Otodectic mange, common known as ear mites, is the most common form of mange in cats. Otodectic mange in cats is caused by the Otodectes cynotis mite, which usually gets deep in the cat's external ear canal, causing the cat to scratch its ears and shake its head violently.
The female otodectes cynotis mite lays eggs, which hatch after four days. The eggs become larvae, which feed on ear skin oils and earwax for about a week before molting into a protonymph which then molts into a deutonymph. The deutonymph is genderless but then develops a gender when it mates with an adult male. If the deutonymph becomes a female mite, it will be laden with eggs. The total life cycle of the otodectes cynotis mite, from egg to adult takes about three weeks.
Otodectic mange in cats usually affects only the skin of the cat’s ears. In rare cases, it may also affect the skin on other areas of the cat, including its head, rump, paws or neck.
Otodectic mange in cats is highly contagious to other cats and dogs but not to humans. The otodectes cynotis mites are transmitted between animals via close contact. They can survive for only a short time off a host. The otodectes cynotis mite can also be transmitted from one of the cat’s ears to the other.
Symptoms Of Otodectic Mange In Cats
The main symptom of otodectic mange in cats is constantly shaking its head and scratching its ears. Otodectic mange in cats will cause the cat’s ear flaps to become red, excoriated, scabbed and crusted. Otodectic mange in cats may also cause one of the cat’s ears to droop. You may also see that the ear canals may contain a dry, dark brown, waxy and crumbly discharge that looks like coffee grounds. This discharge may have a bad odor as the result of a secondary infection. In the most severe cases of otodectic mange in cats, the tympanic membrane may be perforated.
Diagnosis Of Otodectic Mange In Cats
Otodectic mange in cats can often be diagnosed simply by removing a specimen of the cat’s ear wax with a cotton-tipped swab and then examining it under a magnifying class. The Otodectes cynotis mites that cause otodectic mange in cats can be seen as white specs that move and are about the size of the head of a pin. To confirm the diagnosis, some vets will take a sample of skin cells from the cat’s ear and examine them under a microscope. This is the simplest way to determine the type of mite that has affected your cat.
Treatment For Otodectic Mange In Cats
The good news is that otodectic mange in cats is relatively easy to treat. The first step is to clean the infected ear or ears. You can use a cotton tipped applicator to clean the deep recesses of the ears. This is very important as dirty ear canals provide wax and cellular debris that can shelter the mites, making it difficult for ear medications to find and destroy them.
Once you have cleaned the cat’s ears, you will need to medicate them using a miticide ear preparation as prescribed by your vet. Most of these preparations contain pyrethrins and thiabendazole. The most commonly prescribed of these ear preparations are Nolvamite, Cerumite, Mitox, Acarex, and Tresaderm. The medication, Tresaderm, contains a miticide, an antibiotic, and a steroid to relieve itching. Whichever of these your vet prescribes, be sure to follow all the instructions you are given and those on the label.
Otodectic mange in cats is fairly easy to treat, so don't let your cat suffer unnecessarily. Get your cat to the vet at the first sign of otodectic mange.
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