Q: "My cat's date of birth was 7/1/23. Somehow, I ended up purchasing a very ill kitten from a private owner. I called him Pumpkin, and when I picked him up, it was at night in the pouring rain, so I ...

The classic dark, waxy discharge is a hallmark sign of ear mites. Severe itching is often caused by an allergic reaction (hypersensitivity), not just the mites themselves. Symptom severity does not ...

Q Do dogs get ear mites? How are they treated? A We tend to associate ear mites with cats, but dogs (and ferrets) can and do get them, especially as puppies. Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are tiny ...

While my cat is old and likely to have things go wrong, I am seeking advice on how to handle his head shaking. My cat is 16, and he has been shaking his head for the last two to three weeks. I have ...

Q: My new kitten Nala has ear mites, for which my veterinarian prescribed treatment. I know from reading your column that some animal parasites also infect people. Can Nala's ear mites jump to me?

I've read that if a pet has ear mites, these mites can travel to bedding and furniture and potentially attach themselves to a human host. I also understand that you don't need your own pet to be at ...

Q: How do ear mites travel? I have a kitten I just brought into the house who I think had ear mites because her ears were dirty, and now my other cats have dirty ears. How does that happen? I can’t ...

If you have a cat, you know your little guy does a pretty good job of grooming on his own. But sometimes kitties need some extra help. As a cat parent, it’s important to know when you might need to ...