Ear Mites for Multiple Remedies

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Sonya (Britain ) on 02/16/2016:
4 out of 5 stars

Ear Mites

I had my cat Sooty to the vets twice with ear mites in 1 month, she had severe ear mites, I never thought of checking her little ears and felt terrible when I noticed little grey blisters and white specks seen by the naked eye and scabs. I was horrified. Sooty is indoor cat and didn't catch from another pet directly. One thing I've noticed that hasn't been mentioned is visitors visiting the house, you may be the cleanest person but visitors may live differently I know there pet as had them but don't know about having to vacuum the house and keep things sterile as they're like a human scabies.

If a pet at home as them or think they have dealt with it but don't realise they live on the animals body and make there way back after treatment and on bedding your clothing pet hair and u go to a friends house and there pet sits on your knee get the picture transmitted. I let people know and warned them when they came in and insisted they washed there hands and use hand sanitizer before leaving as only fair not infest there pets also its a kind way of saying these are contagious and report back or check your pet the suffering they go through and what there hear and endure is devastating. Prescriptions didn't work, expensive solutions did t work, if u ask I will tell u what iv used the list is endless.

It is important though to get the vet to do a check and then when your confident what your dealing with take it from there. After confirmation from the vet and there Prescription med as been used and it sure will continue mine did even after second visit and frontline and antibiotics they continued and constant daily ear cleaning before medication applied. She started September 2015 and think where nearly there feb 2016. Ear mites are very clever and when the ears have had server attack for some time there are deap scabs inside right to the eardrum packed with thousands of them buried in the wax and debris. I found the best solution was mineral oil and olive oil was the best for treating these poor ears its kind and gentle and stops the mites nibbling on there flesh and drowns them and softens the debris working its way out of the ear drums. Yes in the end I used q tips which this is when I noticed things where getting better. I didn't go into the ear canal totally just at the entrance and where the back of the ear is because this is where the hide out and just at the beginning of the ear lobe and if your gentle and your cat is showing no sign of discomfort your ok. If u go further down the canal u are causing damage cause you're pushing the debris back what is trying to work its way out and it will work its way out but not in a day this called TLC tender loving care. Alls you can do is make your cat as comfortable as possible till u have managed to clear most of the debris. I found Johnson ear mite treatment to be safe to use twice a day. Id put a drop on the qtip and apply it in all the hidden cracks and little lobes they have that mites tuck them selves under when the ears become clean this is when u cant see the mites by the naked eye and hidden eggs. I found that when I trusted the medication from the vet using the cream for 2 weeks to treat the yeast and bacteria infection which is always there when there is mites due to there poop and goop was another infestation so more damage was done should of stuck to the ear flushing daily and dosage of olive oil and mineral oil twice daily. Use plenty cover the whole ear inside out and wash with around the ear the cheeks and under the chin ensuring when they shake there head your stopping them from hiding in there fur. Iv bathed sooty twice with a cat shampoo and neem oil 100% pure neem only needing small amount its safe just make sure u completely rinse them off yes the neem is pleasant but the mites hate it. Verbac house spray is good stuff 10.00 amazon or ebay for bedding carpets soffo tables chairs where ever the rub pass basically every where.

At the moment now most of the debris as gone still little bits still coming that's from the eardrum airer so u can imagine how sore and packed and recaring ear mites go on for sept to feb. That's because they hide in all nicks and crans and live under scabs so don't be upset when u think everything is failing and can be a long process.

Now I've started to put day time colloidal silver in, first I flush her ears with home made solutions... mixture, Chamomile tea bag in a cup of hot water add 1 drop ONLY... LAVENDER oil high quality only ensure it recommend for pets first from the supplier. Never use tea tree oil as its poisoning to cats and 500ml vitamin e oil capsule and 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil 100% pure pressed looks like lard but melts down fast mix it up take the chamomile tea bag out and transfer into your own bottle ... your own solution. When I apply it its just luke warm I fill her ear and hold for as long as possible stroking her head I let go and let her head shake it out and wiped the ear clean. At the present I'm not using the ear mite ointment I only use it when her ears are twitching and constant shaking when this dies of I go straight back to the oil treatment I hope I'm not confusing u guys when you read this ... feel free if I can be any help in advice in any way and if u have any good ideas I'm also interested. So iv flushed her ears done a gently wipe pure clean today gentle qtip ensuring she is dry and clean in little curves u cant see let her go feed her 2 teaspoons of natural yoghurt its like pro biotic for a cat I also put 1/2 teaspoon a day of apple cider vinegar in her wet food to help flush any toxins from the ear mite treatment iv used as cats livers aren't as good as a humans or a dogs so all products for dogs may not be suitable for a cat. After her ears are dry I apply colloidal silver its a 25ml bottle with an ear dropper and apply 1/4 and massage... mites come alive at night..Night time I clean her ears gently with a qtip with the oil I put in for the night which is extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil mixed together as I say I oy used the q tip checking theres no loose debris which as worked out of the canal. I got a little scab tonight but I no its from the ear canal and I'm close to the end. I'm ready for and eggs if they have managed to hatch any this time cause I've been thorough for solid 3 weeks constant cleaning and ensuring her ears or fully oiled to drown them. I've got the neem oil if there is another infestation. When the neem applied in their ear it will make the mites disabled so they can't reproduce and no more chemicals as this is a big concern with cats best to be chemical free when possible. She always runs of fast when I finish treating her, then 5 mins after she comes back smothering me in kisses. We're getting there, keeping positive.

Hope all this makes sense "))))))

REPLY   7      

Stephanie (Calgary, Alberta) on 02/24/2010:
1 out of 5 stars

My cat has ear mites an I have tried water and vinager it seems to be getting better but it's been a month and there still not gone I'm tring mineral oil now it's only been two days of it but I read that it doesn't kill the mites just cleans the ear should I use vinegar as well as the mineral oil ... Will that kill them?
REPLY         

Susan (Redondo Beach, CA) on 02/04/2009:
1 out of 5 stars

I have a 16 month old 13 lb.terrier pup whose one ear is now inflamed, from little hard bumps to more scab like today, smelly and clearly hurting her (the vet was booked when I went in, till Sat.)

Emily is a spunky sweetheart damaged in her back, legs & spine from puppy mill abuse (leaving no bowel control and little bladder control): she so doesn't deserve more pain in her short life.

I've so far used olive oil, vit.E, hydrogen peroxide, aloe juice -- so far E and Aloe seem to soothe her the most, but it has gotten worse.

She has been shaking her head, and whole body, a LOT. When I first checked her ear I saw nothing but thinner fur near her one ear, with a black dot which I thought might be emotional or have been a bug bite from rolling around 'love noshing' with her puppy friend. What is the difference between what mites and a yeast infection look like?

REPLY         



Nimueh (Phoenix, Arizona USA) on 06/29/2007:
5 out of 5 stars

Hi, Nimueh back again. Still working with this situation. Since previous notes, have done three rounds with the vet, separated by 2-3 weeks, of: 1) fogging the house with a pyrethins-based fogger to stop mite cycle of mites scattered around the place. [Took all 6 cats out of the house for 3 hours each time; also plants; covered kitchen surfaces. Didn't mind the fogging too much as it dissipates afterwards quickly and left no discernible residue.]; 2) simultaneous to the house fogging, treated 3 cats with Acarex topical treatment in ears - these 3 were doing pretty well and do not have much symptoms, and 3 cats with my vet doing "off-label" transdermal shots of Iverectin (same stuff as Acarex - I think it's the same as Milbemite)as these 3 haven't yet shaken all the symptoms.sigh; 3) the first time, I also flea-shampooed the cats too. This has been quite costly and a hardship for me. (I am trying to set up another job to help us through this.)

In the last few days I am trying one more natural approach. Like I said, we may have tough mites here in the desert. My vet is trying hard to help us, but it's not gone yet. In the time between treatments, it gets almost all better, but then starts up again when the cycle starts over in about 2-3 weeks.

In the intervals between treatments, for relief, I have used: -- Diatomaceous Earth (DE) - but prefer not to, because it's so drying on all our feet and the surfaces in the house; -- also flea shampoo in their ears - very toxic! done in desperation! - not perfectly effective either. --Now I thought of ENZYMES. I found a human shampoo and mousse formerly called "Not Nice To Lice"- totally natural, not harmful - from Walgreen's, then re-ordered online. Now it seems to be selling at the same website www.notnicetolice.com but with with the new name "Lice R Gone", plus Enzyme Cleaner with Peppermint that can be used as a pet shampoo. I have been putting my remaining Not Nice To Lice shampoo in their ears, first cleaning with Qtips with this solution, then squeezing a dipped cottonball in the ear and rubbing the ear base while attempting to keep it shut. (Yes, I'm covered with it from their shaking afterwards.) It's a very thin shampoo solution that doesn't leave much residue, and in the last few days I think it's helping. The 3 cats who need it most, their skin is not as irritated as with the poison flea shampoo (duh!), and in fact, all is healing up well, AND they aren't shaking and scratching. It is so much better for these 3, that tonight I used it also in the ears of the 3 who don't need it too badly, and now no one is scratching. It is peaceful. Aaaahhhhhh.

Enzymes digest anything and everything. Enzymes are how we digest our food and do any chemical function in the body. So I am picturing this solution dissolving the critters and their eggs. Thus, no matter what immunities the little mite-monsters have managed to develop, the enzymes have the potential to just dissolve these invaders regardless. Enzymes don't hurt the cats or me or my hands or feet, or the household surfaces. I am once again hopeful.

Though the Lice R Gone shampoo, 8 oz., is $22, and the Enzyme Cleaner - Peppermint, 32 oz., is $35 ( - there is a smaller one too), plus $8 shipping, if it works, this will be much cheaper than what I have been doing. I will keep you posted. I appreciate you all and Earth Clinic. Good luck.

REPLY   1      

Nimueh (Phoenix, Arizona USA) on 04/23/2007:
5 out of 5 stars

Friends, I don't know why but the wet application of DE failed to help my 6 cats, even as much as the dry DE application. I am back to applying the DE, dry, on a cotton ball to ears - pressing a good amount into the ear, paws, tails' tips and privates, and anywhere else they are scratching. At least they have immediate relief, and it surely minimizes the mite excrement and ear wax that is in the ear. I will research getting the Milbemite from my vet. I will keep this DE up until I can arrange for the vet treatment, hopefully it will start to end this as it has been going on so long (3 months). I will let you know. Many thanks for all the sharing.
REPLY   1      

Nimueh (Phoenix, Arizona, USA) on 04/22/2007:
5 out of 5 stars

Hi! Checking back in, after a few more weeks of trying remedies!

As of when I wrote last, I tried Diatomaceous Earth (DE) with pyretherins (chrysanthemum extract). I used it dry, applying with a cotton ball, like I had the plain DE. The plain DE worked nicely to provide the cats immediate relief from the mites sensations. But it needed re-application daily or so.

Trying the DE + pyretherins, the result stirred up sensation and symptoms at first for a couple hours, but then seemed to last longer - I was able to go up to 3-4 days without the cats scratching, shaking heads and so on. But over a couple weeks, the relief lasted shorter and shorter for the cats.

All this, plus I have still been using the vet's Revolution for them, now about every two weeks (which I read online somewhere). I think it helped, as one cat with very long hair apparently hadn't really been getting the Revolution on her skin and she had the worst case. Finally I realized this and was very careful to apply it to her skin, and immediately her condition came "up" to the level that the other 5 cats were at. So, all 6 have very little "coffee grounds" stuff and wax in their ears, yet displayed itching and head-shaking after some time with the topically applied products used, as said above.

I was discouraged and alarmed after 3 months of this - trying something which seems to give relief, then finding the relief waning in effectiveness. I had this "waning" result with alkaline mineralized water, and with the DE with pyretherins. This was while using Revolution at 4-week intervals, then at 2-week intervals. The mineral oil didn't work for us at all. The plain DE didn't have a "waning" effect but it just never got the job all done. I came back to this site and somehow read what I missed before - about Ted's Borax, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide formula. I almost went out at midnight to get the stuff but decided to wait till the next day.

The next evening after work, I was too tired to . (as I understood the procedure) clean the house with a borax/ water solution and leave it on the floors, etc.; do laundry with borax of all 6 cats' beddings; and give a Ted's borax solution bath to each of the 6 cats. (His stories and the testimonials talked about dogs and baths; I didn't find any about cats but I was prepared to bathe the cats, though I haven't ever before bathed all the cats at once.) So, tired, instead, I made up a small glass bottle of Ted's borax solution to apply to ears, paws, privates and tail's ends, just to see if I could see the effect for the cats.

Reading Ted's approach, I had begun to understand the importance of getting the biologically active material into a solution that penetrates skin somewhat. Another person had talked to me also about putting the DE into solution; when I had tried that person's suggestion which had not been tried on a pet's body but only in the garden, it clearly made their situation worse over a couple of hours, and I reversed tacts. Using Ted's formula the night before last and yesterday, I also found that it didn't do the job. Here in the Arizona desert, we may have some truly genetically deviant mites, very hardy.

However, this morning, before I could do all the cleaning steps that Ted's approach asks (not that my house wouldn't benefit from that, anyway!), I thought about what had worked the best. The best remedy was the plain DE - available at HomeDepot here, or where swimming pool supplies are sold, for use in pool filters. But DE didn't last, didn't quite get the job done. DE is known to be an effective natural pesticide, as it is fossilized, ground seashells, inert calcium carbonate, etc., and its pieces are very sharp microscopically, so it cuts the micro-bugs; it is also very drying, so it lethally dehydrates the micro-critters too. It is used here by savvy natural gardeners to get rid of garden pests. As I wrote earlier, if you use it, you'll find it is very drying to your hands and nails, so wash your hands well after touching it. (And, again, avoid the expensive brand that states it is "Flour Grade," as I found that it gets into the air and is breathed - very damaging if anyone has respiratory conditions - and is quite difficult to clean up as it only floats in air and doesn't stay on surfaces to get wiped up easily. I had to clean and clean again. One of the most challenging and dangerous experiences in this whole tough time, as one here has a respiratory problem.)

So, this morning, I added DE to my bottle of Ted's formula and again drenched my 6 cats' ears, paws, privates and tails' ends. This provides an active solution and a hopefully effective biologically active agent - DE. And the Borax is there too. I am currently delighted that I have seen no more head shaking, itching, etc., for hours. I will report in a couple days if the effect continues, and I will take steps to apply it very thoroughly to all the cats and the environment too.

Thank you for this site. It has helped me and my beloved felines. Hopefully some of this experience will help others.

REPLY   3      

Nimueh (Phoenix, Arizona) on 03/28/2007:
5 out of 5 stars

Re: my earlier submission. I have found it to be vitally important that I use only regular grade DE, i.e., NOT a certain brand and kind that calls itself "flour grade" - very fine. The "very fine" was so fine that it got in the air, and I had to wash everything that I possibly could, linens, floors, tabletops, etc., over & over, because we were breathing it, and it wouldn't stay DOWN on surfaces. It was much more expensive than regular grade (about $20, 1 lb.)

I have used DE for years and never had that problem until I used this certain "flour grade" type. So, please do use DE, but please get a regular type such as at HomeDepot for swimming pools - about $15 for 25 lbs.(life time supply for our urpose here - Also can use along edge of garden to eliminate pests, etc.)

Today searching for that product that I mentioned but couldn't get a hold of, I found online that pyrethrins (from chrysanthemum flowers thus natural) can be used like I've been using DE. Local to Arizona, I found a place that sells DE with pyrethrins (about $20, 1 lb. bag). I got some and have been applying to the cats now with the cotton ball to ears, neck, paws, tail tip and privates. So far, I can see that they are scratching less. Hopefully, this will help them. The pyrethrins may actually kill all stages of the mites, and so I may have reached the end of this tough challenge. I will let you know.

REPLY         

Nimueh (Phoenix, Arizona) on 03/28/2007:
5 out of 5 stars

After trying Revolution monthly, I am now trying it twice monthly as I read online somewhere. Still, with various cleaners from the vet and from online, my beloved cats are still shaking their heads and scratching.I have also been using DE powder whenever they display these symptoms. I grab a cotton ball and dip it in the DE powder and press it firmly into each ear, also to their paws front and back - just dust the top of the paw, to the tip of their tails - as the paws and tail tip contact the ears, and their private parts - just dust there with the DE-coated cotton ball. Plus any place else that they are scratching. These are places where the parasites, eggs and such may be, so the DE will just stop them from developing. DE microscopically is very sharp shards as well as very dehydrating, so it wipes out all kinds of parasites and pests, in the garden too, etc. However, I am tired of them having more problems with this coming up still day after day. I am glad that the DE gives them immediate relief. I will continue for a month, as one writer suggests here, though I may have already done that. DE is very drying, so wash your hands thoroughly as it will dry your nails; also floors, etc. Still I would do anything to have their suffering end. I will try Milbo-Mite, as the oil didn't work for me & wasn't manageable - oil everywhere! Thank you!
REPLY   1      
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