Kim noticed it at bedtime in Norman, Oklahoma — Kookie, her 8-year-old intact male Miniature Dachshund, shaking his head three or four times in a row, then raking at his right ear with a back paw.
The ear looked dirty, dark and crumbly, and Kim wondered if a gentle cleaning would settle it. In practice, that question comes up a lot, and it is also where guessing goes wrong. Itchy, dirty ears in dogs have several common causes, and ear mites are only one of them.
Ear mites live on the surface of the ear canal and feed on skin oils and debris. The species most often found in dogs is Otodectes cynotis, a highly contagious mite that spreads through close contact with another infested dog, cat, or ferret, as described by VCA Animal Hospitals. Puppies and social, multi-pet households tend to see them most, though any dog with exposure can pick them up.
Head shaking and scratching at one or both ears are usually the first clues. Owners often describe a dog that cannot seem to leave the ears alone, rubbing along furniture or whining during a scratch.
What sets mites apart is the combination of intense itch plus a particular kind of debris. It often looks dark brown or black, dry and crumbly like coffee grounds, coating the folds of the ear flap and canal. The ear may smell mildly musty, but it is usually less sour or yeasty than a bacterial or yeast overgrowth. Redness along the canal, small scratches around the base of the ear, and hair loss from rubbing are common supporting signs.
That pattern still overlaps with other problems. Allergies, yeast overgrowth, and bacterial infection can all cause shaking, odor, and discharge. Mite debris tends to be drier and more granular, while many infections produce moist, yellow-tan, or brown waxy material with stronger odor and swelling. Pain when the ear is touched, a tilted head that does not ease up, or a swollen ear flap points away from mites alone and toward a complication that needs prompt care.
This is why I do not recommend treating on looks alone.
A vet exam is short and settles the question. Expect a look inside both canals with an otoscope, plus a swab checked under the microscope for mites, eggs, yeast, or bacteria. Mites are visible as small, moving specks, and finding them changes the plan. If the eardrum cannot be seen because of debris or swelling, your vet may clean the ear first and recheck, since many ear products should not be used with a damaged eardrum.
Treatment usually covers the mites, the inflammation, and any second infection at the same time. Options may include an ear medication applied in the clinic or at home, plus a systemic parasite product that supports normal skin defenses against mites, along with a recheck in two to four weeks. The American Kennel Club notes that all close-contact pets often need evaluation too, because untreated housemates can pass mites back and forth.
Home care supports that plan but does not replace it. Do not probe the canal with cotton swabs, pour in home-mixed rinses, or borrow another pet’s leftover drops. A vet-approved cleaner, used exactly as directed, may help maintain clean ear surfaces between visits, and a calm routine helps — the same low-stress handling that helps with At-Home Grooming vs a Professional Groomer: How to Split the Job and Essential Dog Grooming Tools for Beginners. If your dog yelps, the discharge turns wet and yellow-green, the odor sharpens, or the head tilt persists, call back rather than cleaning again.
Prevention is mostly about contact and routine. Keep up year-round parasite prevention as your vet recommends, keep bedding washed during treatment, and make quick ear checks part of grooming for floppy-eared or social dogs. For context on what routine checks can look like by body type, Grooming Needs by Dog Size: Small vs Large Breeds is a useful companion.
Kookie’s story is a good reminder: dark debris plus relentless scratching earned him an exam, not another round of guess-and-clean. Individual dogs vary, so use the pattern as your cue to get an accurate diagnosis, then let the microscope decide.
Frequently asked questions
Are ear mites in dogs contagious to other pets?
Yes. Otodectes mites spread through close contact, so housemate dogs, cats, and ferrets often need checking even if only one dog is itchy.
Can I tell ear mites from an ear infection just by looking?
Not reliably. Dry, dark, crumbly debris with intense itching suggests mites, while moist discharge, strong odor, swelling, or pain suggests infection — but many ears have both, so a microscopic exam is the way to know.
Sources
- Ear Mites in Dogs: Signs, Treatment and Prevention — American Kennel Club