Sarah Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 Ear infections are quite common in dogs. Although any dog can get an ear infection, breeds such as Cocker Spaniels with heavy pendulous ears and Yorkshire Terriers with lots of hair inside the ears are most susceptible. Causes Ear infections are most commonly caused by bacteria, yeast, or mites. Anything that impairs drainage and promotes moisture in the ear such as waxy buildup, dirt, hair mats, growths, or ticks can bring on infection. Sometimes pollen, dust, mold, fleas, and even certain foods can cause irritation within the ear. Symptoms Dogs with an ear infection may scratch at the ear, shake their heads excessively or hold their heads tilted, or scoot the side of the heads with the infected ear along the ground or carpet. They may shy away from being petted around the ears. Upon examination, dog owners may find the ear to be red and irritated or filled with dark or yellowish discharge. Often a smelly odor is detected. Treatment Home treatment is not recommended for several reasons. The type of infection needs to be identified. If the infection is bacterial, the type of bacteria needs to be identified so that the appropriate antibiotic is used. If the infection is caused by mites, these mites are often resistant to over the counter drugs. And whether or not the ear drum is intact determines what kind of cleansers and medications should be used. Additionally, there may be underlying causes that need to be addressed. Early treatment by a veterinarian is best. When an infection is allowed to linger, it may be harder to cure and has the potential for permanent damage. Depending on the type of infection, the veterinarian may prescribe ear washes and/or ear drops and antibiotics to be administered daily or twice daily. He may prescribe ointment with steroids or topical spot treatments or antihistamines. In extreme cases, when the ear canal is swollen shut, surgery may be the only option. The vet may also look for any underlying causes such as diabetes, allergies, tumour, or thyroid problems, and address those as well. Prognosis Most ear infections in dogs respond well to treatment but in some cases, they can be chronic and recurring. The longer an infection has been established, generally the harder it is to cure. Untreated infections can cause extreme pain and hearing loss. Prevention Regular cleanings with a good ear cleansing solution go a long way toward preventing ear infections. Dogs with hair growing inside the ears will benefit from keeping it clipped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyMukki Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Home treatment is not recommended for several reasons. The type of infection needs to be identified. If the infection is bacterial, the type of bacteria needs to be identified so that the appropriate antibiotic is used. If the infection is caused by mites, these mites are often resistant to over the counter drugs. And whether or not the ear drum is intact determines what kind of cleansers and medications should be used. Additionally, there may be underlying causes that need to be addressed. When we got Mukki the foster Mom gave me some 'ear wash' and told me to wash his ears a few times a day because he had an infection.... It made no sense to me and I immediately took him to the vet. While his foster mom meant well, what she had done was keep his ears moist and a yeast infection took hold... it was one of the worst the vet had seen. Our vet prescribed meds and had us put our dogs on Revolution, which controls ear mites and is friggin expensive! It took a while to get Mukki cured but it has never returned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bec Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Just to add from my experience (Daisy is prone to ear infections and they can be a pain in the butt) that if it is a yeast based infection a change of diet to eliminate grains generally can help stop them. Sometimes medicating just treats the issue rather than prevents it - I could have kept Daisy on medicated ear cleaner from the vet but the ear infections would keep coming back - so it treated the problem but didn't solve it. Dogs like Siberians are also less likely to have ear infections as their ears are raised up, and they get a good air flow whereas breeds with folded ears do not get the same air flow, don't 'self-clean' as easily and are more likely to get some types of ear infections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siberian_wolf Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Fantastic post Sarah - added to rep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.