Cat ear mites, a dangerous condition that can have very serious consequences for your health. Let’s see what all the symptoms are, together with the treatments and the risk of contagion of this infestation.
It is always challenging to protect the well-being and health of your cat. The danger for the cat is always around the corner, despite our constant care and attention during its long days. The furry pet, in fact, can be the victim of various ailments and infestations, which can affect certain areas of his body. Today, let’s talk about cat ear mites and how you can deal with and fix them.
Cat ear mites: symptoms and diagnosis
Mites are among the most frequent parasites in felines. It is very important never to underestimate the infestation of mites in the ears of the cat, because serious problems can arise for his health. We read better in the article.
Pets are often victims of infestations. Parasites, worms and fungi can attack your cat and also cause serious health problems, compromising his general well-being and negatively affecting his life.
A common problem for the animal are ear mites, a problem that must be informed to avoid consequences and serious damage. The most common mite in cat ears is otodectes cynotis, an external parasite, white in color, able to adapt to various environments.
This parasite lives about 8 weeks and reproduces massively. It infests the ear canal and can extend to the cats face and head and, in some cases, even to his tail. The mite survives on the skin of the ear canal and, with its saliva, causes itching and irritation. The symptoms of its presence are recognizable in the animal, the most common are:
- Intense itching in cats, with consequences such as wounds, rashes and scabs in various areas, behind the ears, on the eyes, on the cheeks and even on the neck.
- Dry dark brown discharge: a problem that, if not treated in time, can create a bacterial infection of bacteria and fungi, changing the secretion.
- Otohematomas, a condition in which the vessels and capillaries of the auricular cartilage, where blood accumulates, can break.
- Fibrosis and stenosis in the ear canal.
- The cat scratches its ears.
Diagnosis of ear mites
The vet will be able to detect the presence of mites in the cat’s ears by observing them. To prevent the mite from hiding among the secretions, the otoscope will be introduced and the light will only be turned on inside.
After that, a sample will be analyzed under a microscope, a method by which it is possible to check for the presence of larvae, even with the help of oil drops to get them out of the dry secretions.
If during the visit to the doctor no parasites are identified but the cat is constantly scratching and rubbing annoyed, it is likely that there is the presence of allergy to mites or hypersensitivity.
Kitty and mites: treatments and risk of contagion
It is possible to fight and treat the mites in the cat’s ears with specific medicines and it is important to treat your feline carefully and consistently. Furthermore, these parasites could also infect humans. Let’s read more here.
To cure mites in your cat’s ears, it is necessary to treat them by cleaning the dry secretions inside at least twice a week. There are special oily drops for ear mites, very useful for eliminating parasites. Care must be taken in their application, to avoid drops falling into the ears and the so-called Horner’s syndrome in cats .
We usually recommend selamectin to be applied to the skin of the nape, with the frequency of the dose after 3 weeks, the vital period of the mite; ivermectin optic, gel to be applied every 7 days for a few weeks. It is an effective medicine, it is always better to ask your veterinarian for advice, as side effects can occur, such as eye problems, pupils of different sizes, intense salivation.
A possible contagion to humans cannot be excluded, especially if the infection in the feline is very serious and if its environment is very dirty. However, cat mites are transmitted through intimate or direct contact. Extensive infestation and poor hygiene conditions are the factors that allow for transmission from animals to humans.
