Treatment of ear mites in cats: effective medications at home

If your indoor cat is clearly bothered by his ears, the most likely cause of the discomfort may be otodectosis, which is caused by mites. In this case, the pet requires immediate help. Infection with ear parasites dramatically reduces the quality of life of an animal and can even lead to its death. You will learn how to identify the symptoms of the disease and what medications to successfully treat it from our article.

Features of the disease

Otodecosis in cats is caused by the microscopic (about ½ mm) insect Otodectes cynotus.
The parasite has a whitish oval body and jointed limbs. It loves moisture and warmth, so it parasitizes inside the animal’s ear canal, feeding on skin scales, blood, and lymph. Outside the host's body, the tick can live for about two months. In most cases, the parasite affects both ears of the cat. The likelihood of infection is especially high during the warm and humid seasons - spring and early autumn. The risk group includes kittens under one year old and weakened animals. It may take several years from the moment of infection to obvious signs of the presence of a tick. The disease manifests itself especially clearly when a bacterial infection is added to the skin damage by the parasite. Due to itching and pain, an exhausted pet cannot sleep or eat.

Reasons for appearance

The lesions are caused by the parasite Sarcoptes scabiei. Any living creature that has been infected can carry it. And the more lesions on the patient’s body, the higher the risk that he can infect someone.

what does a scabies mite look like?

Infection is carried out by females and larvae. The female lives in the skin. During the daytime it is inactive, but in the evening it actively gnaws through passages, reproduces, feeds and secretes waste products. Consequently, the greatest risk of infection appears precisely in the evening and night time, when the tick is more active.

Everyone who comes into contact with the infected person is at risk. For example:

• family member
• roommate
• roommate

However, you can also become infected through indirect contact. For example in the following places:

• bathhouse
• public shower
• crowded places

Interesting. Outside a living organism, the female can live up to 3 days.

The disease spreads quickly due to the fact that the female lays eggs from which larvae hatch. After maturation, the latter crawl out to mate. The male dies and the female burrows back into human skin to continue the cycle of reproduction and spread.

The danger of ear mites for cats

Ear mites feed on skin particles, causing severe damage to the skin. If left untreated, your cat may develop serious health problems:

• unbearable itching causes constant scratching of the ears, which leads to damage to the capillaries and the appearance of extensive hematomas;
• Bacterial and fungal infections penetrate into places where the skin is damaged, the inflammatory process begins, the ear tissues swell, redden, and fester;
• gradually the inflammation spreads to the eardrum and to the inner ear - otitis media and myringitis develop.

Further delay with therapy will lead to weakening and then loss of hearing. Pain and itching interfere with normal rest and eating. The animal becomes irritated, nervous, and aggressive. Over time, inflammation can penetrate the membranes of the brain, resulting in death.

Skin demodicosis

The transmission route is contact or contact-household. Can be transmitted through contaminated clothing, bedding, contaminated hands and more. Demodex is distinguished by its survivability under comfortable conditions that correspond to the daily life of most people. The parasite remains viable at a temperature of 17-20°C for 10 days or more, and in an aquatic environment at a temperature of 12-18°C for 3 days. When water is heated to 50° C, the microorganism dies within one minute, and at low temperatures it dies immediately.

To date, there is no single theory explaining the etiology of the development of the inflammatory process and the active reproduction of mites. But there are several predisposing factors that can provoke these processes:

• Excessive sebum production;
• Improper skin care, abuse of cosmetics (especially low quality);
• Long-term use of external corticosteroids;
• Poor nutrition (abuse of sugar, soda, spicy foods, coffee, alcoholic drinks);
• Concomitant gastrointestinal diseases;
• Reduced immunity;
• Hormonal imbalance, excess weight;
• Psychological problems, frequent stress.

How can a pet become infected?

A cat can pick up ear mites on the street, through contact with sick animals or in walking areas. Most stray cats suffer from otodecosis, so letting your pet roam freely is fraught with negative consequences.

The parasite can be picked up on shoes by the owner while accidentally walking in places where stray cats like to gather. An owner can bring ear mites home after petting someone else's pet with otodecosis. In addition, there is a high probability of disease in homes where there have already been (or are) cases of the disease in other animals.

Kittens can become infected at birth from a mother who is a carrier of ear mites. Infection through bedding, carpets, household furniture or dishes is possible.

Act now

Many owners are frightened by the complexity and painstakingness of therapeutic procedures. In the early stages, the disease is treated for 7 days, then preventive measures are started. In an advanced state, drug therapy will take at least a month, after which a long rehabilitation and restoration of immunity is carried out. During therapy, the pet is quarantined, completely excluding its contact with other animals.

It is important to adhere to all instructions from a veterinarian.

If you notice alarming symptoms, do not let the situation take its course. Remember that despite a positive prognosis in 90% of cases, 10% result in complete hearing loss or death in affected animals. An ear mite that has reached the nerve tissue is the most dangerous possible outcome.

Monitor your pet's condition and do not forget about prevention. If you suspect otodectosis, do not hesitate and do not try to treat the animal yourself. After all, an incorrect diagnosis can cost lives.

You should acquire a useful habit: make an appointment at the veterinary clinic once a month. During a structural examination, the doctor will pay attention to all the details in your pet's health, which will prevent any diseases and maintain his health.

The health of your pet is entirely in your hands, so you need to carefully monitor it!

Symptoms of ear mites in cats

There are practically no symptoms of ear mites in cats at the onset of the disease. You should take your pet to a veterinarian if the following signs of illness are detected:

• frequent scratching of the ears, leading to bruising;
• head shaking, restlessness;
• discharge from the ear canal of liquid, stuck together pieces of sulfur of a dirty gray or dirty brown color;
• glued fur on the ears;
• hair loss in the ear area;
• purulent ulcers on the outer ear;
• swelling and redness of the ears;
• unpleasant odor;
• the animal walks with its head bowed.

You should suspect odecosis if your cat periodically shakes its head and scratches its ears. Discharge, odor and other signs appear later, when the disease takes an advanced form.

Diagnosis of otodecosis

Even if there are seemingly obvious signs of ear mites, the cat should be shown to a veterinarian. Similar symptoms may appear with dermatoses, lichen, fungal and bacterial infections. In addition, there is another type of external microscopic parasite that lives on the ears of cats. Therefore, before starting treatment, a diagnosis is required.

The diagnosis is made based on examination and microscopic examination of scrapings from the surface of the auricle. Under a microscope, the doctor will quickly identify the parasite and prescribe appropriate treatment.

If laboratory diagnostics are not possible, you can try the home method. To do this you will need a black sheet of paper and a magnifying glass. You need to take a little discharge from the inner surface of your pet’s ear and smear it on paper. If there is a parasite, then on the leaf it looks like a moving whitish dot.

Classification

Demodicosis (photo can be found below) is classified into 2 main clinical forms - primary and secondary. The first diagnosis is made in the event of a sharp surge in parasitic reproduction and effective treatment with the use of antiparasitic drugs. In most cases, it occurs in people over 40 years of age. The secondary form is diagnosed by identifying concomitant skin lesions and systemic diseases (usually associated with immunodeficiency). In some cases, this diagnosis is found in people taking epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors and in those who have been exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

Based on the symptoms manifested on the skin, the following types of demodicosis are distinguished:

• Acneiform - the presence of papules and pustules similar to acne;
• Rosacea-like - papules appear due to diffuse erythema;
• Seborrheic - skin rash combined with peeling;
• Ophthalmic - inflammation of the eyelids, accompanied by discomfort in the affected eye.

Medicines for ticks

Medicines for ear mites are available in the form of ointments or drops. Among the large assortment, it is difficult to choose the right remedy on your own: you should take into account the degree of damage, the presence of concomitant infections, and the age of the animal. In the treatment of otodecosis, the medications listed below are most often used.

A drug

Course of treatment, dosage

Note

Amidel

The gel is applied to the cleaned surface of the ear 3-5 times at intervals of one week.

Do not use on kittens under 2 months of age or on cats during pregnancy.

Otoferonol Gold

Apply twice with a break a week. Dosage – 3 drops in each ear.

Do not use on kittens under two months of age or pregnant cats. The product destroys the parasite and has an anti-inflammatory effect.

Aversectin ointment

Apply 2-4 times, interval – 7 days.

Do not apply the ointment to kittens under 2 months of age or during pregnancy.

Amitrazine

The course of treatment includes 4-5 procedures. The breaks between instillations are three days. Dosage – ½ ml in one ear.

Not for use in pregnant cats.

Dekta

Ear drops are used every five days, 4-5 drops once. A total of 2-4 procedures are required.

The product is not suitable for babies under 30 days old and pregnant cats. The composition includes an antibacterial component.

In difficult situations, the veterinarian will prescribe injections or antibacterial drugs.

How to treat the ears

You need to treat the ears of your furry pet as follows.

• Before using the medicine, the cat's ears are cleaned of accumulated plaque. This will allow the medicine to penetrate deeper. For cleansing, use special solutions or regular vegetable oil. The surface of the ear is wiped with a cotton pad or a piece of bandage soaked in the solution. Hydrogen peroxide or other agents should not be instilled into the ear canal!
• Apply ointment or drops to the clean surface of the auricle in the amount specified in the instructions for the drug.
• To ensure that the medicine is distributed evenly, the ear needs to be massaged a little.
• If drops are used, the cat's head should be supported to prevent shaking and the medicine being thrown out.
• In conclusion, it is recommended to wipe the auricle again with a cotton pad soaked in the same product.

Attention: it is not recommended to use cotton swabs to treat the ears of an animal - the likelihood of injury to the ear canal and infection in the deep parts of the ear increases.

Concomitant therapy

When treating ear mites, you need to keep in mind that the parasite can spread to the cat’s body, so in parallel with treating the ears, antiparasitic procedures for the whole body should be carried out. To do this, just apply a few drops of a special preparation to the pet’s scruff or treat it with a spray. Among the sprays, the most popular are Frontline and Cyodrin. It is imperative to ensure that the animal does not lick its fur for a certain period of time.

You should also take care of your furry pet’s immune system. The stronger the immune system, the faster the recovery, and the greater the chance of avoiding re-infection. A cat's diet should contain a large amount of vitamins and be varied. You can add ready-made vitamin complexes to the food. It is also recommended to carry out a course of therapy with drugs that enhance the body’s defenses - Gamavit, Tentravit.

Prevention

The appearance of ticks is a case more typical for “walking” animals. However, even if your pet has never left the walls of the house, this does not guarantee that you will not encounter the disease. The reason may be the use of other people's carriers, bedding or toys.

Preventive measures include:

• regular ear cleaning (Bars Lotion, Otifri, Otodepin are excellent);
• preventing contact with stray animals;
• periodic disinfection of paraphernalia (beds, bowls, etc.);
• strengthening the immune system (it is recommended to include foods high in microelements and vitamins);
• the use of special drugs during the period of parasite activity.

Give your furry friends more attention, which is expressed not only in affection and feeding. Do not forget that they, like any living organism, require care. After all, when the animal receives it at the proper level and is in a calm state, then the owner is happy. Good luck!

Treatment with folk remedies

Treatment with folk remedies is permissible only at the very beginning of the development of the disease. In case of obvious symptoms of ear mites, they are suitable only as auxiliary methods. In addition, folk recipes can be used to prevent odecosis.

One of the most common cat ear care products is green tea. Its strong infusion acts as an antiseptic. After the brew has cooled, soak a cotton pad in it and wipe the external auditory canal. The decoction can be used both to cleanse the ears before instilling drops, and for regular care.

Hydrogen peroxide is used in the same way. It cannot be instilled into the ears; it is only allowed to moisten the crusts and wipe the surface of the cartilage.

Vegetable oils are widely used to clean the ears. Any oil will do: olive, sunflower, vaseline, camphor-based. Oils are not suitable for preventing the disease, but they can soften and remove scabs. After applying the oil, the animal’s ears should be wiped with a clean disk so that the oil film does not interfere with the absorption of the medicine.

Sometimes it is recommended to use garlic pulp or juice to combat ear mites in cats, but its irritant properties in this case will be stronger than its antiseptic properties. In addition, garlic will still not be able to destroy the parasite, so this remedy should be abandoned.

How contagious

Otodectosis is a contagious disease, as already mentioned. In most cases, even 5 minutes of interaction with an infected animal is enough for your pet to become infected from someone. But a person need not be afraid of ear mites - our body temperature is not suitable for the parasite to reproduce.

The only danger is pseudoscabies (rash) caused by bites from frequent contact. Drops will not help here, so you should simply use gloves when treating infected areas of your cat. We must not forget that a person can suffer otodectosis (through clothes, shoes).

Main rules of treatment

When treating odecosis at home, you need to follow a number of recommendations.

• If there are several animals in the house, all of them need to be treated for ticks, regardless of the presence or absence of the parasite. It is better for kittens and cats to use spray products during pregnancy.
• Be sure to treat your pet's bedding with an antiparasitic agent. If possible, it should be boiled.
• Until the product applied to the withers has dried, it is important to monitor the cat, preventing it from licking itself.
• Since recovery depends on the state of the immune system, it is necessary to provide your pet with a balanced diet and include vitamin complexes in it. Periodically take the animal out into the fresh air.
• Ear mites can also live on furniture, carpets, floor cracks and other objects, so wet cleaning should be done by adding an acaricidal agent to the water.
• Do not use ethyl alcohol-based products to clean your cat's ears.

Are there strong remedies for ear mites?

There is a stronger way to get rid of ear mites than ointments and drops. These are injections. Their distinctive feature is that you can get rid of all parasitic insects at the same time (if they are present). At the same time, the use of this method is fraught with negative consequences - the active substances are toxic to the cat’s body. Their use can provoke allergies, baldness, dermatoses and other complications. The use of such drugs is contraindicated during pregnancy and for kittens.

Demodicosis of the head

Ticks of the genus Demodex are representatives of opportunistic microflora of the skin on the body, including the head. They are present in almost all people on the planet. In everyday life, their activities do not cause visible discomfort; they exist in a mutually beneficial relationship with humans, fighting harmful microorganisms. But when the immune defense drops and unfavorable conditions set in, the parasites begin to multiply uncontrollably, as a result of which their numbers increase greatly, and the vital activity of these parasites becomes noticeable. This situation can result from:

• Hormonal imbalance;
• Long-term use of antibacterial and hormonal medications;
• Poor nutrition;
• Abuse of saunas, steam baths and solariums;
• Using low-quality cosmetics to care for skin and hair (since demodicosis needs to be treated comprehensively, our clinic specialists help patients choose the right and safe care products);
• Failure to comply with simple hygiene rules.

How to prevent otodecosis

In most cases, tick damage to a cat's ears can be prevented. To do this, you should adhere to the following preventive measures:

• periodically inspect your pet’s ears for scratching, redness, swelling, and scabs;
• regularly clean the external auditory canal;
• do not allow communication with unfamiliar animals;
• strengthen the cat's immune system.

Paying close attention to your pet and promptly seeing a doctor will help avoid health problems.

What is this?

Demodicosis in humans develops as a result of reproduction in the hair follicles, sebaceous glands of the skin and meibomian glands of the iron mite (Demodex). The breeding ground for the development of this parasite is sebum, so its main habitat is the skin of the face and external ears. But with a complicated course and lack of timely treatment, the skin of the chest and back is involved in the pathological process.

It is important to understand that healthy people can also be carriers of such a tick, since it is a representative of normal microflora. According to official statistics, about 60% of people are infected with Demodex, but not everyone develops this parasitic disease. Demodicosis of the body develops with the slightest disturbance of the biocenosis and a drop in immune defense.