How to Treat Puppy Ear Mites

Your new puppy is scratching their ears like it's a full-time job. They shake their head, whine a little, and there's dark grit inside. It's a miserable sight in such a small dog.

Ear mites are a common cause. They're also very treatable. The trick with puppies is getting the right treatment for their age and size, and treating the other pets at home too.

Why puppies get ear mites

Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) spread by direct contact. They pass between dogs, cats and ferrets. A puppy may get them from their mother, from littermates, or from a cat that shares the house. Rescues, shelters and busy households with several pets are common places for them to circulate.

Puppies are also more likely to be bothered. Their ears are small and sensitive, and they're meeting new animals all the time. A few mites can cause a lot of fuss.

What the mites do

The mites live on the skin surface in the ear canal and feed on wax and debris. They take about three weeks to go from egg to adult, and adults live roughly two months. Meanwhile the ear fills with inflamed skin and wax. Imagine sand in a tiny shoe.

Signs of ear mites in puppies

• Constant scratching of the ears
• Shaking the head or holding it to one side
• Dark, crumbly debris like coffee grounds
• Crusty skin or scratches behind the ears
• Whining or restlessness
• Rubbing the head on carpets

Both ears are often affected. In severe cases, scratching causes an aural hematoma, which is a blood-filled swelling in the ear flap. Raw skin from scratching can also get a secondary infection.

Ear mites or wax?

Healthy puppies make a little pale wax. Mite debris is darker, drier and crumbly, and it's usually matched with a lot of scratching. If you aren't sure, see your vet. A quick check under the microscope tells the difference.

For the infection side, read our guide to ear infections in dogs.

How to treat puppy ear mites

Step one: see the vet

Don't pick a product off the shelf. Puppies are small, and medications are labeled for specific ages and weights. Your vet can confirm that mites are the problem by looking in the ear with an otoscope, or by checking a sample under a microscope. Painful ears sometimes need sedation, though that's less likely in a young puppy with mild signs. Your vet will decide what's safe.

Step two: the right product

Treatment is aimed at the adult and larval mites, because no medication reaches the eggs or pupae. VCA says options include ear medications put into the canal and single-use parasite products such as Revolution, Advantage Multi or Simparica. Which one suits your puppy depends on how old and how heavy they are. Your vet will tell you.

Step three: finish the course

Because mites keep hatching, a single dose isn't always enough, depending on the product. Follow the schedule to the day. Stopping when the itching eases is the most common reason mites return.

Step four: treat the household

Every dog, cat and ferret in the home usually gets treated at the same time. Treat the puppy alone and the mites will simply move back from the cat. Ask your vet to advise on safe products for each animal, since cats and dogs aren't always given the same one.

What to expect at the vet visit

Bring a list of what you've seen and when it started. Mention any other pets at home, and any recent changes such as a new cat or a trip to a groomer or kennel. It helps your vet decide who else needs treating.

The vet will look in the ears and may take a swab. Most puppies cope well, especially with a treat in hand. You'll leave with a plan: a medication or parasite product, a schedule, and a date for a recheck.

Questions worth asking

• Is this product safe for my puppy's age and weight?
• Do the cat and the other dogs need treatment too, and with what?
• Should I clean the ears first, and how often?
• When should I come back for a recheck?
• What signs mean it isn't working?

Making ear care easy for a puppy

Ear treatment is the first of many health routines your puppy will go through. If you make it a good experience now, it'll be far easier later in life.

Keep sessions short. Hold your puppy gently on your lap or on a non-slip mat. Offer treats before, during and after. Touch the ears often when nothing is wrong, so handling them becomes normal. If your puppy yelps or pulls away hard, stop and ask your vet whether the ear is too sore to treat at home.

A towel helps with wiggly puppies. Wrap it loosely around the body, leaving the head free. Never restrain a puppy roughly. Fear makes ear care harder next time.

Cleaning your puppy's ears

Cleaning helps medication work better, but it should be gentle. Ask your vet whether to clean before each dose and which cleaner to use. In general:

• Use a cleaner made for dogs, not peroxide, vinegar or alcohol
• Fill the canal, massage the base of the ear, then let your puppy shake
• Wipe only what you can see, with cotton wool or gauze
• Never push cotton swabs into the canal

Our guide to how to clean your dog's ears has the full method. Skip cleaning if the ear looks very sore, and call the vet.

How puppies differ from adult dogs

Puppies can't tell you how they feel, and they get sick faster than adults. A small body loses fluid and energy quickly, so a puppy that's itchy, sore and not eating needs attention sooner. Their ear canals are also small, which makes debris easier to trap and medication harder to apply.

That's why the vet visit comes first. Your vet can also check the rest of your puppy at the same time, looking for fleas or skin problems that often come along with mites.

Home remedies to avoid

You'll find advice online suggesting oils, vinegar and other kitchen products. They aren't reliable, and they can irritate small ears. If the eardrum is damaged, some substances can cause harm. A puppy's ears are delicate. Stick to what the vet gives you.

Keeping the house mite-free

• Treat every pet in the home at the same time
• Wash bedding and soft toys in hot water
• Keep the puppy away from other animals with scratchy ears
• Check the ears each week once the treatment ends
• Ask your vet for a recheck to confirm the mites are gone

Mites are rarely a problem for people. VCA says they may cause a temporary itchy rash in susceptible people when infested pets are around, but that's uncommon.

When it might not be mites

Some puppies keep itching after the mite treatment. If that happens, the cause may be different. An ear infection, an allergy or a foreign object can all cause the same signs. Puppies with a bad smell, yellow or wet discharge, or a very red ear should be checked for infection. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists parasites, foreign objects, allergies, yeast and bacterial infection and middle ear disease as causes of ear problems in dogs. Tell your vet if the itching goes on.

When to see a vet

Puppies change quickly, so it's better to ask early than to wait.

Book a visit as soon as you notice a puppy scratching their ears or shaking their head for more than a day. Young puppies can go downhill fast when they're unwell, so don't wait it out.

Go the same day if you see a head tilt, stumbling, flickering eyes, a swollen ear flap, bleeding, or a puppy that's quiet and off their food. Those signs need prompt care.

Once the mites are gone and the household is treated, your puppy should get back to being a puppy. For more guides, visit our ears and eyes section, and see our full guide to ear mites in dogs.