Ear mites are a pest that inhabits the ears. They can be found in horses, rabbits, dogs, and most often, cats. They live in the ears and cause intense itching, leading the infested animal to scratch at the ears. Understanding the life cycle of the ear mite can help get rid of them successfully.
White adult mites can sometimes be seen in the ears under close inspection, however sometimes a microscope is necessary to confirm their presence. They breed and live inside the ears, living on oils, debris and ear tissue. Most spend their lifetime in the host’s ears, but can sometimes be found on the fur outside the ears and on the face. Females lay about five eggs each day in the ear tissue.
Ear mite eggs hatch after approximately four days of incubation, appearing as larvae. These larvae then feed on the same material as the adults for several days before molting into the first stage of nymphs. There are two nymph stages of the ear mite. One is the protonymph, which soon turns into a deutonymph.
A deutonymph is neither male nor female, and it’s sex will not be determined until it mates with the adult male mite. Once copulation has occurred, the nymph can turn into a female, and will be gravid, ready to lay eggs in a short time as a result of the mating. If it is a male, it will move out around the ear and begin to mate with deutonymphs. This entire life cycle takes approximately three weeks, with the adult mite having a lifespan of two months.
Ear mite infestations can appear as dark, crumbly substance within the ear if an infested animal. They are rapidly spread from one animal to another by close contact and are particularly troublesome in multiple pet households. Other places they can be a huge problem is kennels and boarding facilities, where many animals reside in close proximity.
Ear mites, once positively identified by a veterinarian, can be treated and eradicated fairly easily. Topical and oral medications are available that can kill the mites and stop the life cycle. If left without treatment, secondary problems like yeast and bacterial infections can present themselves and complicate ear issues. Pets can also scratch so much that their nails rip the skin in and surrounding the ears, and these open areas can lead to infection.
It is of utmost importance to ensure treatment for all the animals in the home, or reinfection is inevitable. Keeping pets away from strays and other unknown animals, and in particular, keeping cats indoors can help prevent an infestation of ear mites.
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