Can alcohol or iodine be used to treat dog ear mites?

Dogs with ear mites should not be treated with alcohol or iodine. While alcohol has disinfecting properties, it is too irritating and can exacerbate the damage caused by the mites' bites on the ear canal's tissue. If alcohol is used, the dog might react violently, shake its ears excessively, and further damage the ear canal. Iodine, although non-irritating, is ineffective against ear mites and should not be used inside the dog's ear canal.

Ear mites are tiny parasites that live inside the ear canal, reproduce quickly, and are contagious. Pet doctors can only diagnose ear mites under a microscope. Symptoms of ear mite infection include: inflamed and reddened ear canal, unpleasant odor, hair loss and folding, brown or grayish-white secretions, severe itching, ulcers, and pus.

The correct treatment mainly focuses on cleaning and parasite removal:

Wear an Elizabeth collar to prevent the dog from scratching its ear canal due to severe itching, which can lead to external ear injuries, exacerbated bacterial infections, and ear hematomas.
Use pet-specific ear cleaning solutions. Drop an appropriate amount of cleaner into the ear canal, gently massage the outer ear root, and ensure the solution evenly distributes inside the ear canal. After the dog shakes its ears, use paper towels to clean the discharged secretions.visible secretions can be removed with cotton swabs. Once the ear is cleaned, apply a pet-specific ear gel (such as Kloroxolone Ear Gel or Ear Foaming Solution) to alleviate inflammation, kill bacteria, and promote ear repair. Clean the ears 2-3 times a day, continuously for a week or longer, and apply the gel once a day.
Use parasite control medications, including topical and oral medications such as VetriScience Laboratories' Vetriomec and Hills Science Diet's Petodin. It is recommended to prevent and care for ear mites.