Robbie has been holding his right ear at an angle, so now that the snow has melted in Big Bear, I took him up there. I figured ear infection (annoying) or ear fungus (also annoying), but instead he has ear mites (MAJOR ANNOYANCE).

My vet gave me 3 options:
-- new treatment with ivermectin, 2 doses 10 days apart, at $30 a dose
-- over the counter ear mite treatments for $6-7 per oz for 10 days
-- homemade remedy with olive oil and vitE for 14 days

I'd like to go with the ivermectin, but since everyone has to be treated (including the hubby's d-o-g-s), that would be $660! I'm not keen on the over the counter treatments as they contain pyrethrins which can cause neurological problems, although my vet thinks it's a miniscule risk. So, that leaves the olive oil for 14 days. I'm not thrilled with any of the options.

There are a lot of things worse than ear mites, but it's still a pain. No matter which way I go, putting oily stuff in a Persian's ears just does not sound fun. And poor Maggie -- just when she's cutting down on eye drops, here comes mom with ear drops!

What has anyone else done for ear mites?

When we got Chicka she has some ear mites, it wasn't too bad and no one else got them or had to be treated. I don't know what the Vet used but she put it in one time and then we brought her back and had another treatment in two weeks, just in case they weren't all dead.

Man your crew must've made a deal with the local vets to keep them in businsess.

What kind of dogs are they? Ivermectin is extremely dangerous drug for any
collie breed as we have an Australian Shepherd (they are considered a collie
breed), I'm neurotic about this drug. I'm assuming that you know this, and
that your vet has advised you too.

Mary

I didn't know that and my vet didn't mention it because I had pretty much dismissed the ivermectin option as being too expensive. The dogs are a terrier-chihuhua mix (and he already as neurological issues!) and a sh-it-zu (which the censors don't like).

As for my cats having made a deal with the vets, it's not working out well. Some furry butt has to GO to the vet in the CAR!!! Horrors of horros!

My dogs are CKRs which the sensors also don't like, I don't know what was used, I would pitch a fit if I found out she used something dangerous on my babies.

Ah, Dianne, the one dose now and one dose in 10-14 days sounds like ivermectin, since the other options are daily for so many days.

I have to treat everyone because I noticed Tolstoy scratching is ear, Spencer scratched is until bloody (and was coned), and Maggie is very insistent on ear scratches. So, probably everyone has mites. I'm guessing they came in with either Oscar (RIP ) or Spencer since he was the first to itch. And someone (like moi) helped spread it.

Is Robbie a cat or a dog? If Robbie is a cat, maybe you can ask your vet if you can buy Advantage Multi which is topical and it's an effective treatment for ear mites.

Ivermectin is commonly dispensed and if used as directed by your vet, I'm sure your babies will be okay on it. Maybe check online pharmacies to see what it will cost to purchase through them and see if your vet hospital will price match for you. A lot of places will do this for you if you ask ~ some don't but it won't hurt to ask, right?

Aw Linda. I am so sorry to hear that.
I don't know anything about treatments, but tell us what you decide.
I hope it gets rid of them quickly....
None of your herd needed this....
hugs
Paula

Robbie is a cat, half Persian, half Maine Coon. He's the one in my avatar photo.

I looked into the Advantage Multi and it still is expensive when you recall I have 9 cats and 2 dogs to treat. I also get nervous about pesticides that kill such a broard spectrum of pests -- heartworms, fleas, round worms, mites, etc. I'm paranoid, I suppose.



I know. I was just thinking that it was going to be nice just to enjoy my kitties once Maggie is done with her eye stuff. I would get to play with them rather than medicate some of them. So I must have jinxed myself! At least ear mites are not deadly and I've dealt with them before, so....

As for the method of treatment, I'm probably going to try the olive oil first since it's the cheapest and least toxic. (Remember, I'm dealing in bulk! ) I've used it successfully before, so it does work. It's just cats don't like ear drops and they'll all hate me for a couple of weeks.

Joey came to us with ear mites and Yeast infection. We used everything but the infestation kept coming back. He eventualy had damage that made it imposible to jump up or down from anything higher than 12 inches.

When I joined this sight 08' someone recomended Olive oil... Joey has been Mite and Yeast free ever since.