How do I know if my ferret has ear mites?
Early in the infestation, your ferret may not show any signs of ear mites, but the ear may become intensely irritated in time. You may notice that your ferret is shaking its head or scratching itself. Plus you may see a thick reddish brown, almost black material that has built up in the ear canal.
What color is the ear wax of a ferret that has ear mites?
Once the ear mites have taken root in a ferret, their activities will cause changes in the materials coming out of the ear. Instead of the usual thin, pale orange ear wax that can be expected to be visible inside the ferret’s ear, owners may start to notice a darker, more viscous wax leaking out.
What kills ear mites in ferrets?
Advocate(®) spot-on for small cats and ferrets is an effective and safe treatment for ear mite infection in ferrets. Two or three treatments administered in 14-days intervals to ferrets infested with ear mites provided 100 % parasitological cure on D56.
What does ear mite infestation look like?
Ear mites are incredibly small, which can make them difficult to spot. However, if you gently clean your pet’s ears with a soft cloth and check the residue that appears, you may be able to spot them. They look like tiny white dots, no bigger than a period on the end of a sentence.
What happens if ear mites go untreated?
The most common type of ear mite is Otodectes cynotis, which live in the ear canal and feed by piercing the thin skin. This causes severe itching and, if left untreated, can cause bacterial infections, swelling of the ear canal and eventually partial or total deafness.
How do you clean a ferrets ear?
Your ferret will shake his / her head to clear the ear. A cotton ball or swab can be used to loosen debris from the outer ear. Be careful not to push a swab deep into the ear. You might pack the wax tight to the ear drum or accidentally punch a hole in it causing an inner ear infection.
What can you clean ferrets ears with?
Clean your ferret’s ears with a cotton swab and ear-cleaning solution.
- Only clean the parts of your ferret’s ear that you can see.
- Never push the cotton swab into the ear canal, even if you can see wax in it.
- When your cotton swab gets too soaked with cleaning solution, use a dry cotton swab to remove the excess.
Why does my ferret have so much earwax?
Ferrets produce a lot of reddish brown ear wax normally, and when they are infested with ear mites this will be in larger quantities and will be dark red. Unlike cats, ferrets rarely scratch or shake their heads even when their ears are full of wax or severely infested with mites.
Why are my ferrets ears dirty?
From time to time, ferrets get dirty ears. If you notice very dark brown or black debris or any noticeable discharge a trip to the vet is in order to rule out yeast infections or ear mite infestations. Left untreated, both conditions can turn into severe health compromises in your pet ferret.
Do I need to see a vet for ear mites?
Mites create an itchy, uncomfortable infection in your dog’s ears. If your dog has mites, it’s important to schedule a vet appointment. Your vet can confirm the diagnosis and recommend the best treatment for your dog. Most of the time, treatment involves applying a medication directly to your dog’s ears or skin.
Can I wash my ferret with Dawn dish soap?
Do NOT use Dawn dishwashing liquid to bathe the ferret to get rid of fleas unless the ferret is covered in fleas. Dawn strips all the oil from the fur and skin and is very harsh. It can cause the fur to become coarse and cause the ferret’s skin to itch for a long time. Most ferrets really don’t need to be bathed much.
How can you tell if a ferret has ear mites?
The color and odor of a ferret’s earwax is the most recognizable sign of an ear mite infection. Normally, a ferret’s earwax will be red and odorless. However, those with an infection will have smelly, darker-colored (usually black or gray) earwax .
What does Ferret ear wax look like?
Ferret ears normally produce wax that is light brown, orange, or reddish in color. But a mite infection can cause the wax to become reddish brown or even black. This wax may build up more quickly than normal, the texture may be crumbly, and it can have an unpleasant odor.
Why does my Ferret keep scratching his ears?
Another reason is that ferrets rarely show signs of being infected with ear mites. Ear mites in cats and dogs can often be suspected due to ear scratching and head shaking when they have an ear mite infestation. Ferrets rarely show these signs.
How often should I take my ferret to the vet for mites?
To identify and properly treat ear mites, bring your ferret to your veterinarian at least once a year for regular examinations. Your veterinarian will examine the ears and crusts for evidence of ear mites and other external parasites. How will my veterinarian treat ear mites in my ferret?