Guest guest Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 about using a diluted tea tree oil or such, to rid him of the mites. Please don't use tea tree oil. It can be lethal to cats and should never be put on them. I have used olive oil drops in their ears for mites. Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 13, 2004 Report Share Posted October 13, 2004 > Question about pets. I've seen a bit about dogs...but this is for my > kitty. > > My male cat has ear mites that we just noticed. > =========================================================== Natural Treatment for Ear Mites Brought to you by Pollak D.V.M. and the Fairfield Animal Hospital " Holistic & traditional approaches to support the best of animal health. " Ear mites are common in cats and dogs. Cats usually start them and they're the last to be treated. Direct physical contact is an important part of transmission from one animal to another. A cat with ear mites will scratch its ears frequently and a deposit that looks like dried coffee grounds, black, gray or even white will form down in the ear canals. A dog will scratch and shake its head and its ear canal may look quite red and inflamed. Bacterial and fungal infections secondary to ear mites is another layer of imbalance. Reducing redness and inflammation from secondary infection is the first order of business, as medications and remedies that help kill ear mites can sometimes act as an irritant to a sensitized ear canal. Homemade, natural, Ear mite treatment suggestion: Step 1: Make a mixture of 1/2 ounce of almond or olive oil and 400 IU vitamin E in a dropper bottle. Warm to body temperature and put about 1/2 dropper full in the ear, massaging the ear canal well for a minute or so. Let your pet shake its head and then gently clean out the opening with cotton swabs. Q-tip type applicators may compact material already in the ear canal. Apply the oil every other day for six days. Then let the ears rest for 3 days. (The oil mixture will smother many of the mites and start a healing process.) Step 2: Using a tincture of the herb Yellow Dock, dilute it with water (9 drops to 1 tablespoon of water). Treat the ears with this mixture, as described above, once every 3 days for 6 weeks. Ear mite eggs are quite resistant to just about anything after they have already hardened, that is why a six-week period of treatment is recommended. The eggs will continue to hatch out in cycles and if medicine is present for six continuous weeks (medicine administered will last for four days) there will be no more eggs present. You may need to thoroughly shampoo the head and ears (and the tip of the tail), because the mites can leave the ears; they do like to go for night trips to check out the terrain and might crawl back in after treatment. The tip of the tail may have a few mites from when it is curled near the head. Make a tea infusion of yellow dock and use it as a final rinse. Generally a healthy animal will have fewer problems with ear mites, so improving the diet will help in prevention and recovery. Feeding a natural raw meat diet or a super-concentrated, preservative free commercial diet like PHD will improve overall health and reduce the likelihood of frequent parasitic infections. Supplementing with garlic and brewer's yeast is especially helpful. ======================= http://www.chamomiletimes.com/articles/catear.htm Especially for Ear Mites While ear mites can be annoying to both owner and cat, they are relatively easy to clear up — if we are persistent and give several treatments over the course of 3 weeks. Almost any natural oil-based ear medication, even one that does not directly kill the mites, will ultimately drown them. (The oil covers the mites' breathing pores, eventually suffocating them.) Ear mites are highly contagious, even though they are usually only found in younger animals, so you will want to treat all of the animals in the household. Don't forget to treat any dogs that are in contact with the infested kitties; dogs are also susceptible to the mites. And even if only one ear appears infected, treat both ears. The mites readily migrate over an animal's head, from one ear to the other. I usually recommend an oil-based herbal treatment every day for about a week, then every second or third day for 2 more weeks. You need to treat your cat for 3 weeks in order to catch the mite eggs as they hatch. (Mites have a life cycle of about 3 weeks.) Chamomile (Anthemus nobilis; Matricaria recutita) This herb is useful when applied both internally and topically into the ear canal. Chamomile's relaxing, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, sedative, and antiseptic qualities are the perfect combination for sore, infected ears. And the herb has a powerful ability to ease your cat and help her sleep through the pain while also fighting the infection and inflammation. St.-'s-Wort (Hypericum perforatum) Whether used internally or externally, St.-'s-wort has antibiotic properties. It's also a wonderful herb to calm the beast made savage by the irritation of infection. Calendula (Calendula officinalis) Calendula, which is sometimes called pot marigold (but is not the same plant as the ornamental marigold you might have on your porch), has amazing healing abilities. It is one of the best herbs for treating local skin infections and external ear problems. Used either internally or externally, it is a potent antifungal. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) An extract of mullein made in an olive oil base is perhaps the best single remedy I've found for soothing and healing inflamed surfaces. For otitis, place several drops of the solution deep into the ear canal. Other Herbs Some other herbs are also good for treating ear infections: Garlic (Allium sativum) is often added to herbal otic mixtures for its antibiotic properties. Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is an excellent astringent, decreasing swelling in the ear canal and thus easing pain. Echinacea (Echinacea spp.) and Oregon grape root (Mahonia spp.) — when used internally in a combination tea, tincture, or capsule/tablet — balance the immune system and help counterattack microbes from the inside out. ----------- Antimicrobial & Antiparasitic Ear Oil For ear mites, or infections of bacterial or fungal origin. Mix Equal Parts: Mullien Oil Oregon Grape Root Oil Garlic Oil Marshmallow Oil A couple capsules of Vitamin E to act as a preservative and to aid in skin healing. To use: apply 6 -12 drops to the effected area of the earflap or ear canal. Flooding the ear canal is not necessary -------------------Ear Wax Buildup 1 small plastic bottle 9 drops of Lavender 3 tablespoons witch-hazel Mix thoroughly. Pour on clean cloth and clean out ears. It is especially necessary on Golden Retrievers and dogs that play in the water. ------------------------' recipe for dogs is 3/4cup Dickensons witch hazel/1/4 cup aloe gel (the kind you can drink)/5drops lavender and 4 drops tea tree oil. Put in hair applicator bottle, shake well, after warming to room temp by standing in hot water for a few minutes,shake well again and gently put hair applicator nozzle into ear and gently let some get down into ear, rub ear and hold closed for a minute or more. Wipe out any excess with cotton and repeat 2x day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 13, 2004 Report Share Posted October 13, 2004 You could check this out: http://www.catsitters.net/cats.html ======================================== I was not aware tea tree oil was lethal > to cats. > (and Obi) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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