Ear mites in dogs – signs and what to do
Book a vet visitBook a vet appointment if you think your dog has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. Ear mites are tiny skin parasites that cause intensely itchy ears and often lead to ear infections.
What you can do now
- Contact your vet
- Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see
- Take a photo or short video to show the vet
- Let your dog rest somewhere calm
Don't
- Do not give any human medicine
- Do not wait if it gets worse
What it is
Ear mites are tiny skin parasites that cause intensely itchy ears and often lead to ear infections.[1] Any dog can catch ear mites, but they are most common in puppies.[1]
Signs
Causes and risk factors
What the experts say
“Overview. Ear mites are tiny skin parasites that cause intensely itchy ears and often lead to ear infections. Any dog can catch ear mites but they are most common in puppies.”
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Common questions
What are ear mites?
Ear mites are tiny skin parasites that cause intensely itchy ears and often lead to ear infections.[1]
What signs can ear mites cause in dogs?
Signs can include itchy ears, smelly ears, red, painful, swollen ears, rubbing the face or head, dark-brown ear wax and a swollen ear if an aural haematoma develops.[1]
Can any dog catch ear mites?
Any dog can catch ear mites, but they are most common in puppies.[1]
Sources
How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages
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