Is it ear mites or just dirty ears? When should my dog see a 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.

Unfortunately, ear mites are treated with a prescription from your vet, and your vet will need to confirm mites by looking at the ears under a scope. If you can't get to your vet, seeing if one does house call services, or getting a friend to give you a ride is best. Ear mites can be transmitted back and forth between pets as well, so if you have more that one pet, treating everyone at once can help ensure they are taken care of. Keeping the ears clean and dry and preventing Daisy from scratching at them can also help until you can get to your vet.

Unfortunately no, Horu does have to see a vet for his ears to be examined considering they haven't healed. I would give you some resources that may help you afford another vet visit. 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/ I hope this helps you afford a vet!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Ear mites generally are noted first with signs of thick, dark discharge which appears a bit "crusty". However-the lack of these symptoms does not mean all is well with the ears of your pup. Dogs can get frequent ear infections, just like we can. I can tell from your photos that your pup has hair that grown down into the ear canals-this will be part of the problem. Those hairs trap debris, water from bathing, extra wax, etc and act as a great reservoir for bacteria to grow. I always recommend to my clients to have the hairs "plucked" by their groomer when they go or to come in to the office so that we can do it. After the hairs are cleared and the ears are cleaned, I like to do an exam of the ear canal and to take a swab of the ears to see what kind of yeast and/or bacteria are present there. It is important to have this exam performed by your vet to verify that your pet's eardrum is intact and not perforated. Likely your pet will get prescribed some antibiotics if your doctor finds it necessary, as well as pain medications or something for that awful itch. After everything is well controlled, it is usually easy to get my owners on a good ear cleaning regimen to keep ear infections at bay. I hope this helps! My best to you and your pup!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is not common for dogs to have ear mites but if they did their ears are very itchy and have dark dried debris. It is common for dogs to have ear infections which can also be itchy and have debris. Ear mites are microscopic so canny be seen by the naked eye. If Truck is exhibiting these signs, I recommend taking him to a vet to get it diagnosed and properly treated. Good luck and kisses to Truck!

It could be ear mites, and unfortunately I can't diagnose Peaty online because I can't see him in person or examine the wax coming out of his ears. Revolution treats ear mites, but I do highly recommend a vet visit for this problem. This is because ear infections in dogs can also be caused by yeast or bacteria, and in order to treat him properly, the cause needs to be diagnosed. I certainly don't want you to spend money on a treatment that ends up being ineffective because it isn't the correct medication for the ear infection (Revolution does not treat yeast or bacterial ear infections). I would make an appointment for him to be seen by a vet for this problem so it can be treated correctly the first time. Best of luck.

Canaural (medication with Diethanolamine Fusidate, Framycetin Sulphate, Nystatin and Prednisolone) can be used safely and effectively to get rid of mites in few days. I would recommend to take Joy to your veterinarian and have him treated appropriately. Unfortunately home remedies are not that effective in this case. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.