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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsNeed ear mite replacement for an out of date one I tossed. Any suggestions? Please.
SheltieLover
(81,719 posts)Walgreens used to carry it, but you will likely need to ask pharmacist for it.
quaint
(5,112 posts)aaaarrrrgggh
hlthe2b
(114,686 posts)The current strong recommendation (including all of the South and regions of the country where heartworm is highly prevalent, and yes, cats DO get heartworm) is a very broad-spectrum topical product like the one below that addresses earmites, protects against fleas, ticks, and mosquito-born heartworm. You will need a prescription from your veterinarian, but you can usually have Chewy.com or elsewhere call them for a prescription/approval.
I was researching lung nodules in humans for an ER patient recently, and in many areas of the country, after cancer, parasites, including heartworm, pose the second or third most common cause (fortunately detected on thorough biopsies). That had me researching HW in cats and in these same hyperendemic areas, even those cats reported to be indoor-only had a 27% infection rate. So, things are 'a changing with climate change--and broad spectrum parasite control (not just for ear mites) is increasingly necessary. Just wanted to bring this to your attention. My area of Colorado has increased risks as well, but I can guarantee you any cat or dog I owned while living in the South would definitely be on these products year-round.
justaprogressive
(7,170 posts)However, there isnt much scientific data pointing to its effectiveness.
In addition, Advantage Multi and Revolution are prescription medications applied to the skin on the back that treats ear mites as well as heartworm, fleas, and some intestinal worms.
Work with your veterinarian who will advise you on how often to use ear mite medication so that you dont over use it.
Remove debris first to boost ear mite medication effectiveness
Product solutions and liquids can kill ear mites only when the medication reaches the ear mite. To help the products work effectively you will need to remove the discharge and debris in your pets ears. Removal is best done using a cotton swab with a rolling lifting motion. Discard the cotton swabs as soon as they pick up some debris so the material doesnt fall off the swab and back into the ear. Plan on using at least a dozen swabs. Take care not to pack the discharge deeper into the canal.
Is one treatment enough, or can ear mites return?
Ear mites can return and you may need to treat your pet more than once. Similar to fleas, ear mites lay eggs that have an extremely tough exterior, which makes it difficult to kill ear mites in one treatment. Eggs can be removed from your pets ears or flushed out, however, most products used to treat ear mites wont kill ear mite eggs. Ear mite medications and products will generally only kill mites that have hatched. Thats why most ear mite medications and products are used once, and repeated in 7 daysto give the eggs a chance to hatch out and be vulnerable to the medication. If you wait too long between treatments, though, there will be enough time for the hatched ear mite to lay more eggs. If the second medication dose is skipped, ear mites will appear to returnin truth, they never left because the eggs were not killed.
Your pet may also be reinfected and need to be retreated if he or she comes in contact with other pets that have ear mites.
Can my pets ear mites infect me?
Yes. However, ear mites have evolved to prefer dogs and cats rather than people. In peoples ears, mites die without treatment after a few weeks, but they can be treated and removed as soon as they are diagnosed, just as they are for your pet. People who have had ear mites report that the infection nearly drove them insane because they could hear the scratching in their head, and because of the irritating sensation caused as the mites moved. People also report that they suffered from intense itching, heat, and inflammation.
How should I treat my pets environment?
Ear mites are spread by direct contact with another pet that has them or by bedding infected pets have been using. Wash bedding with hot soapy water and dry in a hot dryer. Clean the kennels. Treat the environment with a flea-type insecticide once, and repeat the application again in 2-4 weeks.
Do I need to treat all my pets for ear mites?
Perhaps. Ear mites are contagious. If your veterinarian confirms that some of your pets have ear mites, it may be most efficient to treat them alland the environmentat the same time. If, however, you have pets that do not come in contact with each other, or with each others bedding, they have had little opportunity to share the ear mites.
https://pethealthmd.com/dogs/ear-mites-treatment-for-dogs/
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