Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ear mites (home treatable?)

[~Vulpine~]

My dog started shaking his head and whimpering and scratching his ears. He's done this before and we realised it was ear mites - can anyone reccomend a home treatment? It seems strange he had them now, because just the day before I gave him a bath using flea shampoo, or won't that have made a difference?

He's gone all quiet and miserable now and totally non-bouncy like he used to be, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

[divegirl]

Hi, there are 'over the counter' treatments for earmites, but I don't know how good they are. If your dog seems so unhappy though I would suggest a visit to the vets as mites are uncomfortable for the dog, but shouldn't make him that depressed! Flea shampoo won't destroy mites.....is this a shampoo you have used before? Could he be having a reaction to it?
Hope this helps
Lisa x

[janeo]

Take him to the vet asap. He/she should be able to treat the problem easily.

[orange-gnome]

Over the counter flea shampoos and ear mite treatments are usually non effective (despite what it may say on the label) the reason is because pet shops don't have a license to sell any decent kind of medication.
Cavaliers have ear problems mostly because they have been bred to have lots of fluffing on the ears and because of this they are heavy and so air doesn't get into the ear canal making it a nice warm environment for mites to breed.
It is well worth while taking your dog to the vet as vigorous scratching and shaking of the head can cause whats called an aural haematoma, which if left untreated will cause cauliflower ear (where the ear shrivels up) and requires an op to treat it usually. Thats apart from the fact that your dog is miserable with the little critters in his ears!
While you are there I would get a gentle ear cleanser, that way you can keep them clean and so the problem is less likely to happen again..... although being a cavvy it probably will anyhow but it will lessen the chances if you keep them clean.

[~Vulpine~]

Wow, thanks everyone, sound advice! I'll definitely look into it - thank you :)

[patsysuki]

hi, what makes you think its ear mites,can you see them? he hasnt got something in his ear has he, like one of those spikey things that can get lodged in the ear canal, just thought it might be a possiblity as my brother has a cavalier king charles and he is forever getting those thistle things down his ear and you cant always see them, has to have the vet remove them,pat

[~Vulpine~]

Hi patsysuki, I think he definitely has ear mites. We haven't seen anything, but looking into the ear there's definitely no spiky thistle things - he gets them everywhere else though! He's a bit better now, more like himself, and as I've said, he's had them before and they've passed so I think he's going to be ok.