The short answer
Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are tiny surface parasites that cause intense ear itching, head shaking and a dark, crumbly discharge that looks like coffee grounds. They're less common in dogs than in cats, but they spread easily between pets. A vet confirms them by finding mites on an otoscope or microscope exam, then treats with ear medication or a single-dose parasite product. All pets in the home are usually treated at the same time.
Call a vet now if your dog has
- Head tilt, loss of balance, walking in circles or flickering eyes
- A soft, puffy swelling of the ear flap after heavy scratching (a likely aural hematoma)
- Severe pain, or crying out when the ear is touched
- Bleeding or raw, crusted skin around the ear
Your dog is shaking their head again. They're scratching one ear until it's red, and there's a dark, gritty gunk deep inside. Ear mites are the first thing many owners think of.
They're a fair guess, but not always the right one. Ear mites are actually less common in dogs than in cats, and plenty of other problems look similar. This guide shows you what mites really cause, how to tell them from an infection or ordinary wax, and what treatment looks like.
What are ear mites?
Ear mites are tiny parasites called Otodectes cynotis. They live on the surface of the skin, mostly inside the ear canal. They feed on wax and skin debris, and they don't burrow. They're so small you'll struggle to see one. A vet may spot them as white specks moving against a dark background.
The life cycle is quick. A mite takes about three weeks to grow from egg to adult. Adults live for roughly two months and keep laying eggs the whole time. That's why a few mites can turn into a crowd.
Why they itch so much
Think of a handful of fine sand in your shoe. Your dog's ear canal is full of irritants, and the ear reacts with inflammation and extra wax. The result is intense itching, often in both ears at once.
Signs of ear mites in dogs
Most dogs with mites show a mix of these signs:
- Frequent head shaking
- Scratching at the ears with a back paw
- Rubbing the head along the floor or couch
- A dark, waxy or crusty discharge
- Crusty rashes around the ears
- Hair loss near the ears from scratching and grooming
Symptoms usually affect both ears. That's a useful clue, because many bacterial infections start on one side only.
What does the discharge look like?
The classic description is coffee grounds. It's dark brown or black, dry and crumbly, and it can pack the canal. You'll often see it on the inside of the ear flap too.
Complications to watch for
Hard scratching can cause an aural hematoma. That's a blood-filled swelling in the ear flap, and it feels like a soft, warm cushion. It needs a vet. Constant irritation can also open the door to a secondary bacterial or yeast infection, which then needs its own treatment.
Ear mites vs ear infection vs ear wax
Many owners can't tell which one they're dealing with. That's normal. The ears of a dog with mites, an infection or just heavy wax can all look dirty. Here's how they usually differ.
| Ear mites | Yeast infection | Bacterial infection | Normal wax | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discharge | Dark brown or black, dry, crumbly | Darker brown, waxy or greasy | Lighter brown or yellow, often wet | Pale yellow to light brown, soft |
| Smell | Little to none, or mildly musty | Musty, yeasty | Sour or unpleasant | Mild or none |
| Which ears | Often both | One or both | Often one | Either |
| Itch level | Intense | Moderate to intense | Moderate, with pain | Little |
| Contagious | Yes, to other pets | No | No | No |
The table is a guide, not a diagnosis. Mites and infection can happen together, and only a vet looking inside the ear can say for sure. For a closer look at infections, see our guide to ear infections in dogs.
A quick household clue
If your cat has been scratching their ears too, or you've recently adopted a new pet, mites move up the list. A dog that has never met another animal is much less likely to have them.
How do dogs get ear mites?
Mites spread by direct contact. Your dog can pick them up from another dog at daycare or the park, from a cat in the home, or from a litter if they came from a place with infested animals. They can't jump or fly. They crawl from one animal to another.
Dogs that live alone and don't meet other pets are rarely affected. Puppies are more vulnerable, and we cover them separately in our guide to puppy ear mites.
How vets diagnose ear mites
The vet will look into the canal with an otoscope, which is a small lit scope. Sometimes they can see mites moving. More often they take a swab of the discharge and examine it under a microscope. Painful ears may need sedation, so the exam is comfortable and safe.
The same visit rules other things in or out. Because infections, allergies and foreign objects look alike, a proper exam saves weeks of trial and error. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists parasites, foreign objects, allergies, bacterial and yeast infections and middle ear problems as the main causes of ear disease in dogs.
Ear mite treatment for dogs
Treatment is straightforward once the diagnosis is clear. Your vet may choose one of two main routes.
Ear medications
These are drops or ointments placed directly in the canal. Your vet will show you how to apply them and for how long. Some contain a parasite-killing ingredient. Cleaning the ear first helps the medicine work better.
Parasite products
Some modern flea and tick preventives also treat ear mites. VCA Animal Hospitals names products such as Revolution, Advantage Multi and Simparica as single-use options. Your vet picks the right one for your dog's weight and age.
Why the full course matters
No medication reaches the eggs or the pupae. So treatment is aimed at the adults and larvae, and it has to continue long enough to catch each new hatch. If you stop early because the itching eases, the next generation of mites can restart the problem. Follow your vet's schedule exactly.
Treating the whole household
This is the step owners skip most often. Because ear mites are so contagious, every dog, cat and ferret in the home usually gets treated at the same time. An untreated cat will happily reinfect a treated dog.
Washing bedding in hot water while you treat is a sensible extra step. It gives you a clean start.
Will ear mites go away on their own?
Not reliably. Adult mites live about two months and keep laying eggs, so an untreated infestation tends to carry on. Meanwhile your dog is itchy, and the scratching can cause sores, hematomas and secondary infections. Treating early is kinder to your dog. It's also cheaper than dealing with the complications later.
If you're unsure whether you're seeing mites or something else, a quick vet visit is worth it. A swab and a look under the microscope take only a few minutes.
What not to do
Please don't reach for home remedies. Oil poured into the ear, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar or leftover medicine from another pet can irritate the canal. They won't reliably kill mites. If the eardrum is damaged, some products can harm the inner ear.
Also avoid digging with cotton swabs. They pack debris into the bend of the canal. If you want to learn how to clean ears the right way, read how to clean your dog's ears.
Can people get ear mites?
It's uncommon. People living with infested pets sometimes get a temporary itchy rash. The mites don't set up home in human ears, and the rash clears when the pets are treated.
Secondary infections
Weeks of scratching can leave the ear raw. Bacteria and yeast then take advantage of the damaged skin. If the ear smells bad, looks red and wet, or your dog is in pain, a secondary infection is likely. That needs its own medicine, so treating mites alone won't fix it.
This is also why a vet recheck makes sense. They can confirm the mites are gone and the infection has cleared.
What recovery looks like
Expect the itching to ease as the mites die off, though it won't vanish overnight. Your vet may ask you to clean the ears before each dose, and to return for a recheck. At that visit they'll look for live mites and check that no infection is brewing underneath.
Don't be alarmed if your dog still shakes their head a little in the first days. The skin is inflamed and sore, and it takes time to settle. If the discharge returns after treatment ends, tell your vet. It may mean a pet in the home was missed, or that something else is going on in the ear.
When it isn't mites after all
Sometimes the treatment doesn't work because the diagnosis was off. Dogs with allergies often have itchy, waxy ears that look a lot like mites. So do dogs with a grass seed deep in the canal. If your dog keeps itching after a full course of mite treatment, ask your vet to look again. Allergies are involved in a large share of dog ear problems, according to VCA Animal Hospitals, and they're a common reason ears keep flaring up.
Ear mites vs allergies: a few more clues
- Mites usually come on fairly suddenly, often after contact with a new pet.
- Allergic ears tend to flare in seasons or after certain foods, and they often come with itchy paws or skin.
- Mites are easy to pass around. Allergies aren't.
- A dog with allergies may have waxy, red ears for months. A dog with mites usually has a clearer start date.
None of these rules is perfect. Your vet's microscope settles it quickly.
How to prevent ear mites
- Treat any new pet for mites before they meet the rest of the household, if your vet advises it.
- Keep up with the parasite preventive your vet recommends. Some also cover ear mites.
- Check ears weekly. Look at the color of the wax and give a quick sniff.
- Keep your dog away from pets that are scratching their ears until they've been seen.
When to see a vet
Book a visit if your dog has any of these:
- Ear scratching or head shaking for more than a day or two
- Dark, crumbly discharge
- Red, crusty or hairless skin near the ears
- Ear signs in more than one pet at home
Go the same day if you see a head tilt, loss of balance, flickering eyes, severe pain, or a swollen ear flap. Those can mean a deeper problem or a hematoma.
Mites are very treatable once they're confirmed, and a vet can usually do that in a single visit. For more guides on ears and eyes, visit our ears and eyes section.
Common questions
What do ear mites look like in a dog's ear?
The mites themselves are barely visible. A vet may see them as tiny white specks moving against a dark background. What owners usually notice is the discharge: dark brown or black, dry and crumbly, a bit like coffee grounds. Healthy ear wax is lighter and softer.
Can I treat ear mites at home without a vet?
It's best not to guess. Ear infections, allergies and wax buildup can look like mites, and the wrong treatment wastes time while your dog itches. A vet can confirm mites in a few minutes, then recommend a proven ear medication or a single-dose parasite product.
Can ear mites spread from my cat to my dog?
Yes. Ear mites pass by direct contact between dogs, cats and ferrets, and cats are the more common carriers. If one pet in the home has them, vets usually treat every pet at the same time so the mites can't keep passing back and forth.
Can people catch ear mites from a dog?
It's rare. Ear mites can cause a temporary, itchy rash in susceptible people when pets in the home are infested, but they don't live in human ears. The rash fades once the pets are treated.
Sources
- Ear Mites in Cats and Dogs, VCA Animal Hospitals
- Ear Infections and Otitis Externa in Dogs, Merck Veterinary Manual
- Ear Infections in Dogs, VCA Animal Hospitals
This article is general information to help you decide what to do next. It is not a diagnosis and is not a substitute for examination by a veterinarian. If you are worried about your dog, call your vet.
Reviewed by Winzah, Editor, on . How we research and check articles.
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