Drops from ear mites for a dog: rules of use, list of drugs

Hello! I will not tire of repeating that the best way to treat diseases in animals is to prevent these very diseases. Yes, dogs also need to clean their paws, ears, give vitamins and regularly bring them to a veterinarian for examination.

I am writing in a slightly angry mood, because literally today I saw a dog with an advanced stage of an ear tick. Helped to choose drops from ear mites for a dog.

I decided to give some recommendations for selection and a description of some tools that will help your pet in case of such an illness. All details are in my material.

Drops for dogs from an ear tick

A parasite such as an ear tick causes the development of otodectosis. This disease can lead to serious complications, such as otitis media, accumulation of lymph under the skin of the auricle, etc. Drops for dogs from the ear tick can save the pet from the parasite.

Why are ear mites dangerous for dogs?

The causative agent is a microscopic tick, the size of which does not exceed 0.75 mm. The name of the parasite is Otodectes cynotis. The tick settles in the skin of the auricle of the dog, where it gnaws at its passages and feeds on particles of the epidermis.

Waste from the parasite (saliva and feces) causes severe itching in the pet. The dog shakes its head or tilts it toward the affected ear.

A loose, dark, almost black coating appears inside the auricle, under which wounds and sores form. If treatment is not carried out, complications develop, and ear mites are dangerous for dogs.

A bacterial infection joins the main disease, due to which the ear becomes inflamed, purulent discharge appears.

The animal develops otitis media, first external, and then it penetrates deeper and affects the inner ear. With active scratching by a pet, a blood vessel may burst, which leads to the formation of hematomas. Blood and lymphatic fluid accumulate under the skin of the auricle, causing severe pain to the animal.

How to bury a dog’s ears properly

Before dropping an animal drops in a sore ear, it is necessary to prepare the entire inventory. The drug is warmed to room temperature if it was stored in a cold. In order to remove excess medicine, you will need cotton pads or gauze wipes.

Here is an instruction to help the dog properly bury its ears:

• The dog is seated or laid and securely fixed. It is necessary to calm the animal, as it will be nervous. You can offer your pet a favorite treat, while only calm behavior should be encouraged. .
• A little warm saline (NaCl) or chlorhexidine is poured into the ear.
• After dark plaque is slightly softened, it is carefully removed with a cotton pad. During this procedure, the dog will whine and possibly break out, so the assistant should hold it tight.
• The medicine is warmed up, get the right amount into a small syringe or pipette, if necessary.
• The drug is instilled into the ear canal and closed with the auricle.
• The base of the ear is gently massaged so that the medicine penetrates deeper.
• After a few seconds, the dog is released, after which it will begin to actively shake its head. In this case, excess medicine will be removed from the ear.

During the procedure, the animal can be fed with his favorite food, but only if the dog behaves as it should. After instillation of the ears, the pet will be praised.

List of drugs

The list of drugs that will help rid a pet of an ear parasite is very extensive. Ear drops, withers, ointments, injectable solutions and sprays can be purchased at the pet store or veterinary pharmacy. One of the rules for the treatment of otodectosis is that drops are instilled in both ears, even if one of them is healthy.

Amitrazine

Amitrazine is the main component of amitraz. The drug has an oily structure and yellow color, the smell is quite harsh. Available in white plastic bottles of 10, 15 and 20 ml.

When infected with an ear tick, drops are instilled into each ear once a day with an interval of three days. For a complete cure, it is enough to carry out 3-6 treatments.

Aurican

Clear solution without a pungent odor. The main components are diazinon, hexamidine, prednisone, tetracaine. The drug goes on sale in bottles of 20 ml.

With otodectosis, the medicine is instilled in each ear once a day for a week. Then the drug is used only twice a week, while the course of treatment lasts 1 month. Dosage: small pets - 5 drops in each ear; medium - up to 15 drops; large - up to 30 drops.

Leopard

The main component is diazinon or dimpilate. Drops are on sale in glass bottles (5 or 10 ml each) or plastic bottles (5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 ml each).

Processing is carried out only two times with an interval of 5-7 days. Dosage: to small pets - 3 drops in each ear; medium - 4 drops; large - 5 drops.

Oricin

The active substance is ivermectin. The medicine is produced in plastic bottles with a dropper nozzle, with a volume of 25 ml. Treatment lasts from 3 to 7 days, depending on the neglect of the disease.

A certain amount of medicine is instilled into each ear: for small dogs - 2 drops; medium - up to 4 drops; large - 5 drops.

Otoferonol (Plus, Gold or Premium)

The main components of Otoferonol Plus and Gold are deltamethrin and cycloferon, but propolis extract is included in the second preparation. The active substance of Otoferonol Premium is permethrin. All three drugs are designed to treat ear ticks.

Processing is carried out twice, with an interval of a week. The dosage is one: for small animals -3 drops; medium - 4 drops; large - 5 drops.

Surolan

Colorless thick suspension, has a slight odor. The main components are miconazole, prednisone and polymyxin B sulfate. The drug goes on sale in plastic bottles of 15 and 30 ml.

Surolan is effective for otodectosis. It also eliminates the associated bacterial and fungal infections (otitis media, dermatitis, etc.). When infected with an ear tick, the medicine is instilled into each ear 5 drops. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.

Lawyer

The main component is moxidectin and imidacloprid. The medicine is produced in small pipettes of different dosages (for small pets up to 4 kg; for animals 10-25 kg, for large individuals over 25 kg).

With an ear tick, drops are applied to the withers only once. If necessary, the procedure is repeated, but not earlier than a month later.

Stronghold

The main active ingredient is selamectin. The drug goes on sale in small pipettes, in which the medicine is contained in different concentrations. With otodectosis, a single treatment is enough.

Ear Prevention and Care

The dog’s hearing organs can suffer from various diseases caused by bacteria, pathogenic fungi, tiny parasites, etc. Prevention and care of the ears include daily inspection, cleaning the inner surface every 1-2 weeks.

Ear cleaning can be carried out using special wipes, which are soaked in soft cleansing lotions. Also, cotton pads and disinfectant soft solutions (chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, etc.) are used to carry out this procedure.

It is strictly forbidden to use cotton buds to clean the dog’s ears. Dog ears are a vital organ of pets. At the first symptoms of the disease, you should consult a veterinarian. A disease such as otodectosis is very contagious and can lead to the development of serious complications.

Ear mite in dogs

When the dog begins to scratch his ear intensively, shakes his head, tilts his head to one side, black peels are found in the ear - the owner may suspect that his pet is suffering from otodectosis (ear mite).

This disease causes a microscopic tick parasitizing in the auricle. However, such symptoms can be with other pathologies of the ear, so you should definitely show the dog to a veterinarian.

What is this tick

The Otodectes cynotis tick lives in the external auditory canal of many carnivores (dogs, cats, ferrets, Arctic foxes). It feeds on blood, lymph, earwax and particles of the skin, constantly releasing, of course, its waste products.

A dog can become infected at any time of the year. This is due to the fact that ear mites live in a confined space (auricle), where suitable conditions for their life and development are constantly preserved.

But the number of parasites can vary and will depend on the physiological condition of the dog. That is, the younger the dog (still weaker immunity) or the weaker the animal’s health, the higher the risks of developing otodectosis. The ear tick affects animals of various ages, but young animals from 1.5 to 6 months suffer more.

How infection occurs, how the ear tick is transmitted

An ear mite is transmitted when a healthy dog ​​comes in contact with an infected one. Cases of infection through individual things (shoes, etc.) are recorded, but more often this is true for small dogs and animals with weakened immunity. In young puppies, the source of infection is often the mother.

Symptoms

An ear mite causes an invasive disease in a dog, which usually proceeds chronically. In the habitat of the ear tick occur:

1. redness,
2. swelling
3. during inflammation, a characteristic fluid is released, which, together with dead skin particles, earwax and mite waste products, forms black-brown crusts in the dog’s auricle,
4. with complications of secondary microflora, the process switches to secondary and internal care, and then to the meninges (rarely).

When parasitizing an ear tick in a dog, the owner may note the following symptoms:

• persistent itching: the dog tries to scratch its ears on objects or intensively scratches them with claws of its paws (often up to blood),
• the dog’s head position becomes unnatural: the head is lowered or tilted towards the affected ear,
• with the advanced form of the disease, pus forms in the auricle, which sticks together the wool on the lower edge of the ear,
• in the case of the transition of inflammation to the meninges, nerve disorders develop during which the dog dies.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is made on the basis of signs characteristic of the presence of an ear tick, as well as mandatory scraping. To do this, the earwax collects dirt from the inside of the auricle and apply them to a glass slide.

Press down on top with a coverslip and look under a microscope. If the dog really has an ear tick, then it will be clearly visible. After confirming that the dog has an ear tick, appropriate treatment is prescribed.

Treatment

Special treatment is carried out only after thorough thorough cleaning of the auricle from all contaminants.

Immediately remove the ear tick does not work, so it is important to have patience and observe the specified interval between the use of various medicines.

Folk remedies for the treatment of otodectosis in a dog do not exist. Applying various decoctions and infusions, you only give the dog unnecessary torment and delay the treatment, which will really help get rid of the tick.

Veterinary ear tick remedies

1. Drops in the ears of Anandin. After cleaning the ears, 3-5 drops of the drug (depending on the size of the dog) are instilled into each ear, even if only one is affected. Drops are used 1 time per day for 4-7 days until the discharge disappears.
2. Drops from an ear tick "Amitrazin". 1-2 ml of the drug is instilled into each ear. Repeated injections are made 1 time in 3 days until complete recovery.
3. Drops "Bars". 3-5 drops are instilled in two ears, repeated after 5-7 days.
4. Ivermek gel. A strip of 0.5-2 cm gel is applied deep into the ear canal (in both ears) and massaged thoroughly. Processing is carried out twice with a break of 5-7 days.
5. Alone. This tick medicine is also instilled in both dogs ears for 3-5 drops, twice with an interval of 5-7 days.
6. Tsipam. 3-6 drops in each ear with an interval of 5-7 days.

Prevention of otodectosis in dogs

• Inspect your dog’s ears regularly.
• in the presence of impurities, the ears are cleaned and observed how quickly new impurities appear, what color and consistency they are,
• prophylactic treatment with special drops from parasites for dogs (for example, Stronghold),
• if the owner suspected otodectosis in the dog, you can once apply any tick remedy and observe the dynamics. If the pollution does not become less, most likely, the reason is not in the ear tick and how to treat the dog will be established by the veterinarian at a more thorough examination and any tests.

How to brush a dog’s ear

Many dogs do not really like the procedure for cleaning the ears, so the pet will have to be fixed. Small breeds can be wrapped in a towel or blanket so that only the head sticks out.

To hold a large dog, most likely, you will need a second person who will hold the body of the dog. Anyone who will directly clean the ears needs to sit on a comfortable chair and try to fix the head between the legs.

If the dog can bite, it makes sense to tie a tight bandage around the muzzle. It is also important to provide good lighting for a more thorough and effective cleaning.

It should be noted that some pets, on the contrary, become more worried if they begin to be fixed and exert some kind of pressure.

Therefore, for starters, you can try to clean your ears without any methods of coercion. In case of severe itching, the dog can reflexively produce characteristic movements of the hind limbs during ear cleaning.

1. How to clean? You can clean the dog’s ears with regular ear sticks or a cotton pad, wrapping it around your index finger. The use of medical instruments (for example, it is convenient to hold a cotton swab with a clamp) requires some experience.
2. How to start? With the left hand, holding, straighten the ear of the dog. With their right hand they begin to clean out the contaminants from all the anatomical grooves in the ear, gradually deepening to the auditory canal. Movements must be from top to bottom so that dirt is lifted outward, and not pushed even deeper.Do not be afraid to stick the ear stick too deep, the dog’s ear is arranged differently from a person’s and you will not damage the eardrum.
3. To clean the ear of dry impurities, a cotton swab can be moistened with a solution of hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine bigluconate 0.05%. The use of these drugs is also permissible if the dog's ear has abrasions from scratching with claws.
4. Use of lotions. There are many special lotions for hygienic cleaning of pet ears. Such lotions have a softening effect: reduce itching and redness in the ears. Of course, their correct use will greatly facilitate the cleaning process, but they cost more than conventional products (peroxide and chlorhexidine). A few drops of the lotion are instilled into the dog’s ear and massage the auricle for a minute. The components of lotions soften all accumulated dirt, and they lag behind almost by themselves. The dog is allowed to shake its head, after which the remaining part of the lotion and contaminants are carefully removed with a cotton pad.

How to instill ear drops or apply ointment

In long-haired dog breeds, it makes sense to cut off the hair from the inner surface of the auricle for the duration of treatment, otherwise the drugs will not enter the deeper sections and the meaning of the treatment disappears.

Then the ear is returned to its natural position and massaged for a minute to evenly distribute the drug.

Some medications can cause the dog discomfort (burning), especially when there are wounds in the ear.

Therefore, it is necessary to be patient with the dog and at the end of all procedures to encourage the pet treat or distract the toy.

Ear mite in dogs

Ear mite in dogs or otodectosis is a disease that owners of tetrapods often have to deal with. An arthropod parasite provokes the disease, which settles in the auricles of the animal.

What is this small pest that gives a lot of discomfort to fluffy tomboys? How to recognize the disease and provide timely assistance?

What is otodectosis and what causes it

Otodectosis (aka ear scabies) is an ailment caused by a tiny tick that settles and parasitizes in the ears of the animal.

A tick measuring no more than 0.5 mm, falling into the ear of a tetrapods, feels quite comfortable. The female little bloodsucker lays 5-10 eggs daily.

The very next day, six-legged larvae hatch from them, which also feed on blood, earwax, particles of skin and lymph. The tick corrodes the skin, wounds and abrasions appear in the auricle, which causes the dog unbearable itching and pain.

Trying to get rid of the hated parasite, the dog shakes his head, scratches his ears, combing them into the blood. If treatment is not started on time, ear scabies can lead to serious complications and even hearing loss.

How does infection with otodectosis occur?

Ear scabies is one of the most common problems in animals. The ear tick is terrible because it is easily transmitted by contact of a sick individual with a healthy one.

It also does not matter if it is winter or summer. An ear mite in dogs can appear at any time of the year. After all, the conditions for staying in the ears of an animal are very suitable for him: warm, and “food” is always abundant.

Most of all, young animals up to 1 year old and dogs with weak immunity are affected by otodecosis. If the danger is not detected in time, then the parasite from the ear can gradually move throughout the body: first to the head, and then to the back, stomach, tail and legs.

Consequences of infection

If treatment is not started in a timely manner, the consequences of infection with otodectosis can be very sad. Statistics say that in one out of ten cases, the following complications may develop:

• The suppuration of wounds, secondary infections, fungi.
• Inflammation and subsequent destruction of the eardrum.
• Otitis (inflammation of the auricle and external auditory canal).
• Decrease or complete hearing loss in dogs.
• Meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain).
• In rare cases, death is possible.

Symptoms of otodectosis in dogs

Characteristic signs of a pet becoming infected with otodectosis:

1. The main symptom is severe itching. Eating the skin, the tick leaves open bleeding wounds that the dog furiously combes. And the rotten parasite adds “oil to the fire”, constantly digging into them and leaving saliva containing substances that cause an allergic reaction in the tail.
2. Due to the disturbing feeling of pain and itching, the pet tilts its head to the side of the sore ear all the time (otherwise it is called crooked head), rubs the ears on the floor, furniture, combes them with claws, resulting in abrasions, scratches. Dirt, dust gets into open wounds, which in turn causes suppuration.
3. Constant itching, severe combing gradually lead to baldness of the skin of the unfortunate fluffy disease-weakened flu.
4. The ears turn red, swelling appears in them.
5. Eating epithelium, the tick secrets its vital products. In total, all these secretions: dead skin particles, blood, earwax, purulent secretions, tick waste, fluid form a thick black-brown coating and peels in the auricle.
6. A fetid smell emanates from the ears.
7. The animal has a general state of depression. The dog refuses food. An increase in temperature may be observed.
8. With a complicated form of otodectosis, the inflammatory process extends to the middle and inner ear, and then to the soft membrane of the brain.

Seeing black-brown formations in the dog’s ears, many owners of four-legged animals think that their ears are simply contaminated.

Yes, black peels in the ear and itching are not always signs of otodectosis. Such symptoms can be with other pathologies.

For example, in our Jack, ear pruritus and brown plaque in the ear canal became symptoms of an allergy. Therefore, to make the correct diagnosis, with the appearance of all the above characteristic features, it is recommended to immediately show the animal to the veterinarian.

Before going to the clinic, in no case should you self-medicate, much less clean your pet’s ears for at least 2-3 days.

If you clean the entire substrate from the ears, then the specialist will not be able to conduct an accurate study of the material for the presence of a tick in it. He just has nothing to explore.

But in order for the diagnosis to be more accurate, it is still better to go to the veterinarian with the dog so that the doctor can examine the four-legged hearing aid for inflammatory processes and complications.

How is diagnosis

An ear mite in dogs can only be detected by laboratory tests of excreta taken from the ear. Using a clean ear stick, as much brown content as possible is collected from the four-legged ear and applied to laboratory glass.

Cover with another glass top and look under a microscope. If the sand really has an ear parasite, then under the microscope the doctor will easily see how small bastards scurry back and forth.After confirming the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment.

Treatment

Treatment is carried out with special drugs. Medications are prescribed depending on the degree of development of the sore. Instantly getting rid of the harmful bloodsucker will not work.

Before you begin the treatment directly, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the pet’s auricles from all contaminants: accumulated sulfur, crusts and waste products of the parasite.

To do this, you need to take a piece of bandage, or a cotton pad. Moisten the disc in a solution of furatsilin, chlorhexidine, boric acid or hydrogen peroxide and carefully remove all secretions. In the version with peroxide, do not allow the solution to directly enter the ear.

Or purchase special hygienic lotions for cleansing your ears from an animal pharmacy, such as Epi-Otik or Otodin.

You cannot use one cotton pad to clean both ears at once. For the treatment of otodectosis, as a rule, drugs are prescribed in the form of drops. Among the most famous can be noted: Tsipam, Amitrazin, Aurikan, Anandin, Otovedin, Dekta, Bars.

Treatment should be carried out strictly in accordance with the instructions. All drugs must be administered in both ears, even if otodectosis only affects one.

With otodectosis complicated by bacterial or fungal infections, the following therapeutic ointments and gels are prescribed for external treatment of the auricles and other parts of the animal’s body: Amidel-gel, Aversectin ointment, Ordermil, Sulfur ointment.

If, after the treatment, the parasite did not disappear, then you did not comply with all the doctor’s instructions and did not act strictly according to the instructions for the drug prescribed by the doctor, or your dog has very low immunity.

For the speedy recovery of your beloved eared one, vitamin complexes will greatly help in this, and in other cases. Provide fluffy comfortable living conditions. Carry out hygienic cleaning of your apartment, toys and pet's bed more often.

Introduce more vegetables, fruits, fresh meat into the diet. To strengthen the immune system, fish oil helps well, which can be given to the pet not only during the illness period, but also throughout life. If at least one pet is sick in the house, due attention must be paid to all four-legged households.

Disease prevention

Preventive measures aimed at preventing a pet's ear mite disease are simple and accessible for every four-legged owner. Performing them, you will protect your beloved fluff from suffering.

Here are some guidelines:

• Inspect the four-legged ears more often for discharge.
• If as a result of the examination you notice black-brown contamination, show the dog to a specialist, as dark discharge is not always a sign of an ear tick in dogs. With a thorough examination and analysis, the doctor will make an accurate diagnosis.
• Regularly carry out preventative ear cleaning with special drops and lotions.
• Protect your pet from communicating with stray dogs.
• Use special insecticidal modern means to protect against parasites. Choose the funds with caution, as certain drugs present in them can cause severe allergic reactions in the animal.

Although the risk of an ear tick in dogs is great, do not deprive your beloved shilopopik of the pleasure of running on fresh grass and chatting with familiar dogs.

With proper care, regular preventive measures, timely contact a veterinarian, in case of infection, parasites will not cause serious harm. In the early stages, otodectosis is cured quickly enough.