How long does it take for a dog to get over ear mites?

Ear mites are tiny parasites that can sneak into the dog's ear canal, causing them considerable trouble and worrying their owners. Many owners are eager to know how long it will take for a dog to get rid of ear mites. There are many complex factors intertwined behind this. Ear mites are a common parasite in the dog's ear canal. They are small in size but reproduce rapidly. Once a dog is infected with ear mites, there may not be obvious symptoms in the early stage, and the owner often finds it difficult to detect. But as time goes by, the dog will begin to scratch his ears frequently, as if something in his ears makes him itch unbearably. If you observe carefully, you will find that dark brown or reddish brown secretions gradually appear in the dog's ear canal, just like coffee grounds. This is actually the excrement of ear mites and the traces left by their activities. At this time, the dog's ears may also emit a strange smell, and the originally healthy ear environment is completely destroyed. Seeing the dog become irritable and restless because of ear discomfort, and no longer as lively as usual, the owner's heart is full of heartache. ​

The time it takes for a dog to get rid of ear mites depends largely on the timeliness of discovery and treatment. If the owner is sensitive to the abnormality in the early stage of the dog's infection and takes it to the veterinarian in time, the treatment process will be relatively smooth and the time required will be shorter. Generally speaking, in this case, after 2 to 3 weeks of continuous and correct treatment, the dog's symptoms will be significantly improved. The veterinarian usually cleans the dog's ear canal first to remove the accumulated ear mite secretions and create a good environment for subsequent drug treatment. This process may make the dog a little uncomfortable, but in order to restore health, they will also try their best to cooperate. Subsequently, the veterinarian will prescribe special drugs for ear mites according to the specific situation of the dog. Some of these drugs are ear drops and some are ointments. The owner needs to strictly follow the doctor's instructions and apply the medicine to the dog regularly every day. In the first week or so, the owner may see that the dog's ear canal still has a lot of secretions, but as long as the treatment is adhered to, from the second week, you will find that the secretions gradually decrease and the dog's frequency of scratching the ears will also decrease. At this time, the owner will feel a glimmer of hope, and feel that the dog is one step closer to recovery. ​

However, if the disease is discovered late, the dog's ear canal has already become inflamed due to long-term ear mites infestation, and even complications such as otitis media have been caused, then the treatment time will be greatly extended. In this complex situation, the treatment cycle may take 1 to 2 months, or even longer. The presence of inflammation makes treatment difficult. In addition to killing ear mites, inflammation must also be eliminated. The veterinarian may use antibiotics to control inflammation while using miticides. In the first few weeks of treatment, the dog's symptoms may not improve significantly, because it is necessary to fight ear mites and gradually subside inflammation. The owner will see that the dog still scratches his ears from time to time, and the secretions in the ear canal have changed, but they still exist. At this stage, the owner is often anxious and worried about whether the dog's condition can be effectively controlled. But as long as you stick to the veterinarian's plan, over time, around the third week, the inflammation will begin to gradually subside, and ear mites will be killed in large quantities. After about a month, the environment in the dog's ear canal will improve significantly, the secretions will decrease, and the odor will gradually disappear. But even so, it should not be taken lightly, because ear mites are easy to recur, and it is necessary to continue to consolidate the treatment for a period of time to ensure complete removal. ​

The dog's own physique and immunity also affect the time it takes to get rid of ear mites. Dogs with good physique and strong immunity can respond faster after being infected with ear mites, and they will recover relatively quickly with drug treatment. For dogs with weaker physiques and other diseases, the treatment process may be more tortuous. For example, after a dog that is already malnourished is infected with ear mites, its body needs to deal with the damage caused by ear mites and its own malnutrition at the same time, which undoubtedly increases the difficulty of treatment. In this case, in addition to actively treating ear mites, the owner also needs to supplement the dog's nutrition and enhance its physique. It may be necessary to feed the dog some nutritious food or even special nutritional supplements. As the dog's nutritional status improves, its immunity gradually increases, and with continued treatment, it will take longer to get rid of ear mites than healthy dogs, but as long as the owner does not give up, it will eventually usher in the day of recovery.​

During the long process of treating ear mites in dogs, the owner's patience and carefulness are crucial. Every time you apply medicine to your dog, you must operate gently to avoid hurting the dog's already fragile ear canal. You must also pay attention to the dog's behavior and changes in the ears. Once you find any abnormalities, communicate with the veterinarian in time. Every time you see the dog's trusting eyes because of the medicine, the owner will be more determined to help it defeat ear mites. When you finally see that the dog no longer scratches its ears frequently, the ear canal is clean and healthy, and it becomes lively again, the joy and sense of accomplishment are indescribable. Although the time it takes for a dog to get rid of ear mites is uncertain, as long as the owner guards it carefully and actively cooperates with the treatment, the dog will always be healthy one day and continue to accompany us to spend a good time.