For those who use water to clean ear mites on cats/dogs...please be careful. Water will worsen the problem-- it will add bacteria to the canal. The main problems with ear mites are "us" humans (me included). Ear mites are hard to get rid off, but, if you follow the Vet's instruction, these little creatures will go away. We are very impatient and will try anything to get rid of the pesky ear mites. Animals cannot talk, therefore they cannot tell whether it hurts or not. We just keep adding stuff to their canal until we see a "clean ear". Would you like to be treated that way? If not, then, please stop.
Also, you can always tell if a Vet is a good one or not. Just ask: "How many animals do you have?". They usually have few dogs and cats in the house. They will tell you stories of previous animals, and they will also treat your animals with respect. If you do not see these qualities, then, you need to find a new Vet.
Happy days with your pets!
Iris
Boric Acid
My Cat has suffered with ear mites forever and I have tried everything my local vet has recommended and nothing has worked. So..I recently started using a wash of boric acid & warm water swabed out with cotton ball then a few drops in each ear of sweet oil! Seems to be working so far. However, I discovered through reading everyone eles's posts that I probably should continue treatment for approximately 1 month in order to kill the mites.
I grew up with a lot of ear infections and my grandmother always treated me with a lil boric acid and in no time, I was better. My bestfriend grew up on sweet oil for ear infections; so I figured it couldn't hurt to try it.
I use about a tablespoon of warm water to an 1/4 tsp boric acid; soak a cotton ball and swab out the ear. Then I use an eye dropper and apply 4 or 5 drops of sweet oil to each ear. I usually do this every other day. The washing usually only has to be done once per treatment. Use judgement based on look of ears.
No, boric acid is correct, not borax. You can get pharmacy grade boric acid. It soothes and prevents itching also. I use Pro-Pet Antiseptic Medicated Spray I got at WalMart for tick removal on myself and pets because it kills them and prevents itching when you remove them. Boric acid is an ingredient in the original "Blue Power" ear infection treatment, but a vet has to check the eardrum before using Blue Power.
Olive Oil, Garlic Oil
I too have given my cats Garlic for many, many years, for fleas... Not sure where your info came from but, it is NOT toxic 2 cats!
Medications
Hartz puts out some of the "Worst" meds on the market. I don't know how they stay in business!
Medications
Call me ignorant, but Revolution doesn't always work and it's extremely expensive (speaking from experience). Also, why would I poison my kittie's entire body just to kill ear mites? Much too dangerous....
Mineral Oil
BACK IN THE 1970'S I USED A VETERINARIAN WHO SPECIALIZED MAINLY IN CATS AND ALSO DID RESEARCH ON CATS AND THEIR DISEASES, ETC. I HAD 12 CATS AT THE TIME AND HE WAS A GREAT BELIEVER IN NATRUAL WHENEVER POSSIBLE. HE RECOMMENDED I USE MINERAL OIL IN EACH OF THE CATS EARS CLEANINING THEM DAILY. IT WORKED SPLENDIDLY. THIS VET LEFT HIS VETERINARIAN BUSINESS IN THE 80'S AND WENT INTO FULL TIME RESEARCH. WHAT I LEARNED FROM HIM HAS SAVED ME MUCH EXPENSE AND HAS BEEN INVALUANLE OVER THE YEARS.
IVOMEC is awesome stuff! For EARMITES, two to four drops in the ear canal, gently massaged in for good coverage. Wait a week, gently clean the ear. Any brown stuff should be considered ear mite waste and may be full of viable eggs, so be prepared. Have a folded paper towel or a zip lock waiting to catch the used Q-tips or whatever. After cleaning, reapply IVOMEC same as before. Wait a week & clean. Was there any brown stuff in the ear canal? Yes? Treat again. No? Your probly clear, but should treat one more time to be confident any hatchlings get killed. Check ear canals weekly for six weeks for any signs of the "Tell Tale" brown waste. Always check your pets ears at least monthly, even if they are not acting distressed. Why make them suffer when we can prevent it?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Hey Natural,
Consider the Arcane remedy for ear infections for the affected ear:
https://www.earthclinic.com/arcane-solution-ear-infection-dogs.html
You might also bring this kitty in to the vet or see if a local rescue can help.
Boric Acid
Many, many years ago, I found someone at a cat show who was selling a special powder for treating ear mites in cats. It was in a sort of small squeeze bottle that had a narrow funnel with a small hole at the tip that you would attach in place of the cap. The powder was blown (sort of puffed) into the cat's ear, so that it probably spread around well, contacting the mites.
Of course, my cats hated having anything blown into their ears, however gently, but it worked beautifully in a short time and was minimally messy. The powder contained 3 ingredients, and I only remember that boric acid was one of them. I wish I remembered the other 2, but in any case, the person that was selling the powder mix didn't say what proportions they were in. I have been searching online in hopes that someone will have posted about something like it.
Yellow Dock
I tried the Yellow Dock described below and it worked great. Thank you.
Boric Acid
Boric acid, it's not dangerous I used it for eye wash whenever you get a fungal infection in your eye the reason it works for cockroaches is it dehydrates it's outside skeleton then anything else it will kill it. Just because it has acid in its name it is not dangerous. For instance it could also be used on baby blankets, babies pajamas as it makes it fire retardant. In a new Foster I'm using boric acid and peroxide carefully with an eyedropper to get rid of the infection and then I'm going to be using it oil to break down the wax sand to smother the mites.
It's the peroxide that can blind a cat if too much gets into this it's just like the peroxide washes for contacts if you don't give it to 12 hours to break down it burns your eyes like crazy.
Garlic in Olive Oil
I've treated ear mites in many rescued dogs over the years using neem oil added to garlic oil. Done daily, it will kill the mites rather quickly and there's no harm at all to the dog. Anything put in their ears gets out when they shake their head but you want the oil left in to kill the mites. Treat for a full 10 days to be sure nothing survives.
Neem Oil
Lanissa -- I always had lots of cats and deals with ear mites. You did the right thing but long term untreated, ear mites can cause bleeding.
With my cats I use neem oil after cleaning the outer ear. Then repeat every three days or so. Because neem oil interrupts the productive cycle of these mites, there is noticeable improvement. I keep checking though. Kittens need the neem oil diluted with another oil because of their delicate skins. Coconut oil is also good for sensitive ears with a touch of turmeric powder if bleeding. Turmeric stops bleeding internally and externally.
For the bleeding I use turmeric powder in small amounts as it also is a natural antibiotic. For fluid in the ear I use turmeric powder and alum in 1 - 20 ratio to dry out the ear, later following up with coconut oil. This will prevent inflammation and provide cooling for red hot ears. Hope this helps.
Namaste, Om
Please if your cat is losing hair and you have already attempted some home remedies fight all means, take him to a vet he needs an examination. If his hair is falling out the diatomaceous earth is probably drying out his skin and if that isn't the case he might have an internal infection or deficiency of some sort. If you truly loved your family member, your pet, you would act on it. If you yourself were scratching for months and hair was falling out eventually you would go to a doctor please if your cat is losing hair and you have already attempted home remedies, please, he needs an examination.
Hand Sanitizer
Hey Char!
You are replying to a post that is 2 years old, so the original poster may not be around to respond to you - so I will give it a shot!
It appears the hand-sanitizer remedy is used once a day for two days.
A couple of caveats, however.
This remedy should not be used on ears that have been scratched raw as the alcohol in the hand-sanitizer will cause painful burning and stinging.
Next, you should be certain that your pet has ear mites and not another ear condition as the wrong diagnosis will result in a painful ear condition prolonged and untreated.
And lastly, all the pets [hosts! ] in the family need to be treated at the same time. If all pets were not treated, begin again this time including all pets in the protocol. If all pets are not treated, they will simply re-infect each other.
Read all about ear mites:
Hand Sanitizer
I used hand sanitizer on my dog for ear mites. It worked fabulously!! Didn't know if it would work on cats. We have acquired two kittens with mites. Thanks so much for all the posts on this subject. I will now feel comfortable using sanitizer with the kittens. Thanks ya'll!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV is Apple Cider Vinegar. I recently took advice from this site and wanted to let everyone know the outcome.... We adopted a six-week old kitten who brought ear mites and fleas and in turn infected our 7 year-old male cat. I tried a few of the natural remedy recipes on this site and got very little results. I then went to a local vet who told me the cats ears were inflamed. I had to buy a steroid to use for 3 days, then used a one-dose medication he sold me. Hooray, ear mites are gone and my cats are happy!
It sounds like you did not dilute the ACV. This is key to that treatment. That is why you caused your cat's ears to inflame.
Warm Water and Q-Tip
I'm a retired vet and believe strongly in both home remedies and vets. Why it is a good idea to have your animal checked out regularly by a veterinarian, most are very expensive and give worthless tests. When I was ten my horse, Toyota, caught colic and we tried (my Mother and I) peppermint tea. It cleared right up. The vet even said not to but we did and it worked. Also for ear mites in dogs or cats, try warm water and a Q-tip. Be careful not to push grid into the ear canal. Put the Q-tip at the base of the ear and gently swipe it up. Do this until it is clean. If your animal's ear stinks, it may have a infection and should be checked out your vet.
Hydrogen Peroxide, Rubbing Alcohol
For ear mites, we were told by the vet to use half hydrogen peroxide and half rubbing alcohol, it will get rid of the mites as well as the smell in the ears.
Hand Sanitizer
I have used mineral oil with success, also Olive Oil with some Vitamin E has healing qualities, equal amounts of each. This is safe and an inexpensive way to help your pet.
I have read it takes about a month to rid a pet of these horrible bugs and I used this oil every day, 3 times a day for one month.
Be sure to clean the pet's bedding often.
Good luck.
Ear Mites and People
Animal mites do infect humans. I have found one website very helpful, and there is a regular email forum. It's called birdmites.org.
Diatomaceous Earth
My male cat had scratched his ears so much that the ear developed a huge bubble and separated the ear skin/flesh. I had to take him to the vet for expensive treatment and surgery. It was due to ear mites. The ear is now permanently disfigured and ruined his appearance. I used diatomacious earth (food grade) mixed with a little water for transport, and and eye dropper, and put it in his ears when the mites came back. The water will evaporate and leaves the DE in the ear for ongoing treatment, as it is a powder and coats the inside of the ear a little. You don't need much. He stopped scratching by that night, and he hasn't had a problem since. That was a couple of years ago. My other cats are having problems though, and I am going to use it on them. I HATE ear mites and see how my cats can suffer with them. You can buy it (food grade) online or sometimes in a plant nursery (they use it to kill insects). It pays to remember that there may be an infection in the ears as well, and without a proper examination, you can't know. As much as I don't like vets offices, checking for an infection is worth it, especially in severe cases. One of my cats had mites and an infection. Her energy picked up after treatment for the infection, and I felt guilty that maybe she'd had it all along and it was painful. It's important to find a vet you like. Talk to people and get a referral for one you trust. Treatment can utilize both natural and standard treatment when appropriate.
Olive Oil, Garlic Oil
WARNING!!!!!! You should never use garlic oil or any kind of product containing garlic on your cat. Garlic is toxic to cats!!!!!! Many other types of oils can be used! Please use an acceptable substitute like olive oil, vegetable oil or almond oil.
Medications
I always used mineral oil for any animal that I have had for ear mites. Just use an eye dropper and put about 5 or 6 small drops in each ear. Check the ears each day. As long as you keep seeing the blackish or dark color,looking like the ears are dirty then keep doing it until that goes away. The mineral oil will suffocate the ear mites.This has always worked for me. Good luck. Hope the cat gets better soon.
Trim Fur on Inside of Ears
Regarding the topic of ear mites, and, itchy ears in kitties.. I found with my older cat who was scratching his ears naked, that the tufts of fur on the inside of his ears was the culprit. Once I trimmed the 'old man hair ears' he stopped scratching. Whenever it was time to trim, he came and sat patiently while I carefully trimmed the hairs, (being careful to not let the hair fall into the ear canal). Happy kitty, with no more scratching or neeked ears! Worth a looksie!
Mineral Oil
Please do not use baby oil in your cats ears to kill earmites. It is mineral oil BUT, it also has fragrance which will burn or sting terribly when you put it in a cat's ear. I made the same mistake. It was horrible. The cat never trusted me again. It ran & shook it head. Ran n shook. Hid from me. I felt horrible. I'm here to help. Them not harm them. Did you know many cities have free or low cost. Spay n nuetering. In Utah it is 1800 PETSFIX ext 10. Free if u are low income. $15 / $25 dollars if not. Lets love the ones that are already here. We have plenty. Thank you!!
Neem Oil
thank you, thank you. Of all the remedies listed, neem oil will not poison or kill a cat. A few years ago the gov't here issued a warning about Borax. It is not as harmless as thought of generally. Most vets' medicines are prohibitively expensive, harmful or outright poisons. If health is a business, let the buyer beware. However, I would see a vet just to determine if the cat has also an ear infection. Antibiotics have long term damaging effect on the body and some cats do not recover well at all. Warm the neem oil and clean the outside daily, applying every three days for a month. I have many rescue cats and some dogs, believe me, simple, harmless natural remedies are , in the end best and not draining on limited resources plus no pain and stress on the animal. Thanks again. Om
Medications
i would love to have the chart. i tried almost everything on my dog but is taking a long time. i clean his ears with mineral oil and yes it leaves the ears so clean.
Diatomaceous Earth
Warning
Pool filter grade diatomaceous earth has been heat and chemically treated and will poison an animal or human who ingests it, so it is always of utmost importance to only obtain food grade diatomaceous earth to use in and around your household.
Quote from: Wolf Creek Ranch web site: http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/defaq.html
Medications
While trying to find out more about tea-tree oil's medicinal applications, I came upon the threads on Earth Clinic about ear infections in pet animals. I was disturbed and alarmed by the degree of inaccurate and incorrect information I encountered. Particularly of concern were the readers' comments soliciting unapproved and off-label uses of unknown parasite control products, especially in exotics.
A basic issue is the prevalence of ear mites. While very common in cats, it is virtually nonexistent in dogs under most circumstances. The people posting comments about the pros and cons of various treatment protocols for ear mites in dogs are most likely not even dealing with mites. And treating ear mites in cats these days is extremely simple and not worthy of prolonged discussion; a one-time (two at most) application of feline Revolution or Advantage Multi for cats should eliminate the pests. While a good product for flea control, Frontline is probably completely ineffective against mites.
I would recommend that this site be refereed by a competent veterinarian who embraces integrated (Eastern and Western) responsible practice.
Respectfully,
Tim Krasnansky DVM
Berryessa Veterinary Services
Winters, CA 95694
(530) 795-6090
BerryessaVet.com
re: Feline Mite Remedies. My feline had a scary seizure type reaction from a single dose of Revolution. I will never use it again. It is not worth losing my friend over, especially when there are safer methods for prevention and eradication.
Medications
I wrapped my kitty in a blanket like a taco and after the first cleaning she trusted me from then on, but before I thought of that she would hiss and scratch and bite so just take your time and wrap her up in a blankie
Hydrogen Peroxide
Warning
Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) for Ear Mites: Just a warning for cat and dog lovers out there treating their pets with hydrogen peroxide in the ears:
H2O2 in an animal's (or human's, for that matter) eyes can blind them permanently. My vet told me that, and I also learned that in nursing school, but I'm not certain about the mechanism of action. I would personally try other remedies first, unless you have a very quiet and cooperative kitty.
Just wanted to warn ya!
