Ear mite in cats

Features of the disease

Otodecosis in cats is caused by a microscopic (about ½ mm) insect Otodectes cynotus. The parasite has a whitish oval body and jointed limbs. He loves moisture and heat, so he parasitizes inside the ear canal of the animal, feeding on skin scales, blood, lymph. Outside the body of the host, the tick is able to live for about two months.

In most cases, the parasite affects both ears of the cat. The probability of infection is especially high in the warm and humid season – in spring and early autumn. The risk group consists of kittens up to a year old and weakened animals. From the moment of infection to the obvious signs of the presence of a tick, it may take several years. The disease manifests itself especially vividly when a bacterial infection joins the damage to the skin by a parasite. Because of the itching and pain, the exhausted pet cannot sleep and eat.

The danger of an ear mite for a cat

Ear mite, feeding on skin particles, leads to its severe damage. In the absence of treatment, a cat may have serious health problems:

• unbearable itching causes constant scratching of the ears, which leads to damage to the capillaries, the appearance of extensive hematomas;
• bacterial and fungal infections penetrate into the places of skin damage, the inflammatory process begins, the ear tissues swell, turn red, and fester;
• gradually, the inflammation passes to the eardrum and into the inner ear – otitis media and myringitis develop.

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

How a pet can get infected

A cat can pick up an ear mite on the street, in contact with sick animals or in places of walking. Most of the stray cats suffer from otodecosis, so letting a pet go for a free walk is fraught with negative consequences.

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

Kittens can get infected at birth from an ear mite carrier mother. Infection through bedding, carpets, household furniture or dishes is possible.

Symptoms of ear mite in cats

The symptoms of an ear mite in cats at the beginning of the disease are practically absent. It is necessary to take the pet to the veterinarian if the following signs of the disease are detected:

• frequent scratching of the ears, up to bruising;
• head shaking, anxiety;
• separation of fluid from the auditory canal, clumped pieces of sulfur of dirty gray or dirty brown color;
• glued wool on the ears;
• hair loss in the area of the auricles;
• purulent ulcers on the outer ear;
• swelling and redness of the ears;
• unpleasant smell;
• the animal walks with its head tilted.

It is necessary to suspect otodecosis if the cat periodically shakes its head and scratches its ears. Discharge, odor and other signs appear later, when the disease takes a neglected form.

Diagnosis of otodecosis

Even if there are seemingly obvious signs of an ear mite, the cat needs to be shown to a veterinarian. Similar symptoms may appear with dermatoses, lichens, 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 on the basis of examination and microscopic examination of the scraping from the surface of the auricle. Under the microscope, the doctor will quickly identify the parasite and prescribe appropriate treatment.

If there is no possibility to carry out laboratory diagnostics, you can try the home method. This will require a black sheet of paper and a magnifying glass. You need to take a little discharge from the inner surface of the pet's auricle and smear it on paper. If there is a parasite, then it looks like a moving whitish dot on the sheet.

Treatment of the disease

Treatment of ear mites in cats is carried out in several directions:

• cleaning the ears with special means;
• use of the drug to destroy the parasite;
• use of external antiparasitic agents;
• increase the immunity of the pet.

Tick Medications

Medicines for ear mites are presented 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, the age of the animal. In the treatment of otodecosis, the following medications are most often used.

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

How to treat auricles

It is necessary to process the ears of a fluffy pet as follows.

• Before using the drug, the cat's ears are cleaned of accumulated plaque. This will allow the medicine to penetrate deeper. For purification, special solutions or ordinary vegetable oil are used. The surface of the ear is wiped with a cotton pad soaked in solution or a piece of bandage. Hydrogen peroxide or other means are not buried inside the ear canal!
• Ointment or drops are applied to the clean surface of the auricle in the amount indicated in the annotation to the drug.
• In order for the medicine to be distributed evenly, the ear needs to be massaged a little.
• If drops are used, then hold the cat's head to prevent shaking and throwing the medicine 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

During the treatment of an ear mite, it should be borne in mind that the parasite can move to the cat's trunk, therefore, in parallel with the treatment of the auricles, antiparasitic procedures of the whole body should be carried out. To do this, it is enough to put a few drops of a special drug on the back of the pet's neck or treat it with a spray. Among sprays, the most popular are Frontline and Cyodrine. Be sure to make sure that the animal does not lick the wool for a certain time.

It is necessary to take care of the immune system of a fluffy pet. The stronger the immune system, the faster the recovery will occur, and the more likely it is to avoid re-infection. The cat's diet should contain a large amount of vitamins, be diverse. You can add ready-made vitamin complexes to the feed. It is also recommended to conduct a course of therapy with drugs that strengthen the body's defenses – Gamavit, Tentravit.

Folk remedies treatment

Treatment with folk remedies is permissible only at the very beginning of the development of the disease. With pronounced symptoms of an ear mite, they are suitable only as auxiliary methods. In addition, folk recipes can be used to prevent otodecosis.

One of the most common means for caring for the ears of a cat is green tea. Its strong infusion acts as an antiseptic. After the tea leaves have cooled down, a cotton pad is moistened in it and the external auditory canal is wiped. The decoction can be used both to clean the ears before instilling drops, and for regular care.

Hydrogen peroxide is used in the same way. It should not be buried in the ears, it is allowed only to moisten the crusts and wipe the surface of the cartilage.

Vegetable oils are widely used to clean the auricles. Any oil will do: olive, sunflower, petroleum jelly, camphor-based. Oils are not suitable for the prevention of the disease, but they allow you to soften and remove scabs. After oil treatment, the animal's ears should be wiped with a clean disc so that the oil film does not interfere with the absorption of the medicine.

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

The main rules of treatment

When treating otodecosis at home, you need to adhere to a number of recommendations.

• If there are several animals in the house, everyone needs to be treated from the tick, regardless of the presence or absence of the parasite. Kittens and cats during pregnancy are better to use funds in the form of a spray.
• Be sure to treat your pet's litter 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, not letting her lick her lips.
• Since recovery depends on the state of immunity, it is necessary to provide the pet with a balanced diet and include vitamin complexes in it. Periodically take the animal out into the fresh air.
• Ear mite can also live on furniture, carpets, floor crevices and other objects, so wet cleaning should be done by adding an acaricidal agent to the water.
• To clean the ears of a cat, you can not use ethyl alcohol-based products.

Are there any strong remedies for ear mites

There is a stronger way to get rid of an ear mite 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 such a method is fraught with negative consequences – the active substances are toxic to the cat's body as well. Their use can provoke allergies, baldness, dermatoses and other complications. The use of such drugs is contraindicated during pregnancy of a cat and for kittens.

How long does it take to treat otodecosis

The duration of treatment of an ear mite depends on the degree of its spread, the presence of concomitant diseases, the general condition of the pet. Uncomplicated course of the disease can be cured within 1-3 weeks. If the pathology has led to complications, there is a secondary infection, then treatment may take several months.

Can a person get infected

When an ear mite is detected in a cat, many owners wonder: is this disease transmitted to a person? Otodecosis does not pose a danger to humans. But for pets, such as dogs, it is very contagious. Simultaneously with the treatment of one pet, preventive measures should be carried out for another.

How to prevent otodecosis

Damage to the ears of a cat with a tick can be prevented in most cases. To do this, you should adhere to such preventive measures:

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

Attentive attitude to the pet and timely access to the doctor will help to avoid health problems.