Rebecca is a writer with an interest in pets and health. She takes care of her Mum's cattle dog cross, Ginger, and owns 4 cats. 
Another aspect of canine health care for responsible dog owners is getting rid of ear mites. These infections are highly irritating to dogs and can leave them bleeding and raw. This article answers the dog health question on how to get rid of ear mites yourself, including one important step you really can't miss.Ear mites are a parasite that are so irritating to dogs they will scratch their itchy ears almost non-stop. Whether you clear the ear mites our of your dogs ears, or your vet does, this is an important part of canine health care.
Left untreated, the constant itching and scratching of your dog will leave its ears bleeding and raw. And an infestation of ear mites does not lead to a great quality of life for a dog. Ear mites are tiny, and a population of them in your dogs ears will be in the thousands. This is one dog health question that must be answered by appropriate action.
Dog Health Question - The Two Step Process Of Dealing With Ear Mites
1. You absolutely must clean off the crusty layer of debris inside your dogs ear. If you don't do this, it provides a place for surviving ear mites to shelter from the ear mite medication. And like fleas, ear mites multiply easily and in large numbers. Treated this way you will soon have another ear mite infestation to deal with.
To clear the crusty layer, get some mineral oil (Baby Oil is generally a mineral oil) in a dropper. You can get droppers from the chemist. Put a few drops into the ear canal, and leave it a few hours so the crust will soften. Then fill a rubber ear cleaning syringe with a mixture made from equal amounts of vinegar and distilled water. Don't use tap water. With this solution, gently flush out the debris from your dogs ear canal. But don't use too much pressure or you will hurt your dog. Repeat the process until your dogs ear is free of this muck.
2. Now you can apply the medication. Vets generally suggest any ear mite medication that contains pyrethrins. This ingredient is an insecticide made from chrysanthemums. It can be bought over the counter at pet stores, and certainly off the internet. Add a few drops into your dogs ear, though be sure to check the instructions for the particular brand of ear mite medication that you're using. Now, massage the base of your dogs ear gently for about 5 minutes. This allows the medication to really work its way into the area.
This canine health care procedure does require patience. So if you don't have the time or inclination, or are uncertain about sticking fluids into your dogs ear canal, go to the vet. You can always watch and learn from them as they treat your dog. But this dog health question must be treated. Ear mites can jump from animal to animal, so if you're in a multi-pet household, be sure to check your other pets.
