Parasitology (Worms, Mites & Ticks) Dog Cat

Ear Mite (Otodectes) Examination

An ear mite examination checks a swab of ear wax and discharge under a microscope for Otodectes, tiny mites that live in the ear canal of dogs and cats. It can help your vet find the cause of itchy ears and dark ear wax.

Sample: Ear swab
Quantity: As advised
Report: Confirmed when you book
Collection: Free in Bhopal

What this test checks

Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis), including adult mites and eggs, in a swab of ear wax and discharge
Whether mites may explain itchy ears, head shaking or dark, crumbly wax
A first answer that helps your vet decide whether other ear tests are needed

When your vet may advise it

Your dog or cat keeps scratching its ears or shaking its head.
The ears hold dark brown or black, crumbly wax that looks like coffee grounds.
A new kitten, puppy or rescued pet has dirty, itchy ears.
Another pet in the same home has been found to have ear mites.

About this test

Ear mites, called Otodectes, are tiny parasites that live in the ear canal and feed on wax and skin debris. They are a common cause of itchy ears, especially in kittens, and they spread easily between cats and dogs that live together. For this test, a swab of wax and discharge is taken from the ear canal and spread on a slide so the mites and their eggs can be looked for under a microscope. Mites can be few, so a single negative swab does not always rule them out. A registered veterinarian reads the report together with your pet's signs and history.

How to prepare

Do not clean the ears or put in any drops before the swab is taken, and tell your vet about any ear products used recently. The lab confirms the method, sample needs and reporting time when you book.

Questions about Ear Mite (Otodectes) Examination

How can I tell if my cat has ear mites?

A vet can confirm ear mites by checking a swab of ear wax under a microscope, because the mites are too small to see clearly with the eye. Scratching the ears, head shaking and dark, crumbly wax make a vet suspect them, but other ear problems can look the same.

Can ear mites spread from my cat to my dog?

Yes, ear mites pass easily between cats and dogs through close contact in the same home. If one pet has them, your vet may want to check the other pets too, even if they are not scratching yet.

Before you book this test

Why this notice: so you know, before you book, how a test is done, what its limits are and who is responsible.

Where it is tested. Some tests are done wholly or partly by an independent partner laboratory. The lab tells you before booking if this test is sent out, and the report names the laboratory that did it.
What a result can and cannot tell you. No test is right every time. A normal result does not rule out every disease, and an abnormal result does not prove one. A registered veterinarian should read the report with the animal’s signs and history before any treatment is started, changed or stopped.
The sample. A sample that is clotted, too small, wrongly labelled, leaking or too old may be rejected or reported with a note, and the lab may ask for a fresh one.
Reporting time. Confirmed when you book. Times are estimates, not guarantees, and the lab confirms the time when you book.
Emergencies. A booking or a pending report must not delay urgent care. If an animal has collapsed, struggles to breathe, has fits or bleeds heavily, call a veterinarian at once.

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