1. Observe the dog’s ears
Ear mites are parasitic inside the dog’s ears. First, you can make a preliminary judgment by observing whether there are any abnormalities in the appearance of the dog’s ears. If you have redness, swelling, itching and other symptoms around your ears, it may be caused by ear mites.
2. Check the ear canal secretions
Ear mites live in the dog’s ear canal and will cause an increase in ear canal secretions. Feel your dog's ear canal and observe the color, texture and smell of the discharge. If the discharge is black or dark brown, has a hard texture, and has a foul odor, it may be ear mite excrement, indicating that the dog may be infected with ear mites.
3. Record behavioral changes
Take simple photos and video records of the dog’s recent physical condition and behavioral changes to facilitate communication when consulting the pet doctor. If your dog is constantly scratching its ears, shaking its head, and feeling irritable, it may be due to itching and discomfort caused by ear mites.
4. Clinical examination
Take it to the pet hospital and ask the pet doctor to conduct a clinical examination. The pet veterinarian will use a microscope to observe whether there are ear mites in the ear canal secretions to confirm whether the dog is infected with ear mites.
To sum up, to determine whether a dog has ear mites, it is necessary to comprehensively observe the dog’s ear appearance, ear canal secretions, behavioral performance, and clinical examination by a pet doctor. Once an abnormality is discovered, it is recommended to seek medical treatment promptly and take corresponding treatment measures to avoid delaying the condition.