Ear mites are an annoying problem for cats. When there is an ear mite infestation, this causes a lot of itching and irritation in the cat. Fortunately, ear mites can be effectively controlled by the administration of Otimectin. This medicine – containing the active ingredient ivermectin – should be applied twice in the external auditory canal at intervals of 7 to 14 days. In this way, ear mites in cats can be effectively controlled. Otimectin is an over-the-counter product and can be used in cats and kittens from eight weeks of age.
Fighting ear mites in cats
- Ear mites in the cat
- How do you know your cat has ear mites?
- How do you combat ear mites with Otimectin?
- Availability Otimectin
Ear mites in the cat
The ear mites is a common parasite in cats. Dogs, ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits and foxes can also suffer from it, but especially in cats the problem can be persistent. Ear mites live in the external ear canal of the cat and in the hairs around the ears. The bugs feed on skin flakes, ear wax and other tissue fluids, among other things. By swarming in and around the ears, the ear mite causes irritation in the cat. Cats can become restless and scratch their ears more. This increases the production of ear wax, which increases the breeding ground for the mites and allows the problem to spread quickly. This way it can also be passed on to other pets. It is therefore important to tackle this problem quickly at the first signs of ear mites.
How do you know your cat has ear mites?
Ear mites mainly cause itching and irritation in cats. This can be made worse by scratching your own ears. That a cat suffers from ear mites can mainly be seen by frequent shaking of the head and scratching the ears. In some cats, the irritation can become so severe that shaking the head can cause bruising and scratching can lead to infections and even damage to the eardrum. It is also possible that you see bald spots in a cat’s coat around the ears. This is often caused by frequent scratching with the front legs over the ear and the head.
If ear mites are left untreated, it can quickly get to the point where a black, grainy discharge is also visible in the auricle. The lighter a cat’s coat, the better this discharge will be visible. The secretion can also eventually stink very dirty.
The vet diagnoses ear mites by looking at the cat’s ear canal with an ear scope or otoscope. Usually it is immediately clear because one can see the ear mite swarming. A definitive diagnosis is made by taking a small amount of wax and viewing it under a microscope.
How do you combat ear mites with Otimectin?
If your cat suffers from an ear mite infection, it is important to start the control as soon as possible to minimize discomfort for your cat. You can combat ear mites in cats by applying an ear gel. The anti-parasitic drug Otimectin is the appropriate means. Otimectin contains the active ingredient ivermectin. It interferes with the neurotransmitters glutamic acid and gamma-aminobitic acid (GABA), paralyzing and eventually killing parasites that are sensitive to it.
The intention is to fill the external auditory canal with the agent and then distribute and massage it well. If you follow the instructions in the package leaflet correctly, divide approximately 1 gram of the medicine over each ear. Regardless of whether the complaints are still present, it is recommended to repeat the treatment after 7 to 14 days.
Otimectin should only be administered to cats and kittens from eight weeks of age. It is not recommended to use the gel if the cat is known to have a damaged eardrum.
Availability Otimectin
The method Otimectin for the control of ear mite infestations in cats is available in 1 mg / g tubes. You can buy it from the vet, but it is also freely available at most pet stores and online stores such as Medpets.nl, Dierenapotheek.nl and Bol.com.
Although Otimectin is sometimes used off-label by veterinarians in the control of ear mites in dogs, it is not recommended to use it in pets other than cats. A different kind of ear cleaner is often recommended for other pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs.
