Ear Care

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY DOG HAS AN EAR DISEASE?

Signs of ear disease include:

  • Odor
  • Scratching of the ears
  • Ear itching, scratching, or head shaking
  • Red and thickened skin on ears
  • Infected ears also tend to be warm and painful to the touch

Your pet may also be tilting their head to one side although it's important to point out that there are causes for head tilting than ear disease. The color and consistency of discharge may vary from yellow liquid to black wax; although the color does not indicate one particular cause.

WHAT CAUSES EAR PROBLEMS?

Allergies are a very common cause of ear problems.  In fact, many of the infections are due to an underlying allergy. If there are recurring symptoms, allergies are almost certainly the cause. Environmental allergens such as pollen, molds, and house dust mites are frequent causes of allergy. Food allergy is also a common cause of ear problems.  While your pet is not allergic to a brand of food, they are most likely allergic to one or more food ingredients.  A food trial is the only method to determine if a food allergy is an etiology (there is no reliable blood or intradermal skin test for food allergy). Consequently, a flea allergy is generally not a cause of ear abnormalities.

Occasionally a foreign body will make its way into the ear canal and cause irritation or even perforate the eardrum. Pieces of plants, especially seedpods called foxtails, are a common foreign body that can cause ear problems. Anesthesia may be needed to remove the object. Tumors, which are even more rare, may develop in the ear canal and cause a blockage. Surgery may be needed to remove the mass and pathology should be performed to determine if it is benign or malignant.

HOW DO WE TREAT EAR PROBLEMS?

Treatment of ear problems will depend on the cause of the disease, for example, a bacterial infection is treated differently than a yeast infection. A foreign body needs removal while ear mites need a parasite treatment. In general, treatment often involves oral medicine, topical medicine, and ear cleansers. It is also important to know whether the eardrum is intact, as many topical medications can't be used if there is a ruptured eardrum. In more advanced cases surgery may be the preferred method of treatment.

Ear problems are a malady your veterinarian sees on a regular basis. Most are healed with routine treatment but some cases can be more challenging. It is important to have a thorough exam, appropriate treatment and a follow-up plan to check on progress and ensure complete recovery. Many "repeat" infections are cases that never truly healed completely.

ear infection

Your veterinarian is your pet's best friend when it comes to ear problems 

so don't hesitate to call with your questions or make an appointment if 

you are concerned that your pet may be experiencing ear problems.

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Ears