My dog has dark ear wax, coffee grounds. Ear mites? OTC treatment?

This amount of "dirt" on the external part of the ear i would considered normal, ear mites tend to be darker, like ground coffee, but in some cases it's not possible to actually see it from outside, the vet needs to check it with a cotton bud and under the microscope to confirm what it is. there 3 types of ear infections in dogs: yeast, bacterias and mites (less common). if Wallace seems to scratch his ears or shakes his head then it would be a good idea to get it checked by your vet.

Unlike cats (in which ear mites are very common), ear mites are not commonly diagnosed in dogs. When they are diagnosed, it is commonly in dogs that live in an unkempt area, in puppies with poor immune systems, or dogs with other diseases. The symptoms your describe can easily be seen in dogs with yeast ear infections. Mites need to be killed with appropriate insecticides, and there are no home remedies that are safe and guaranteed to work. I suggest saving a few more dollars to spend on actual medication that will treat ear mites. You might call local animal shelters, rescue groups, or animal charities in your area to inquire about low-cost options or financial assistance in treating Indica.

No, do not put oil in their ears! That will make things so much worse! Unfortunately no, this cannot be treated at home, they need medication from the vet to treat the ear mites. Revolution is an excellent product that kills ear mites. Best of luck.

If the q-tip comes out black, then there is an excess of ear wax and likely an infection. The infection can be caused by bacteria, yeast, or even mites. Ear infections in dogs are very itchy, and often require prescription medications to help clear them quickly and manage the itch. The first step in treating an ear infection is breaking down the large chunks of wax and getting them out of the way so that medications can get to the surface of the ear. I like ear cleaners like Dechra Malacetic Ultra Otic that are antibacterial and antifungal. If you clean Remington's ears twice a day for a couple of days and he is still itching, he will need to go to the vet for prescription medications.

Cute kitty! It may take 3-4 weeks for the revolution to completely rid the infection. You can purchase Eradimite or Otomite without a prescription and this may help rid the infection more quickly. Not sure if the Zymox you’re using is the treatment drops (which are great) or the cleanser (also a great product) but if it’s not the cleanser you are using already, then get some type of ear cleanser to help break up the “gunk” and get them out of there. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

This black, tarry substance is mostly wax and cleansing twice daily with an alcohol free ear cleanser for 5-7 days should help remove this (it will also remove any mites which may be stuck in it). Fill the ear with the solution, rub gently and then wipe away the disolved wax - repeat 3-5 times until ear appears clean; do this twice daily until ear has been thoroughly clean for 2 cleanings and then 1-2 times weekly to prevent build up. Any severe pain, blood or loss of appetite indicates there may be an infection and this would require assessment by a vet to prescribe the correct medicated drops

The only way to know for sure if Hunter has a dirty ear or ear mites is to look at a sample of the debris in his ear on a slide under a microscope. It is possible to have an ear mite infection in just one ear and not the other. No, it's not safe to put his ear mite medication in his ears again without having it confirmed that he does have ear mites. It's never recommended to self treat your animal, and it's never recommend to treat them without knowing the exact cause of their symptoms. In both cases, you may accidentally do harm to your dog, and make the problem much worse. I'm not sure why you can't go to your vet to check, but if it's due to finances, I can give you some resources that may help you afford a vet for Hunter. You can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/