Otitis Externa (Ear Infections)
What is Otitis Externa?
Otitis Externa or ear infections are common, usually itchy or painful conditions due to inflammation of the outer, middle or inner ear. Trauma, tumors, allergies, or foreign bodies can cause ear infections. Most commonly, the outer ear is affected causing irritation, inflammation, and discomfort.
How does my dog get ear infections?
The most common cause of outer ear infections are chronic inflammation within the ear canal leading to changes in the normal lining of the canal. The lining becomes thickened and enlarged and concurrently increases its wax production. The canal narrows, the wax builds up, moisture is trapped within and this becomes a perfect incubator for bacteria or yeast. The primary causes of ear infections include mites, allergies (especially to foods, airborne allergens), and foreign bodies. The changes noted above are a result of the allergies, mites, etc. Cancer, polyps, and excessive hair are also common causes of external ear conditions. Bacteria and yeast multiply readily in warm, moist environments.
How do I know if my dog has ear infections?
Head shaking, odor, pain and scratching at the ears are classic signs of an ear infection. If the infection progresses, a head tilt or in-coordination may occur. The ear canals are usually red, swollen, and contain excessive wax. In a normal dog, waxy exudates are minimal. If these exudates appear to be greater than usual, an infection may be developing.
What can I do about my dog’s ear infections?
The inflammation and discomfort associated with ear infections require the assistance of a veterinarian to get under control. Treatment may include a variety of ear washes (either awake or under sedation), antibiotics (orally and applied in the ear canal), and anti-inflammatory agents (for the discomfort).
Is there anything I can do to prevent my dog from getting ear infections?
If you have a breed with a predilection to ear infections (see below), looking inside the ear on a regular basis will help you identify a problem early. Keeping ‘hairy-eared’ dogs ear canals free of hair is imperative. Floppy eared dogs benefit from good air circulation. Moisture in the ear canals from swimming, bathing, showering, or the wrong cleansers are a very, very common cause of infections.
Are there certain breeds that get ear infections more often?
Floppy-eared dogs, spaniels, retrievers, basset hounds, have a high risk. In addition, dogs with hair growth within the canal are at greater risk, such as terriers and poodles.