Ear Mite Treatment: Natural Remedies for Ear Mites

How to Treat Ear Mites In 10 Easy Steps

Ear mites pose an itchy aggravation for puppies and their people. This parasite also can travel outside of the pup’s body, making it very contagious to other pets in the home. If one pet has ear mites, all of the other dogs, cats, rabbits and ferret friends also need treatment. Your veterinarian can provide this service after diagnosing the mite, but that can get pricey. It’s also helpful for you to learn how to medicate your puppy.

Here’s how to cut the cost and treat puppy ear mites at home.

Ear Mite Medications

The ears are treated by flushing away the debris and mites using an insecticide similar to that used in flea treatments. The medication is often suspended in a bland medium, like mineral oil, which when squirted into the ear helps suffocate the bugs not killed outright by the insecticide.

The solution also floats debris out of the ear canal as the ear base is gently massaged. A number of commercial products are available for treating ear mites; ask your veterinarian for a recommendation.

Home Made Medications

Holistic veterinarians agree that commercial products work well. But puppies sick with ear mites may have other common health challenges that need treatment. It may be less stressful to shoo away the bugs with more natural treatments. Cleaning the ears with soothing solutions is the first step.

• Antiseptic Tea Rinse. Green tea is a natural antiseptic. It can be used to flush out all the ear might debris—that crumbly brown/black stuff that clogs the puppy’s ear canal. Steep a tablespoon of green tea leaves in a cup of hot water for three or four minutes, and then strain it. Let it cool to room temperature before using once a day for a month.
• Oil Treatment. Oil helps sooth sore ears, and also can float debris out. Oil also can suffocate the mites. Holistic vets say it doesn’t really matter what kind of oil you use, although some recommend almond or olive oil. Avoid tea tree oil, though, because it can be toxic for cats and smaller pets like young puppies. For the best benefit, crush a couple garlic cloves in a cup of the oil and let it marinate overnight. Garlic naturally kills bacteria that might develop secondary to the mite infection. Remember to remove the garlic before using the oil to treat your puppy’s ears though. You’ll need to treat the ears with the oil/garlic solution daily for at least a month.
• Apple Cider Vinegar. Add 1 teaspoon to a 8 ounces, put in spray bottle and spray twice a day for 10 days.