Ear mites are a common occurrence in pets and animals. Due to their ease and speed of spread, they can be transmitted extremely quickly between animals.
Cats and ferrets are the most likely pets to contract ear mites, however they can also occur in dogs and rabbits. There have been some known cases of human ear mite contraction as well, although this is quite rare.
One of the first signs of an ear mite infected animal is that he will be scratching and shaking his head around quite a bit. This is due to having thousands of tiny ear mites in the ear canal - the ear canal is extremely sensitive and any movement in there will cause extreme irritation and itchiness.
The next sign to look for is a brown crusty matter that will be noticeable when you look into the ear. This is caused by the serum from the ear lining which builds up. If not treated, this can turn into a fungal or bacterial infection, therefore it is mandatory that your pet is taken to a vet as soon as you suspect he may have contracted ear mites.
Sometimes you may be able to see very small white mites in the crusty debris. This is because these ear mites do not actually burrow into the ear, they simply live in the ear canal. Obviously if you can see white spots, your pet has ear mites and must be treated as soon as possible.
Your vet will advise on what action to take, however usually an injection or medication is given. Ivermectin is either injected or taken orally. There are special ear mite treatment products for cats as an alternative. These are used on the skin are effective for a month or so.
Ear mites need to be taken seriously and if you notice your pet displaying any sort of strange behavior relating to its ears, please see a vet as soon as possible.
