What are the symptoms of ear mite infestation in cats and dogs?
• Head shaking • Scratching the ears (there may be sores around the ears as a result of scratching) • Reddish-brown to black discharge (crusts and cerumen) in the ears that resemble coffee grounds • Odor • Sometimes there seem to be no observable signs of ear mites In chronic (long term) cases of ear mites in cats and dogs, there often is secondary bacterial and yeast infections present that complicate the treatment and create even more stress on the animal. Damage to the ear could include a thickening of the skin or infection which is caused by the cat or dog damaging the skin by scratching, and bacteria entering these wounds. What is the life cycle of ear mites? The ear mite life cycle, which takes about twenty-one days from egg to adult, entails going through four different stages: • Stage 1: The Eggs Female ear mites usually lay about 5 eggs daily during their entire adult life. Deposited on the surface lining of the ear canal, the eggs hatch within 4 days. • Stage 2: The Larvae On
