Home Management of Ear Mites in Dogs: Olive Oil and Other Options

Understanding Ear Mites in Dogs

Ear mites are minuscule parasites that reside within the ear canal and feed on a dog's blood. Along with fleas and ticks, they rank among the most irritating pests for dogs. They cause significant discomfort, leading to persistent scratching.

Dogs can contract ear mites through casual contact with other dogs at places like dog parks, and often the infestation goes unnoticed until it has progressed. While veterinarians typically prescribe insecticides to eliminate the mites and steroids to alleviate itching, effective treatments can also be initiated at home.

You can use olive oil to kill your dog’s ear mites.

Image by jawestad from Pixabay

Diagnosing Ear Mites at Home

Detecting an ear mite infection at home is challenging. Usually, you'll notice signs when your dog begins shaking its head and scratching. Without intervention, the scratching can lead to severe bleeding.

Without Veterinary Access: If a vet is unavailable, you can take a sample of the dark waxy debris from the ear and place it on a moist paper towel. Since that debris is blood, the paper towel will show a red stain around the wax.
With Veterinary Access: If you can see a vet, bring your dog in for an ear swab so the vet can examine the eardrums with an otoscope before treatment begins. During the exam, the vet will inspect the swab under a microscope. If mites are present, they will suggest various medications.

Is Medication Necessary?

You are not required to buy medication. A mixture of plain vinegar and water can help soften the dried blood in the ear before applying the treatment described below.

Swollen ears are painful!

Caution

Avoid using the diluted vinegar solution if your dog has already scratched the inside of its ears, as it can cause significant pain.

Home Remedies for Ear Mites

Several methods can treat ear mites. Since they are most active at night, clean and treat the ears each evening before bedtime.

Using Olive Oil to Treat Ear Mites

Apply olive oil to the ears every other night for six weeks to drown the mites. The adult mites will die immediately on the first application. As new mites hatch over the following six weeks, they too will drown in the oil, eliminating the infestation.

In some cases, the treatment may need to be repeated about three weeks after the initial regimen. If your dog develops a black waxy buildup after you stop, it might be reinfected by another animal. If that happens, repeat the treatment.

What About Corn Oil?

I've heard of people using corn oil, but since olive oil works well, I've never needed that alternative. Olive oil also moisturizes better and may actually aid skin healing.

Other Home Treatment Options for Mites

Another remedy, which I haven't needed because olive oil has been effective for me, involves using a diluted yellow dock solution (yellow dock is Rumex crispus) and treating the ears every three days for six weeks.

The yellow dock solution is diluted with nine to fifteen drops of water, but you can purchase it pre-diluted from an herbal pharmacy. I've also heard of applying yellow dock to other areas where mites have spread, but if the ear infection is resolved, that likely won't be necessary.

Your dog will be much happier after the ear mites are gone.

cc-by flickr.com htakashi8236598522

Consequences of Untreated Ear Mites

Ear mites cause considerable discomfort as they chew the inside of the ear. However, a simple infestation can be managed at home and does not require an emergency vet visit.

Can Mites Transmit to Humans?

I've heard of dog and cat ear mite infections causing rashes in some people, but in over 30 years of treating these infections, I have never observed it.

Warning: Aural Hematomas

If your floppy-eared dog shakes its head excessively until the ear tips swell, it may have developed an aural hematoma—a blood-filled pocket between the skin and cartilage. This is more serious and cannot be treated at home. The ear will need to be punctured, the blood drained, and possibly sewn down to prevent refilling. Without proper care, the clot can contract and lead to a "cauliflower" ear.

Additional Canine Health Articles

Does Your Dog Really Need Her Teeth Brushed? Some breeds don't require routine tooth brushing, while others need daily care to prevent dental disease. This article explains which breeds need brushing and how to do it.
Does Your Dog Really Need Heartworm Testing? This common test may not be necessary annually. Learn how to prevent the disease, avoid testing, and find inexpensive alternatives to protect your dog.
Does My Dog Need Vaccines Every Year? This article covers the diseases we vaccinate against, the benefits of vaccinations, and whether annual vaccination is needed.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Questions & Answers

Question: How much olive oil do I apply?

Answer: Fill the ear canal up, enough to drown the mites. Your dog will shake the excess out.

Question: How often do I use the olive oil to get rid of ear mites?

Answer: If you drown the mites with olive oil, you should do so again in three weeks to kill any that hatch after your treatment. See how the ears are doing after that and treat again if needed.

Question: How much vinegar and water do I mix to create the solution to get rid of ear mites in dogs?

Answer: It depends on the size of your dog or dogs. I have several large dogs so I usually mix up a small cup of water and a small cup of vinegar. Use enough so that it pours out of the ear canal.

Question: Will organic coconut oil work for getting rid of ear mites?

Answer: Coconut oil should work fine, but I have not tried it on ear mites. I use coconut oil for dogs with dry skin and for chronic yeast infections.

Question: Can I use peroxide and Q-tips until I get olive oil for my dog?

Answer: If you cannot get your olive oil until tomorrow, and you want to give your dog some temporary relief, you can clean the ears out with dilute vinegar: s.com/dogs/How-to-Clean-Ears-with-V…

Do not stick a Q-tip down your dog's ear.

Question: Should I clean my dog's ears with canine cleaning solution before killing the ear mites?

Answer: Yes, it is helpful, and the olive oil will work better if the ears are cleaned before using. If the ears are not scratched too badly, you can clean them out with a diluted vinegar solution. s/How-to-Clean-Ears-with…

Question: Our dog has ear mites and has been treated. She has one-week-old puppies. Do we need to do anything for them?

Answer: If the adult female did have mites, you need to clean the kennel where she sleeps very thoroughly. Mites are contagious. Treat the puppies the same way you treated the adult, but use a lot less. The ear canals are small and may need only a drop of olive oil to drown the mites. Check them every few days to make sure they are not scratching or producing excessive ear wax.

Question: Can I use Neosporin to treat my dog's ear mites?

Answer: No, that product is an antibiotic and steroid for inflammation. If your dog does have mites, it is not effective.