Cat parasites: ear tick. Symptoms, treatment, prevention

The ear tick in cats is the main provocateur of ear scabies, due to which otodectosis develops over time. With infection, abundant sulfur secretion begins, inflammation develops in the ear canal, the integument is irritated. Moreover, as a rule, this disease affects two ears at once, which causes the animal great discomfort.

Ear mites. Characteristic

The scabies of Otodectos cynotis are parasitic in the ears of cats and other animals. Hence the name of the disease, the development of which they provoke, is otodectosis. These creatures are tiny arthropods with small body sizes: females from 0.3 to 0.75 mm, males from 0.2 to 0.6 mm.

Infection with an ear tick in most cases leads to infection of the ear canals. Preferred for these creatures is a warm, moist environment; it is these conditions that they find on the inner part of the animal’s ear, where they settle and begin to multiply actively. The main source of food for them is the epidermis, represented by the smallest scales of the skin.

On a note! An ear mite parasitizes not only on cats and dogs, but also on wild animals such as ferrets, arctic foxes, foxes, raccoon dogs and other predators!

How does infection happen?

In order for the parasite to be on the body of your pet, it is not necessary for him to visit the street. Often the infection is domestic in nature, and domestic cats can get an ear tick in several ways:

• direct contact with a sick animal;
• through infected cat hygiene items: bedding, combs, etc .;
• the tick could get into the apartment on your shoes or clothes;
• ear mites can also be flies and fleas.

On a note! It is worth noting that Otodectos cynotis ticks are not dangerous for humans!

Symptoms

Ear mite is a fairly common parasite of cats, which in this regard so far only fleas bypass. Any cat can infect them, but it is believed that young animals are the most susceptible.

At first, it is quite difficult to detect a tick. This is due to the fact that it has very small dimensions, and therefore it is not possible to identify it with the naked eye - it usually resembles a tiny bright spot that moves against a dark background. And the longer the parasite goes unnoticed, the more serious the consequences of its life will be.

Signs of ear mite in cats are as follows:

• the animal begins to increasingly show causeless, at first glance, anxiety, a loud meow breaks out in it, the pet shakes its head and tilts it to one side;
• due to itching, which causes more and more discomfort, the cat rubs her ears against the corners of furniture and other hard surfaces and constantly scratches her ears;
• after some time, the infection is aggravated, purulent discharge begins to appear in the auricles;
• Due to infection and constant combing, dark red crusts form around the ears.

If for a long time the owner of the infected cat will remain inactive, then the inflammation can develop very rapidly, and the infection can penetrate further. The disease will affect the inner ear, then the middle, then it will begin to affect the meninges. As a result, the pet will increasingly remain in a depressed state, his body temperature will increase and he will become crooked, when the head is constantly and rather strongly tilted towards the affected ear. In the future, seizures are possible, after which a fatal outcome occurs. To prevent this course of events, at the first sign of infection, the cat should immediately show the veterinarian.

Medication. Tool selection

Treatment of an ear tick in cats must be agreed with a specialist. Moreover, the diagnosis in this case can only be made by a veterinarian. This is due to the fact that the symptoms of other diseases may be similar to signs of otodectosis, and therefore, discharge from the ear must be investigated in the laboratory.

On a note! If at the time of the study the cat’s ears are very sore, it is advisable to give a sedative or analgesic to improve her well-being!

After diagnosis, the specialist prescribes medications, the use of which is advisable in this case. Treatment usually takes about 3 weeks. At the end of the course, the animal is again inspected and, if necessary, the therapy is repeated.

Treatment of ear mites in cats can be carried out in different forms of drugs. Consider the most popular.

Ointments and gels

Therapy with ointments and gels is carried out according to a similar scheme: with the help of a cotton swab, disk or stick, the agent is distributed along the inside of the infected auricles. This procedure must be carried out with extreme caution so as not to damage the skin and not provoke the penetration of a new infection. After the drug managed to treat the affected part of the shell, the ear should be “closed” and massage a little. If in the process you hear soft pops, then this will indicate that the product has penetrated the ear canal.
To date, the choice of ointments and gels is large enough to select a medicine for each specific case. The advantages of such preparations from an ear tick for cats can also include their prolonged action. But there are also disadvantages. The most significant is the complexity of the application, since it is quite difficult to evenly distribute the thick composition in the depth of the ear.

Most often, experts prescribe:

• Vedinol Plus;
• "Ordermil";
• Amidel-Gel;
• "Aversectin ointment."

Drops

Most often used to treat cats drops from an ear tick. Their choice is even greater, and at the same time it is possible to find a suitable remedy for kittens and pregnant favorites.

The effectiveness of certain drops will always be associated, first of all, with the degree of infection. If the disease was detected on time, and the tick did not have time to spread too much, then in this case it is quite possible to use low-concentration preparations. They, as a rule, have a low cost and are the most popular. In such situations, veterinarians from ear mites usually prescribe "Amitrazin", "Amit", "Bars".

On a note! Remember that these funds, due to their great popularity, are very often faked, and therefore should be purchased only in specialized zoo pharmacies! In addition, do not forget to read the instructions, do not exceed the recommended dose and do not use the same drops all the time - such an application is fraught with skin allergies and severe irritations!

As for the treatment of ear ticks in kittens, such drugs as Front Line, Vedinol Plus, Otoferonol (Premium or Gold) are more suitable for babies. In this case, compliance with the required dosage in this case is especially important, since if it is exceeded, there is a high probability of intoxication and other serious consequences.If a pregnant cat needs treatment, then ordinary drops will not work for her. It is also necessary to choose a special tool.

For treatment of cats, drops from an ear tick can be prescribed, such as:

• "Leopard";
• "Amit";
• "Amitrazin";
• "Acromectin";
• "Tsipam";
• Anandin Plus;
• Front Line
• "Oricin";
• Otoferonol Plus;
• Otoferonol Gold;
• "Otoferonol Platinum."

Sprays

After cleaning the shells, such preparations are applied using a spray to the inner surface of the ear. In this case, the skin should be moistened as evenly as possible. Use the spray preferably in a well-ventilated room or outdoors. If you are processing indoors, then you must first remove the pets that live in terrariums and in cages from it.

As you know, a spray nebulizer disperses the drug not only on the treated surface, but also beyond. Thus, the insecticide will settle on the body of the animal, and in order to prevent licking, it is advisable for the cat to wear a neck collar. You can remove it after the agent has completely dried.

The most popular ear tick sprays for cats:

• Ivermek Spray
• "Acaromectin Spray."

Getting rid of an ear tick step by step

So, in order to rid your cat of ear mites, you will need drugs such as:

• ear cleansing lotion;
• medical ointment, gel, spray or drops;
• acaricidal spray or drops at the withers.

Treatment begins with a thorough cleansing of the auricles. They are washed with a special antiseptic and only after that the chosen medicine is introduced into the ear. Moreover, experts usually recommend the use of the drug for both ears, even in cases where infection was established in only one. After, the cat's body is treated with acaricides.

But let's talk about everything in more detail.

Ear cleaning

This procedure is mandatory, and it should be carried out even when the instructions for the medicinal product state that it can be dripped or applied without first cleaning the auricles. This is due to the fact that accumulated scabs and waste of parasite life will interfere with the action of the product, as a result of which it will not be able to penetrate deep enough and produce the desired effect.

Ear cleansing lotion should be applied to a cotton pad and well lubricated with the visible surface of the auricle. Then gently press the treated ear and gently massage it for 20-30 seconds. Let go of the cat so that it can shake its head, and wipe the surface of the shell with a clean cotton ball. Repeat the procedure several times until completely cleansed. At the beginning of treatment, the cat will have to clean its ears daily.

Important! When cleaning your ears, you can not strongly scrape them with cotton buds !!! It is better to use cotton pads or balls!

Drug use

After your cat’s ears have been thoroughly cleaned of dirt and secretions, you can continue to use the medicine for ear mites. We use it for each ear according to the instructions. For better penetration of the drug, we massage the ear again after treatment. But it is not advisable to let the animal go now, on the contrary, his head should be properly fixed with his hands so that the product does not shake out of the ears. After a few minutes, we moisten the cotton pad with the same medicine and wipe it with the inner surface of the ear and the skin around it.

Depending on the chosen product, this treatment procedure can be carried out every 3-5 days or with an interval of a week. This information will necessarily be spelled out in the instructions.

Acaricidal treatment

For these purposes, as we have already said, you can use drops on the withers or spray. If you choose between these two forms, then, as the reviews say, it is better to use the latter, since the spray can easily process both the body of the pet and its berth.But at the same time, after applying the drops, you do not need to put on the cat a neck collar and do not wait until the product dries.

Why is this procedure necessary? First of all, so that after a course of treatment it does not have to be resumed again after a short time. Ear mites during the use of drugs are able to cross over to other parts of the animal’s body, such as paws, stomach or tail. And when the threat blows, they will certainly return to their "homes".

Acaricidal treatment is usually carried out once - this is quite enough. In this case, you can use any drops on the withers or sprays from skin parasites. Veterinarians most often prescribe drugs that will be based on such funds:

• Fipronil;
• Dermatosol;
• Prosoptol;
• Tsiodrin;
• Acrodex.

The duration of treatment is affected not only by the effectiveness of the selected drug and the degree of infection, but also by the state of immunity of your pet. And in order to help him somewhat and speed up the healing process, it is advisable to add food rich in proteins and vitamins to the diet. It is possible that the veterinarian will prescribe a vitamin-mineral complex.

Remember that an ear mite provokes the development of otodectosis, which, in turn, can be complicated by secondary otitis media. Therefore, it is very important to observe your cat both during and after the treatment, daily examining the auricles on your own and periodically showing your pet to a specialist.

Plus, the owner needs to remember about prevention, which is quite easy to implement. First of all, it is advisable to reduce the contact of your domestic cat with street cats. If she is used to being outdoors, then after each walk her ears should be examined for parasites and dirty coating. Regular observance of hygiene of the auricles - cleansing with special lotions will be far out of place. All these simple measures will minimize the risk of ear mite infection.