Ear mite in cats - how to fight?

Among diseases of cats, otodectosis is quite common, or earwax is otherwise. The cause of this unpleasant phenomenon is the ear mite - a microscopic parasite living in the ear passage of cats and feeding on dead cells of the epidermis.

Usually ear mites in cats are transmitted by direct contact of a healthy animal with a sick person, for example, if a pet is taken to a dacha and there it contacts local cats. In addition, a person who stroked a cat infected with a parasite can help the disease, and then, without washing his hands, caressed a healthy one.

It is important not to miss the onset of such a disease as ear mite in cats: the symptoms begin to appear in the form of itching - the cat constantly scratches its ears and shakes its head. Later on the inner surface of the auricle there is a large number of crusts of dark brown color - these are the products of the mite and exudate. Constantly combing the affected areas, the cat can injure them, then inflammation also joins the general picture, and also purulent discharge is possible .

Before you begin treatment, you need to make sure the correctness of the diagnosis. Ear mites in cats can be detected with a magnifying glass, for which the cotton bud must be taken scraping from the ear and carefully considered under magnification: if visible small moving pale gray points, then it's a parasite.

When an ear mite is found, it is necessary to urgently apply to a good vet. The main thing is not to start a disease that can lead to such complications as otitis media, and in especially severe cases, the membranes of the brain become inflamed, which is fraught with a lethal outcome.

If the parasite is detected on time, then in the early stages, all treatment procedures, as a rule, boil down to treating the auricles with special antiparasitic drugs. First, the ears are cleaned of pus and crusts with any antiseptic, and then ear drops are added to the ear canal - approximately 0.3 ml in each ear. The duration of the course of treatment is determined by the recommendations given in the instructions to the drug. As a rule, after some time after the completion of the course, a second one is repeated, as the mite actively multiplies and has a high survivability. Very effectively, acaricidal ointments act together with drops. It is also important during the period of illness to maintain the immunity of a cat.

If the disease caused complications, then the doctor prescribes antibiotic treatment. You may also need antihistamines and analgesics.

Ear mites in cats live not only in the ear, it can crawl and onto the body. In this case, foreign substances of dark color appear on the surface of the trunk. They should be carefully removed, and the affected area should be washed with shampoo. It is better not to wait for this unpleasant moment, to bathe an animal with an insecticidal detergent as a preventive measure. If a healthy cat lives next to the diseased one, then it too must be treated, since the tick is highly contagious.

It should be emphasized that ear mite in cats is not a disease that is treated independently. Any drug can cause side effects, so assign them to your four-legged friend only a doctor. However, if you want to use any natural remedies in addition to the prescribed treatment, then there will be no harm from it. For example, it is useful to treat the cat's ears with the infusion of green tea, which is an excellent natural antiseptic. It works well against ticks and almond oil.

The main thing is to remember that otodectosis is not dangerous for people, so do not be afraid to contact your pet, because at the time of illness the host's help is especially needed. In addition, if the animal is in good physical shape, even if it comes in contact with the parasite, the immune system can cope with it. In this regard, it is necessary to keep the cat in good conditions, to provide it with a balanced diet rich in all necessary vitamins and microelements. It is especially important to monitor young and aging animals, since the first immunity is still in its infancy, and the second one is already weakening. The risk group also includes pregnant cats. Watch your pet's health, and then no mites will harm it.