Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My dog has dark ear wax, coffee grounds. Ear mites? OTC treatment?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 7 years and 1 month old | 9999 lbs

So, my 7 year old, chihuahua shitzu mix has a thick dark brown almost black looking wax coming our of one ear and there are coffee ground spots in there too. Is it ear mites and if you can't diagnose him online, what is the most effective ear mite treatment i can get without a prescription?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on May 20th, 2018

It could be ear mites, and unfortunately I can't diagnose Peaty online because I can't see him in person or examine the wax coming out of his ears. Revolution treats ear mites, but I do highly recommend a vet visit for this problem. This is because ear infections in dogs can also be caused by yeast or bacteria, and in order to treat him properly, the cause needs to be diagnosed. I certainly don't want you to spend money on a treatment that ends up being ineffective because it isn't the correct medication for the ear infection (Revolution does not treat yeast or bacterial ear infections). I would make an appointment for him to be seen by a vet for this problem so it can be treated correctly the first time. Best of luck.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have been trying all kinds of ear mites medicine's and still won't go. Have done everything medicine wise and house. Help plz
First of all you need to make sure it is ear mites, this means taking neo to the vet, they will take a small swab from his ears and look under the microscope, if it is mites, it cannot be missed, but there are other things that could cause ear infections such as yeast and bacterias which are actually more common than ear mites. If it is earmites after all, i recommend either Revolution spot on or advocate spot on - both every 2 weeks (instead of 4) for 2 treatments, that should solve the ear mite problem.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I found this in her ears, could this be because of ear mites?
It could be due to ear mites but it could also be just dark wax or a yeast/bacterial infection. if she is scratching her ears i would recommend taking her to the vet in order to get it checked and treated.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi I noticed when checking Wallace's ears last week there were little brown things in there. I thought it was dirt but recently learned about ear mites. He occasionally scratches around each ear but I thought it was his collar. I know the vet has to
This amount of "dirt" on the external part of the ear i would considered normal, ear mites tend to be darker, like ground coffee, but in some cases it's not possible to actually see it from outside, the vet needs to check it with a cotton bud and under the microscope to confirm what it is. there 3 types of ear infections in dogs: yeast, bacterias and mites (less common). if Wallace seems to scratch his ears or shakes his head then it would be a good idea to get it checked by your vet.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I'm trying to figure out if my puppy has ear mites or yeast? She's been itching it and I see this build up in her left ear.
Typically with ear mites, it will affect both ears. They also look like coffee grinds. The only way to say exactly what it is, is to look at the discharge from the ear under a microscope. If this is done you can actually see the ears mites walk around. To see if it is bacteria and yeast the veterinarian will have to stain the slide to determine. Then appropriate treatment can be given. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I know for sure my dog has ear mites. By the dark brown mater clusters n his ears, the way he goes nuts when u rub them and by how he is scratching nd rubbing his head on everything. I need to know what I can use that I don't have to pay a over $3.0
Unlike cats (in which ear mites are very common), ear mites are not commonly diagnosed in dogs. When they are diagnosed, it is commonly in dogs that live in an unkempt area, in puppies with poor immune systems, or dogs with other diseases. The symptoms your describe can easily be seen in dogs with yeast ear infections. Mites need to be killed with appropriate insecticides, and there are no home remedies that are safe and guaranteed to work. I suggest saving a few more dollars to spend on actual medication that will treat ear mites. You might call local animal shelters, rescue groups, or animal charities in your area to inquire about low-cost options or financial assistance in treating Indica.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My friend has 2 dogs and 3 cats all with ear mites. I dont think they'll be able to take all of them to vets. I was wondering if there was something they could do at home to help clear them up? They have alcohol wipes, neosporin, hydrogen peroxide, v
No, do not put oil in their ears! That will make things so much worse! Unfortunately no, this cannot be treated at home, they need medication from the vet to treat the ear mites. Revolution is an excellent product that kills ear mites. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have an Australian cattle dog. He keeps it hing his right ear. I was wondering if there is an over tje counter medicine i can give him. I clean his ear out a lot and the qtip always comes out black.
If the q-tip comes out black, then there is an excess of ear wax and likely an infection. The infection can be caused by bacteria, yeast, or even mites. Ear infections in dogs are very itchy, and often require prescription medications to help clear them quickly and manage the itch. The first step in treating an ear infection is breaking down the large chunks of wax and getting them out of the way so that medications can get to the surface of the ear. I like ear cleaners like Dechra Malacetic Ultra Otic that are antibacterial and antifungal. If you clean Remington's ears twice a day for a couple of days and he is still itching, he will need to go to the vet for prescription medications.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
How can i tell whether my dog has earmites or just earwax?There is brown stuff in her ears and they sometimes makes spots at the outpart of her ear where i have to gently scrape them off. She doesnt scaftch her ears.
Hi, thanks for using PerCoach! Ear mites are very itchy. But you can’t tell if is ear mites, a bacterial or yeast ear infection or just excessive wax with out examining the wax under a microscope. Your vet can do this. You can also start cleaning her ears with an ear cleaner. I’d flush them every other day for 2 weeks then twice weekly for a month then once weekly long term. https://m.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3307+61+23848&pcatid=23848 Have a good day!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Cat has ear mites. I’m waiting for first dose of Revolution to kick in (applied 2 weeks ago). I have been cleaning his ears pretty well with Zymox and cotton balls but I’m sure there’s still mites left in his ears where I can’t get to. I hate to see
Cute kitty! It may take 3-4 weeks for the revolution to completely rid the infection. You can purchase Eradimite or Otomite without a prescription and this may help rid the infection more quickly. Not sure if the Zymox you’re using is the treatment drops (which are great) or the cleanser (also a great product) but if it’s not the cleanser you are using already, then get some type of ear cleanser to help break up the “gunk” and get them out of there. Thanks for asking Boop by Petco!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My Maltese has been having ear problems for over 2 weeks now . His ear has a lot of black gunk in it and when he shakes his head liquid sometimes comes out , and he is very irritated shaking his head a lot. I don’t have the money at the moment for hi
This black, tarry substance is mostly wax and cleansing twice daily with an alcohol free ear cleanser for 5-7 days should help remove this (it will also remove any mites which may be stuck in it). Fill the ear with the solution, rub gently and then wipe away the disolved wax - repeat 3-5 times until ear appears clean; do this twice daily until ear has been thoroughly clean for 2 cleanings and then 1-2 times weekly to prevent build up. Any severe pain, blood or loss of appetite indicates there may be an infection and this would require assessment by a vet to prescribe the correct medicated drops
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Ear & Eye Medicine Dog Ear Care Antifungal Medication for Dogs Dog Treats & Chews Prescription Dewormer for Dogs Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Prescription Horse Ear & Eye Care Dog Ear & Eye Care Prescription Shampoo for Dogs Heartworm Medicine for Dogs Revolution Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Revolution Heartworm Medicine for Dogs Revolution Prescription Flea & Tick Medicine for Dogs Revolution Prescription Flea & Tick Medicine Revolution Topical Flea & Tick Treatment for Dogs Pawtitas Dog Ear Care Revolution Plus Prescription Flea & Tick Medicine PetAlive Dog Ear Care Revolution Prescription Heartworm Medication OxyMed Dog Ear Care
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored