Symptoms

• The most common symptom of mites on a pet is intense itching and perceived discomfort. A cat or dog that is scratching or rubbing its ears incessantly is more than likely dealing with mites in the ears. Mites can impact the entire body of the pet, though, and may resemble a flea infestation affecting the head, neck, back and base of the tail.
  
  

Diagnosis

• The most straightforward diagnosis for mites is to check the ears for deposits that resemble dried coffee grounds in gray, black or brown. The ear canal will also typically appear red, inflamed and irritated. Because there are different parasites that can cause the same irritations, you should consult a veterinarian in order to get the proper diagnosis before engaging in any treatments.
  
  

Yellow Dock

• You can use yellow dock in a tincture form as a natural treatment for mites. Create a tincture by combining nine drops of yellow dock root extract with 1 tbsp. of water. Apply this tincture to the ears once every third day for a period of six weeks. The six week period of treatment is necessary in treating not only the mites but the mite eggs as well, breaking the life cycle of the mites in the process.
  
  

Oil and Vitamin E

• Create a tincture of 1/2 oz. of olive oil or almond oil and 400 IU of vitamin E and use a dropper bottle to apply to the ears. Apply this to the ears at body temperature at about a half dropperful at a time. Massage the ear canals well for at least a minute each, then allow the pet to shake the tincture out of the ears. Using ear swabs or cotton balls, gently clean out any remaining oil, mites and material from the ears. Repeat this process after three days or as needed.
  
  

Call a Vet

• In many cases, home remedies and natural remedies for mites are more than capable of addressing the problem. There are situations where you need to get help from a veterinarian, because by the time a mite problem causes symptoms, there are likely to be thousands of insects on the body of your cat or dog. If your pet does not respond to a natural remedy treatment within a week, showing a reduction in itching and irritation, make an appointment with your family veterinarian.