Ear Mite Remedies

Colloidal Silver

Posted by Leah (TX) on 04/12/2024
★★★★★

I have recently discovered that colloidal silver works with ear mites, fungal infections, parasites, and many other issues that come with cat care. You can mix it with water and mist the ears for a cleaning solution or you can put it directly into the ear. I had a cat that had ear mites very badly. They smelled and looked like coffee grounds. She was suffering. I used olive oil to suffocate the ear mites treating each ear twice a day. Now my cat was not at all cooperative but I invented a type of papoose board that I have to use when doing this. Yes, sounds traumatizing but what is worse the constant ear mite and infections or a couple minutes swaddled? After 3 days I started using the colloidal silver. I mixed 2 drops into 1 tsp. Of distilled water and put it in the ears. She was cleared up in 3 days. No coffee grounds or foul odor. I now give the colloidal silver to all my animals. 20 cats and 6 dogs and not one has suffered from any ear mites, infections, or skin issues and it's been 3 years!

Diatomaceous Earth

Posted by Amanda (Wichita, Ks) on 09/14/2017
★★★★★

Ear mites DE treatment

I've found to use a makeup brush to apply DE to dogs ears works very well, especially with animal that doesn't cooperate. Be sure to tap off brush before applying it. Doesn't take much to be effective.

Mineral Oil

Posted by Soazburrolady (Southern Az) on 06/02/2015

Mineral oil/olive oil/coconut oil are great to break up hardened mite "junk" in your kitty's ears, but the thing I have found that really knocks them down and out and will keep the ears totally clear for months is diatomaceous earth (FOOD GRADE ONLY). I simply dip my pinkie finger in some and apply it inside the ear and try to rub it in if possible. Do this every day and try and remove the debris as you apply. I trapped two feral kittens who had horrendous mite problems - they have been completely clear of ear mites for literally years. (Also treated our other cats so as not to keep this passing back and forth). This works great on my dogs too. They usually stop scratching and shaking their heads the same day, and are a lot more cooperative about the process!

Neem Oil

Posted by Om (Hope Bc Canada) on 11/18/2014
★★★★★

For ear mites try neem oil. The mites disappear within days of treatment. Neem oil disrupts the breeding cycle therefore no need to go on for a full month. Except now and then use it to prevent new infections.

No need to warm the semi solid oil as the body warmth does it and also it is easier to pack the oil into the orifice. For kittens the neem oil has to be mixed with coconut oil as their skin is too delicate for neem on its own. On EC was another post on this, confirming my own observation on the shorter duration of mite treatment.

Namaste, Om

Ear Drops

Posted by Avery (Hewitt, Nj) on 01/30/2012
★★★★★

Hi, y'all!! I have an 11 year old Purebred Chocolate Lab... And she started getting a bad ear infection about 6months ago, and I have tried everything to get rid of it! I couldn't figure out if it was an ear infection (bacterial) or ear mites, and it was ruining her normally bubbly personality, not to mention making the ear canal raw red and bleed!! :( So, I tried everything I could think of, for both Ear Infections and Ear Mites, including some of the following (you can use these if you want! )... 50% Apple Cider Vinegar/50% Water, 50% Rubbing Alcohol/50% Water, Canola Oil with 2 cloves of Garlic left overnight and then removed the next day and using the oil (4-5 drops using a child's medicine dropper) to smother the mites 2 times daily, Rx Drops from the Vet (Tresaderm, I had to get the script filled 2 times because the first time didn't work, either did the second round for that matter.. That's how I knew it was Mites and not an infection. ) And I also used Amoxicillan 500mg (human Rx Pills) 2x daily, and THAT didn't work!

So, I was rummaging through my old medicine drawer, and I found old ear infection drops for me that were well expired, but it was a full bottle. So I figured, what the heck? The drops were called Cipro HC, OTC. The ingredients are Ciprofolaxin (.2% HCL)and Hydrocortisone (1% Otic Suspension. ) I swear to you, this poor dog was walking sideways because her equilibrium was compromised from these mites, and the first night I cleaned her ear with a cleaner and then used 2 drops of this stuff, no joke, the next morning, the ear looked almost back to normal!!! I only had to use 3 Q-Tips to get gunk out, which is brilliant compared to the 10-11 I used to have to use (and that's using both ends of each one! ) I used the drops again that morning, 2 drops, and again that night, and by the next morning, I didn't even need to use any Q-Tips!!!!

The first time I inserted the drops, she got a little uncomfortable, but the Hydrocortisone may have stung a little because she had open sores inside the ear canal. But it's been about 3 weeks since I stopped using the drops, and she is back to her old self!!!!

Before you use these drops, First, determine the amount of drops needed for your type of dog. My dog is about 60 lbs, and I used 2 drops, I could have used 3 but I didn't want to push it... but if you have a smaller dog, try one small drop first and see how the dog does, then adjust accordingly.

Use an ear cleaner from a Pet Shop or just use some warm water and Q-Tips. ** MAKE SURE you don't push the Q-Tip too far into the ear canal, as you could puncture the Ear Drum. Clean any debris out of the ear, and use a tissue outside of the ear to pat it dry. Then, insert the drops, and massage the dogs ear canal from the outside for about a minute. (It is basically the area right below the opening of the ear. ) Close the flap of the dogs ear so the ear canal is no longer exposed before massaging it.

Once you've massaged the drops in, try not to let your dog shake their head too much. If they do, it's not the end of the world, that's why you massaged the drops in, to assure that they made it deep into the source of the problem. Once you have massaged the drops in, "open" the ear back up, exposing the ear canal, and see if there is any fluids or pus around the flap of the ear or in the crevices inside the ear. If there are, just use either a Q-Tip or a tissue, and lightly remove that gunk. That could lead to a bacterial infection if left there.

Do this 2x a day, and use a flashlight to ensure you can see everything going on in the ear. Do not overdo the drops, as it could dry the ear out too much. Dogs need a certain amount of moisture in their ears to prevent further infections.

I hope this helps!!

Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

AveryMeyer89(at)gmail.com

****I am NOT a Veterinarian, and the article above is simply MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. The information provided is not factually proven to be used on dogs, I just tried it with my dog and it worked. PLEASE use this information at YOUR OWN DISCRETION. I hold NO responsibility if anything should happen to your pet as a result of following the regamine I describe below. I can ensure you, however, that the information I have provided above is true to MY experience, and I hope this helps you!

Avoid Water When Cleaning Ears

Posted by Iris (Dearborn, Michigan) on 02/12/2009
★★★★★

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

Diatomaceous Earth

Posted by Lynn (Gulfport, Florida) on 01/21/2009
★★★★★

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.

Boric Acid

Posted by Chris (Birmingham, Alabama ) on 10/19/2014

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.

Advice

Posted by Rick (Minneapolis, Minnesota) on 10/25/2007
★★★★★

Many comments in the cat ear mite treatment area say to use q-tips to clean out the crud from your cat's ears. Please do not as this pushes debris further into the ear canal and makes the condition worse. To clean, gently spray the ear with warm soapy water followed by pure water. Repeat until clean which usually take three rounds.

Advice

Posted by Christina (Des Moines, NM) on 09/29/2008

Thanks for the tip. I've been treating my kitten with olive oil & tea tree oil (one tablespoon w/ 3 or 4 drops tea tree), cleaning every 2 - 3 days. I have been wondering how long the mite life-cycle is... knowing I need to get the new hatch before we get JR cured. I'm two weeks into treatments and will keep up the schedule for another two.

Thanks again! Christina

Mineral Oil

Posted by Lynn (Pottsville, PA USA) on 04/14/2007
★★★★★

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.

Hand Sanitizer

Posted by Lisa (Winfield, PA) on 04/01/2007
★★★★★

hand sanitizer works great for ear mites in my cats it also kills them. just put a dab on your finger and rub it into the ear. only takes a few applications and they are gone

Diatomaceous Earth

Posted by Helen (Sioux Falls ) on 07/10/2023
★★★★★

I mixed diatomaceous earth, 1 teaspoon with his food, because I thought he might have a parasite. The next day he threw up this mucus and it had a little bit of blood in it and there was a worm. I think it was a tapeworm that came out about 12 inches long. So I took him to the vet and I put what he threw up in a baggie and we were in the room waiting for the doctor to come back in and I asked her what it was and she says we don't know what it was and I ask her can I have it back so I can find somebody that knows what it is and she said that they had already thrown it away. Every time I take my dog to a vet I tell them about the diatomaceous earth, and they're all against it but after my dog did the diatomaceous earth, he gained weight he was healthy, running around like a wild dog. He was having fun again.

Also, my Maltese had ear mites, and my Dog Groomer said to use diatomaceous earth and I did and they're all gone now.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Natural (New York) on 05/02/2018
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

A stray cat decided it wanted a home. It seemed perfectly healthy and energetic and was very sweet.

Recently noticed he would walk with his ears back. Didn't think too much of it at first thought it was strange. A few days later he started walking with his head tilted.

I googled and it came up with ear mites. I checked the ears and it looked like the pictures. I used Olive oil for a week one ear that wasn't that bad looks pretty clean now but the bad one, the one he was tilting his head on still looks like a lot of gunk inside. The cat didn't mind the olive oil. Was really good about letting me put in with a dropper, esp. Considering its a stray. No scratching or trying to bite. Just shook his ears and wanted to get away after his treatment.

I tried the diluted 50/50 apple cidar vinigar and water and it hurt him really bad. He meowed a bunch of times then got really crazy and got away still didn't scratch or bite..poor thing. I felt horrible.

I figured the week of olive oil would've healed up any open sores.

He doesn't come when I call.and just wants to hide all.day. totally different personality.

I'm not sure if I should give the olive oil more time on the bad ear or try something else. I don't want to hurt him again.

Boric Acid

Posted by Dale (California) on 06/27/2017
★★★★★

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

Posted by Tara (Texas) on 04/10/2017
★★★★★

I tried the Yellow Dock described below and it worked great. Thank you.

Diatomaceous Earth

Posted by Gia (Oceanside) on 07/16/2015

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.

Diatomaceous Earth

Posted by Cherie (Nj) on 11/17/2015

Please make sure you are using (FOOD GRADE), not (POOL GRADE)....pool grade has added chemicals for the pool and will hurt your pets!!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Jenn (Newfounland) on 07/05/2016

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.

Hydrogen Peroxide, Rubbing Alcohol

Posted by Thatonechick (Orleans, Indiana) on 01/26/2010
★★★★★

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.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Sam (San Jose, Ca) on 08/04/2015
★★★★★

Thank you very much for posting. I just tried the diluted ACV mixture and was skeptical my dog would tolerate it. He did and seemed much calmer after. I think I've also determined from his soothed reaction, the right ear is worse or perhaps the only ear impacted. I have started itching too. I tried it and can attest to it soothing me. Thanks again! How long / frequent, did you use ACV mixture?

Ear Mites and People

Posted by Joy (Austin, Tx) on 11/13/2009

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

Posted by Rachael (Fountain Valley, Ca) on 02/13/2011

Only use food grade DE as any other can be hazardous to you and your pets.

Diatomaceous Earth

Posted by Chris (Birmingham, Alabama) on 10/19/2014
★★★★★

I use DE for ear mites but it is a desiccant which means it can dry out the skin and ear.

I just dip my forefinger and thumb in and put it on the outside and inside of the ear but not all the way down into the ear canal. Mites travel so they will get up to it. I rub some around the base of the ears and some at the base of his tail. (not sure how much good that does but read that mites will travel to the base of tail area like fleas. ) That is the only thing animal related that DE seems to work for. I had no luck for fleas. It does work for roaches and seems to discourage ants.

Diatomaceous Earth

Posted by Jean (Old Glory, Tx) on 11/25/2016

There are two kinds of DE (Diatomaceous Earth). One is food grade and just as it says, food grade and when it is viewed under an electron microscope, you can see the razor blade sharpness of the long ago diatoms. Pool grade has been heated and is smooth and not to be used except for what it says, pool grade. The way the food grade DE works is by slicing into the breathing portals of fleas, flies, ticks, ants of any kind, termites and the list goes on. They say it is even good as a wormer when put in an animal's feed and if flies are a problem due to feces, the fly larvae can't live. I can't testify as to this but have read about it many times. I have eliminated huge red ant beds by putting maybe half a cup of food grade DE around the ant's entrance and if it rains, replace the DE. I often dust food grade DE on the shoulders and at the base of the tail for fleas during the summer and this will kill ticks if they walk though it.

Boric Acid

Posted by Kara (Harrisonburg, VA) on 01/06/2009
★★★★★

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.

Medications

Posted by Shari (Texas) on 11/20/2015

Hartz puts out some of the "Worst" meds on the market. I don't know how they stay in business!

Medications

Posted by Sophie (Friday Harbor, Wa) on 11/20/2009

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....

Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Lori (Beacon Falls, CT) on 08/10/2008
★☆☆☆☆

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!