Itchy Ears

[ranger]

Ok Zoe went to the vet last night.  Her ears are getting bare my vet swabed her ear and stained it NOTHING! Poor Zoe really hates being confined in a box when I put her in it she went it then panicked turned around and tried to get out.  She didn't even want to get back in to come home.

Anyway my vet suggested Revolution for her and Mia to see if would work, she said maybe it was some kind of scavies (sp).  This was what the first dermotoligist thought and gave them shots of ivermection (sp) all three of them.

Is Revolution safe enought to try on Zoe & Mia? Zoe probably has asthma and Mia may have intestional problems.  If I do the Revolution and it works would I have to do it all over again if I then give it to Socks?

Maybe I should have started a new thread.

I also wonder if there are some kind of mite in my sofa and/or bed since I don't have carpets.  My steam cleaner should be arriving this week but I think I will need a vacuum cleaner that can suck up mites off mattress and couch.

Any help appreciated.

[Spartycats]

It seems this should be confirmed with a skin scraping. 
I'm sorry, I can't speak to the safety of Revolution, but not a lot of choices, if it's scabies.  (This mite does not survive long off the cat)

Some info:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_notoedric_mange.html

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2236+2239&aid=737

[JustMe]

My dogs had sarcoptic mange a couple years ago on their elbows (bare of fur plus one dog had red dots on her belly skin). Vet thought it was from foxes in our yard since they really aren't around other dogs nor do they go in the woods.  Vet gave them ivermectin injections, but also drops once a month for 3 months.  Can't remember off hand which drops though.  It worked.  We also had to put drops on the cats one month though they had no signs of mites.  Don't think they live in furniture at all and can be diagnosed via skin scrapings, but sometimes don't even show up in the scrapings depending on their life cycle from what I recall.

[ranger]

Thank goodness she does not look like that, Spartycats there are no scabs just missing hair on her ears.  All three are scratching.

Just to clarify when we went to the dermatologist last time for three it was Reggie, Ranger & Socks in 2004.  The shots didn't do any good.  Ranger had itchy ears the rest of her life, the others not.  I think it might be seasonal?  I can't remember for sure when it was but fall, early winter seems right, maybe I can find an old vet bill.

Justme thought for sure whatever it is is living in the furniture or somewhere in my condo.  We never had these problems before we moved there.

Thanks for the info.

[JJ]

Found this and might help w/the itching:

Getting rid of ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) is often as simple as applying mineral oil to your cat or dog's ears. Apply mineral oil with an eye dropper or an ear syringe and gently massage the inside of your pet's ears with your thumbs, pressing your fingers against the "furry side" of their ears to keep your leverage. Once you're satisfied that you've coated their ears, allow your pet to shake the oil out by themselves. You may wan to do this outside to prevent mineral oil (and ear wax) from being splattered on your furniture or carpet.

To get rid of scabies (Sarcoptes scabiei), often known as itch mites,

rest of info at:

http://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-mites.htm

It should be kept in mind that getting rid of ear mites and dust mites completely is impossible. Ear mites are thought to be able to survive without a host for several months, making even the best kept animal shelter particularly susceptible to ear mite infestation.

[lesliek]

The Bissell Healthy Home vac is great for getting stuff out thats deep in the carpet, furniture or mattress. Its $$ & heavy to push though. I also had a Dyson, but it wasn't strong enough suction so I replaced it with a Shark cyclonic. The Bissell does have a beater bar turn off which is good for bare floors, & a tool with a beater bar for furniture. There are sprays & powders you can use for mites in the house, but they are toxic & you & the cats would have to leave.

[lesliek]

Forgot to say I've used Revolution with no problems in my 5.

[ranger]

Leslie how old are your cats? I don't have carpet just want to vaccum the couch & bed and bare floors so I don't want something big and heavy.

Thanks for the link jj yikes I am itchy now

[lesliek]

Punkin is 21 & Oreo is 11. The problem is only the big & heavy vac's will get down into furniture & mattress padding. A shampooer should kill mites too, but it takes a while for the cushions or mattress to dry.

[JJ]

Judy heat will also kill the lil beasties. Maybe an electric blanket wrapped around the couch cushion(s), sides, back etc. would knock 'em out of the couch. Would wash their bedding, your bedding, blankets, etc. in very warm water and try the mineral oil on their ears to help w/the itching.

I have a sears kenmore canister vac that sucks up dog hair to the point where you rub your hands over the rug and come up w/no hair. Has very good suction for a 3.9 v motor. Whatever method you do use to vacuum I would suck up about two teaspoons of plain table salt into the vacuum so that the salt will suffocate anything that ends up in the bag so nothing can remain alive after being in the bag. I know other recommend putting a flea collar in the bag but this way your not using any chemicals that will spew into the air from the exhaust on the vacuum cleaner by using salt.