It is quite easy to see if your dog or cat is suffering from an ear-related problem. They will show signs such as ear scratching, head shaking, and irritability. You will also see the skin in and around the ears of your pet getting inflamed, sore, and red.

If you observe these symptoms in your pet, it is best that take it to the veterinarian right away for proper diagnosis. While the condition is very much likely to be caused by ear mites, there are other health concerns in pets that have similar symptoms, so you will want to be sure.

When you take your pet to the veterinarian, the first thing he will do is perform a physical assessment of the problem. The skin will also be checked, and the severity of the problem is assessed. The vet will also inspect the ears of your dog to see if it has any foul-smelling discharge.
Dog mange has almost the same group of symptoms as ear mites and the vet will try to eliminate one or the other during the first part of the diagnosis.

After which, the veterinarian will take a swab of wax from the inner folds of your pet's ear. He will use a cotton-tipped applicator to take a sample and then analyze it under a microscope or a very powerful magnifying glass. The examination will take just a few minutes and the vet will soon know if the problem is indeed caused by ear mites or not.

Mites are minute insects that live inside the ears of your pet. Under the microscope, they will appear as white specks or dots. They are relatively bigger than mange, which has a variant that is microscopic in nature. Ear mites are the size of a pinhead. You will also be able to see them moving under the microscope.

Once the veterinarian had declared that your dog is positive for ear mites, he will then prescribe the right treatments to solve the problem. Keep in mind that you have to strictly follow his orders to eliminate ear mites the shortest time possible.

Canine ear mites can be very hard to remove. They can multiply more than you can kill them. This is why regular treatments are necessary. Never skip a day of medication in order to eliminate the mites effectively. However, merely applying the prescribed medicine is not enough.
You also have to make sure that you keep your dog's ear clean, including its surroundings. Mites can live outside of your dog's body for a certain period of time. So even if you have successfully eliminated the mites from the ears of your dog, if its cage and bedding are not clean, the problem may simply occur over again.

Next: Dog ear mites prevention