by removing any debris and then the treatment should be applied. There is also an oral and an injection treatment available.

Over-the-counter treatments can be found but they are the longest treatment option. These medications do not kill incubating eggs so the treatment will have to continue at least 21 days. If your pet is averse to medical treatments, this will be a long and uncomfortable time. Luckily prescription topical treatments only take about ten days and there are also several one time use products that are available from the vet that are effective.

This infection can be quite uncomfortable for your pet and really requires medical attention. Early treatment will avoid further complications that can be quite serious and expensive to treat.