What does an ear mite look like on an animal? - briefly
«Ear mites» are tiny, white, elongated, crab‑like parasites visible as moving specks inside the ear canal. They are typically surrounded by brownish wax or debris and cause noticeable irritation.
What does an ear mite look like on an animal? - in detail
Ear mites are microscopic arachnids, typically measuring 0.2–0.5 mm in length. Adults possess a flattened, oval body with eight legs; the front pair is often slightly longer, giving a tapered appearance toward the head. Their coloration ranges from translucent white to pale gray, allowing them to blend with the surrounding ear canal debris. Under magnification, the dorsal surface shows fine, short setae that create a faintly fuzzy texture.
Visible signs on the host include:
- Dark, crumbly debris resembling coffee grounds or fine pepper, composed of mite excrement, dead mites, and wax.
- Reddened or inflamed ear canal walls, sometimes with small hemorrhagic spots.
- Excessive scratching or head shaking, indicating irritation.
- A noticeable odor, often described as musty or yeasty.
Life‑stage characteristics:
- Eggs – oval, 0.1 mm, white, deposited on the ear canal surface; clusters may appear as tiny specks.
- Larvae – six‑legged, translucent, slightly elongated; observable only with a microscope.
- Nymphs – eight‑legged, similar in shape to adults but smaller (0.15 mm); retain translucency.
- Adults – fully developed, eight legs, oval body, visible to the naked eye only as part of the dark debris.
Species variation:
- In cats, mites concentrate near the base of the ear flap, producing a thick, dark crust.
- In dogs, infestations often extend deeper into the external auditory canal, creating a more fluid, watery discharge.
- In rabbits and ferrets, the infestation may spread to the surrounding skin, forming small papules and hair loss around the ears.
Direct visual examination with a otoscope reveals the mites moving rapidly across the waxy surface, their legs generating a characteristic “worm‑like” motion. The combination of minute size, translucent coloration, and accompanying debris forms the definitive visual profile of ear mite infestation on mammals.