There isn’t anything strange about dogs having mites in their ears. Despite your best efforts, you sometimes can’t keep these parasites away. But have you ever wondered if these tiny creatures could cause you harm? Can humans get ear mites from dogs?
Yes, humans can get ear mites from dogs. But this rarely happens. When it does occur, it may be because these tiny parasites cling onto fabric and clothes and move to positions of the human body, like the ears. Mites may cause skin problems like canine scabies.
As a dog lover, you should be aware of what problems your dog experiences which you can also pick up. This article discusses how best to detect and eliminate mites. But first, let’s review how exactly you may get mite infections from your canine friend in the first place.
How Do Humans Get Ear Mites From Dogs?
Mites may travel from dog to human through physical contact. However, dogs and humans may also pick up mites from infested furniture or clothing.
Dogs sometimes itch themselves with whatever they can find, such as a sofa or other furniture. Mites can easily stick to furniture until they find another host.
In addition, if your furry friend sleeps on your bed, this can also allow mites to spread over your mattress and bedding. Since mites are barely visible to the human eye, there is no way to tell if there is an infestation until they travel to your skin.
Also, playing with a dog with ear mites can cause a direct transfer to you. What matters most is the contact between the ear mites and the host. Any contact with mites can cause an infection.
Do Ear Mites Live In Bedding?
Yes, ear mites can live in bedding, a convenient source of skin cells, which are a part of a mite’s diet.
Although ear mites prefer to stay on a host, they can survive on bedding for days or even months until they run out of nutritional particles. So you should be careful letting your furry friend sleep on your bed if you suspect they have mites.
How Do Dogs Get Ear Mites?
Dogs get ear mites from nearby vegetation or another pet. They love to roam, run through bushes, and play by trees. So, these pooches are more prone to getting ear mites.
Ear mites are also notorious for adapting to various environments, including water bodies, vegetation, and animals. So, outdoor-loving dogs are more likely to pick up mites during their escapades.
Furthermore, a visiting neighbor’s dog can spread mites to your four-legged friend. Ask your friend or neighbor about their dog’s health to prevent the spread of ear mites.
Are Ear Mites In Dogs Contagious?
Yes, ear mites in dogs are highly contagious to pets but less so to humans.
Your furry friend is much more susceptible to getting ear mites than you are. This is because doggies have fur that parasites can easily hang onto. Dogs’ skin is much more comfortable for mites to live on and lay their eggs without disturbance.
Can Ear Mites Spread To Humans?
Yes, ear mites can spread to humans through contact with infested dogs and materials.
Ear mites may choose to find new hosts and leave your four-legged friend. Immediately, mites search for a convenient place to lodge until they discover another host.
Possible hideouts for mites in the house include furniture, curtains, bedding, carpets, and even clothing. Washing and sanitizing these items reduces the risk of picking up ear mites.
Are Dog Ear Mites Harmful To Humans?
Yes, ear mites can be harmful to humans, depending on where they live on the body.
If mites enter the ears, they cause an uncomfortable feeling of fullness and itching. On the skin, mites can cause severe irritation.
What Happens If Humans Get Ear Mites?
If humans get ear mites, they find the best location to settle, usually the ear canal. Mites then breed, causing irritation and itching.
Ear mites can cause tinnitus, also known as ringing in the ears. That’s because mites can cause the production of too much wax in the ears.
On other occasions, people may feel pressure in the ear or a feeling of fullness, leading to damage to the ear canal. Untreated, this can lead to hearing loss.
Can Dog Ear Mites Make Humans Itch?
Yes, dog ear mites do make humans itch. When dog ear mites transfer to humans, one notable sign is the constant itching.
When these parasitic arachnids enter the ears, they feed by piercing the thin skin of the ear, causing an itchy feeling. Again, although ear mites are tiny, their movements can create unpleasant sensations in your ears. These may prompt you to itch your ears often.
What Are The Symptoms Of Ear Mites In Humans?
Symptoms of ear mites in humans include itchiness, redness around the ear, dark-colored ear wax, and general irritation.
However, symptoms can vary by person. Therefore, it’s best to see the family doctor for a diagnosis of the condition since, many times, it can share similar signs with other ear infections like bacteria and yeast infections.
If your dog has had ear mites for a while and you start to notice ear irritation, see a veterinarian for a check-up. Early detection can save your ears from infection or damage.
How Do You Get Rid of Ear Mites In Humans?
Diagnosis, eradication, and treatment are the basic steps needed to get rid of ear mites in humans.
The first thing is to visit an ear specialist to diagnose the situation. They may have to take a swab sample from an affected ear and perform an otoscope examination. The otoscope device allows the veterinarian to see into the ear canal and observe for any infection or foreign bodies.
When the veterinarian confirms ear mites infection, they prescribe antiparasitic ear drops to kill the mites and eggs laid in the ears. Afterward, your veterinarian may also prescribe antibiotics to treat secondary infections resulting from the presence of ear mites.
How Common Is It For Humans To Get Ear Mites From Dogs?
Humans rarely get ear mites from dogs, but that does not mean it does not happen.
Because humans are not as hairy as dogs, ear mites are less likely to cling to the skin. In addition, hygiene affects the chances of mite infection in humans. Humans wash their bodies more than dogs, decreasing the likelihood of spreading mites.
Again, the animal-to-human transmission of ear mites is not common, but that does not mean it is impossible.
Do Ear Mites Eventually Go Away?
No, ear mites will not go away unless you take steps to eradicate them.
Although the life cycle of ear mites is only two months, they reach maturity in only three weeks and keep laying eggs until they die. This ensures continuous infestation until you take steps to eliminate mites and their eggs.
For that reason, most treatments last three weeks to ensure the destruction of the newly hatched and unhatched eggs.
Can Humans See Ear Mites?
No, humans cannot typically see ear mites with the naked eye unless the mites are in clusters and have just fed.
Ear mites are microscopic and transparent. They are only about the size of a pinhead. Ear mites’ transparency makes them nearly impossible to see even in a cluster until they feed on blood and become dark. Only then would you notice them on a well-lit surface.
What Happens If Ear Mites Go Untreated?
If ear mites go untreated, it may lead to intense ear pain, tinnitus, secondary infection of the ear canal, and ultimately deafness.
As with dogs, when humans leave ear mites untreated, this can lead to bacterial infection in the ears. With time, this may affect the eardrum, causing it to swell so that hearing may become difficult.
Can You Self-Treat Ear Mites?
Yes, you can self-treat, but we do not recommend it. Instead, please consider visiting an ear veterinarian for the most effective treatment.
For dogs, symptoms of ear mite infestation are more pronounced. But there are several chemical remedies to clean and treat dogs’ ears. Humans’ ear structure is different, requiring a medical examination and a prescription for treatment.
We advise that you only use the ear drops recommended by your ear veterinarian for the time stipulated.
What Kills Ear Mites Naturally?
Natural exterminators of ear mites include baking soda dissolved in warm water, oil with garlic essence (soak the garlic in oil), and apple cider vinegar.
Oils, such as oregano, olive, and hemp-infused coconut oil, are also potent against ear mites. Whichever of these natural remedies you wish to use, consult your vet first. For most applications, you may need to soak a cotton bud in the solution and swab the affected ear or use it as an ear drop.
Generally, these treatments must continue for weeks to ensure that the ear mites are completely gone. Even then, it is advisable to see a veterinarian to examine the ear and verify there are no ear mites remaining.
