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: 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?

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 ...