Otodectes cynotis is an arthropod skin parasite commonly known as scabies ear mite, which is easily spread through direct contact with a contaminated animal or contaminated objects. Those that cannot be in contact with the street, contract the disease through the owner’s hands, clothes, or shoes. The ear mite in cats leads to the development of otomycosis – scabies. How to identify clinical signs of the disease at an early stage and prevent complications with a secondary infection – in the material of this article.
What does an ear mite look like?
Scabies ear mites are parasites of the arthropod type. The scaly body of an adult mite has an oval shape with four pairs of formed limbs in males three pairs of formed limbs and one rudimentary one in females.
The parasite moves in only one direction, making its way through the upper layers of the skin of the animal’s ear canal and laying eggs there. The arthropod’s peak activity occurs at night.
How long does an ear mite live?
The tick’s full life cycle – from egg to adult – lasts about 30 days: this is enough for the male to fertilize the female, and she lays eggs. One female lays up to 10 eggs per day. It takes up to 4 days for the larva to form, and up to 9-12 days (sometimes more) for the adult to emerge. That’s why the parasite colonies multiply so quickly, and the disease progresses rapidly.
In external conditions – for example, on a shoe mat or food bowl – mites live up to 12 days (sometimes more). This increases the likelihood of getting sick again, so the course of treatment for otomycosis must be completed in several stages.
Please note: according to statistics, cases of ear mites in cats are more common. However, the parasite can live in the ears of a dog or ferret. These animals are also carriers. Especially the Yorkshire Terrier breed and other species whose ears are drooping, the ear canal is covered, or has hair growing out of it.
What is the danger of otodectosis?
Otodectosis or ear mites is a dermatitis of the skin of the external ear canal that results when the ears of cats become infested with ear mites.
It is almost impossible to track the onset of the disease in a cat without magnifying devices: Adult mites reach 0,2- 0,8mm in size, so they are not seen during a rough examination of the material. To diagnose otomycosis, you need to go to a veterinary clinic, take a scraping of the ear canal discharge, and wait for the results of the examination under a microscope.
Further development of the disease is fraught with the addition of an allergic reaction and seeding of ear discharge with secondary microflora. For example, staphylococcus, fungi, or other flora. In an attempt to clean the ears on its own, the cat injures the skin with its claws. Inflammatory processes, eczema, and dermatitis develop in the places of scratching.
Therefore, prolonged progression of the disease can result in an elevated body temperature and thermometer, and a burst eardrum and media otitis of the animal. Which, in turn, results in hearing loss, inflammation of the membrane of the brain, and death.
Are cat ear mites dangerous to humans?
The human body temperature is not suitable for the life and reproduction of the parasite, so the appearance of ear mites in a cat does not harm people – we can only be its carriers.
The only thing that comes with contact with a sick animal is the appearance of pseudo-scabies: a small rash caused by parasite bites. There is no need to treat human allergies. It is enough to cure the infected animal, and the unpleasant symptoms will disappear on their own.
How does infection occur?
Ear mite infestation occurs in two ways: through contact with an infected surface or through the body or clothing of the carrier. Carriers of the mite can be other fur animals (not necessarily cats), people, flies, and fleas.
Ear mites tend to live in a moist and warm environment. Therefore, when they get on the animal’s fur or skin, they try to get into the ears. Only the severe stage of the disease can ear mites be found on the pet’s neck, stomach, ort ail.
It only takes a few seconds to become infected with ear mites. However, the first symptoms of the infestation do not appear immediately. Usually, the cat gets sick several weeks after the first contact.
Stages of disease development
The standard development of otomycosis occurs in several stages. Familiarize yourself with the course of the disease to recognize an ear mite infestation at an early stage:
- Skin damage: ear mites burrow into the upper layers of the skin to get food or lay eggs. This is usually accompanied by intense itching, and the animal tends to scratch its ears with a paw or rub against door frames or furniture. However, in some cases, the first stage is asymptomatic.
- The fragilitylity of blood vessels : the skin inside the ear begins to turn red. And with hypersensitivity to ear mites, swelling and inflammatory reactions are possible.
- Ear discharge: natural ear cleaning from earwax is hampered, which leads to the appearance of abundant ear discharge of dark brown, coffee, or brown color in an adult cat or gray color in a kitten. In case of seeding of ear discharge with other flora, suppuration and an unpleasant odor are possible.
- Earwax buildup: The accumulation of wax, dead skin particles, and other secretions leads to blockage of the ear canal. In advanced stages of the disease, this can lead to rupture of the eardrum, leading to otitis media.
- Transfer of infection to the lining of the brain: when the tick infects the middle and inner ear, the pathology begins to spread. The animal tries to tilt its head to the side so that the diseased ear looks at the floor. This leads to the development of sepsis and subsequent death.
Symptoms of Ear Mites in Cats
Did your pet run out into the entrance? Did you take a cat from the street? Or maybe you bought a kitten from a cattery with cramped conditions? The first symptoms of ear mite infestation in a cat may appear only after two weeks – during this period, you need to monitor the pet’s behavior especially carefully.
Primary signs of ear mite infestation:
- The cat shakes its head: usually, mites penetrate both ears at once, but if the infestation is uneven, the animal tilts its head to the side causing more concern.
- The cat is scratching itself: usually, bald spots and non-healing wounds appear in the places of scratching.
- The cat’s behavior changes: it ignores its favorite toy, refuses to eat, becomes nervous, clings to its owner, or becomes aggressive.
- The auricle turns red: the redness may be accompanied by scratches from claws and hair loss from the outer part of the ear.
- The ears become dirty: there is abundant ear discharge of gray, brown, tan, or coffee color.
Secondary signs of ear mite infestation:
- Suppuration and an unpleasant odor appear: this is a sign that the tick has inoculated the secretions with other flora.
- The temperature rises: this is a sign that the infection has spread to the middle ear.
- Hearing loss: this is a sign of the spread of infection from otomycosis to the middle and inner ear.
- Convulsions begin: this is a sign that the infection has spread to the cat’s brain membrane.
Diagnosis of ear mites
To make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo an examination: go to a veterinary clinic and submit a scraping of ear discharge for further clinical and laboratory testing.
It is impossible to find a tick in a cat’s ear without magnifying devices – an examination using an otoscope and a microscopic examination report are required.
If there is a suspicion of external otitis, additional research will be required: it will help determine the composition of the microflora and outline a course of further treatment.
Many symptoms that indicate an ear mite infestation are also related to other diseases. For example, a yeast infection. Therefore, self-prescribing drugs with antiparasitic components is not allowed. They can distort the clinical picture: lead to an incorrect diagnosis or complicate the course of the disease.
How to pass the initial check at home
To check your pet for ticks at home, you will need a cotton swab or long tweezers wrapped in a bandage, a piece of black paper, and a magnifying glass:
Step 1: Gently run the cotton swab along the inner wall of the auricle, without going into the ear canal.
Step 2: Brush ear discharge onto paper.
Step 3: Examine the discharge with a magnifying glass. Scabies ear mites in cats look like a whitish moving dot.
If traces of a parasite are detected, make an appointment with a veterinarian: the specialist will draw up a treatment plan and select effective medications that correspond to the age of the pet, its health characteristics, and the stage of the cat’s disease.
Please note: if a secondary infection has joined the ear mite and the ears are festering, it will not be possible to see the parasites.
Ear mite treatment
Standard treatment for ticks in cats is not traumatic: it can be carried out in a veterinary clinic under the supervision of a veterinarian or independently – at home.
To reduce the risk of re-infestation, tick control treatment should be carried out comprehensively.
Typically, the treatment course for otomycosis consists of four components:
- Cleaning the auricle from excess earwax, crusts, and pus: these are antiseptic agents that will prepare the skin for the application of medications.
- Use of acaricidal preparations: these are special drops against ticks for cats in the ear or drops on the withers, ointments, and powders that kill adult individuals.
- Application of external treatment products: these are aerosols and sprays for treating wool, open surfaces, and household items against ticks.
- Changing the cat’s diet: these are special balanced foods with a high content of protein and vitamins.
How to treat the auricle
You will need: cleansing lotion or hydrogen peroxide solution, cotton pads or a piece of bandage, and disposable gloves.
Step 1. Dip a cotton pad or a piece of bandage in hydrogen peroxide or cleansing lotion and gently remove excess ear discharge from the visible surfaces of the ears. Do not try to penetrate deeper – this is fraught with the formation of an ear plug. To soften hard crusts, you can use any vegetable oil. For example, sunflower or olive. But before applying the drug, the oil film must be removed.
Step 2. Apply the antiparasitic tick remedy to the treated skin, bend the ear in half, and massage at the base so that the preparation is distributed evenly throughout the auricle. If you use drops, avoid instilling them into the ear canal. In severe cases, this can lead to tissue irritation and rupture of the eardrum.
When the drug gets on the skin, the cat may hiss, scream, and even foam. This is a normal reaction to a toxic substance against ticks, so you should not be afraid of it. The main thing is to prevent the cat from licking the medicine and shaking its head. For this, a special collar is put on it.
Effective drugs for ear mites in cats
Any acaricidal treatment can be divided into four segments: drops, ointments, powders, and sprays. The form of release, treatment regimen, and dosage are prescribed by the attending physician. But if there is a choice, most owners use drops or spray: this form of release is the safest and easiest to apply.
The treatment regimen is prescribed taking into account the tick’s life cycle. Since the active substance kills only the adult tick, otomycosis treatment is carried out in several stages – until all the eggs hatch. Most often, the treatment regimen is prescribed for 1.5 months. The course of treatment and doses should be agreed upon with a veterinarian.
Please note: if a secondary infection occurs, treatment against secondary otitis caused by the layering of mite microflora on the affected ear will be required. In severe cases of the disease, the doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory subcutaneous injections – for example, Ivermectin – and antihistamines that will relieve itching. The treatment regimen and dosage are prescribed individually, taking into account the age and weight of the cats.
Treatment with folk remedies
To alleviate the condition of a cat with otomycosis, it is permissible to use folk methods that do not contradict drug treatment.
To soften the crusts and reduce inflammation, apply a few drops of plant-based oil to a cotton pad. For example, camphor or almond.
To clean the affected area before treatment, you can use an infusion of strong green unbagged tea, sulfur soap or a solution of boric acid – these products are used before applying drops or as a preventative measure against otomycosis in cats.
It is prohibited to use soda, celandine juice, or garlic gruel to treat a cat. The active components of the products irritate tissues and can aggravate the course of the disease.
Prevention of infection
Timely prevention of ear mites in cats comes down to regular treatment against mites and maintaining cleanliness in the house.
At risk: animals that walk on the street, live in the country, participate in exhibitions, and live in crowded conditions.
To reduce the risk of infection, use acaricidal agents during wet cleaning and treat your pet’s bedding and favorite toys with a special spray.
If there are several cats, dogs, and other fur animals in the house, the course of treatment and treatment of the cat against ticks is carried out for all without exception – even for pets without pronounced symptoms. In rare cases, infection with parasites is asymptomatic.
Preventive treatment against fleas and ticks is carried out once a month. Discuss the choice of drug for tick treatment with a veterinarian – its composition will depend on the age of the cat, its lifestyle and its tendency to recurrent otitis. If the disease has returned repeatedly, the need for surgical intervention on tissues is not excluded.
