Ear infections are one of the most common reasons why dogs visit veterinarians. They can be caused for various reasons including an overgrowth of yeast or bacteria, ear mites or as a side effect of allergies.

Symptoms

Some of the more common signs to look for are scratching or rubbing at the ears, a strong odor coming from the ear, redness or swelling of the ear, head shaking or tilting, or any dark debris or discharge coming from the ear. If these symptoms go untreated, secondary infections can result such as skin infections as well as aural hematomas which is when blood pools in between the skin and cartilage of the ear as a result of excessive shaking and scratching.

Ear infections start at the base of the ear canal which is not visible to the human eye. Only once the infection has spread up the canal can it be more visible and detectable which is why it is important to contact your veterinarian as soon as possible if your pet is exhibiting any of these symptoms.

Treatment

To properly treat an ear infection, the cause of the infection must be determined. Your veterinarian will take a swab of your pet’s ears to thoroughly examine the cells, bacteria, and yeast that are appearing in the ear as well as check for ear mites. Dogs naturally have yeast and bacteria growing in their ears; therefore, it is important to determine if there is an overgrowth of either or both of these organisms. An ear ointment and/or medication will be prescribed to treat your pet’s condition. Your veterinarian will perform a thorough ear cleaning to remove the excess debris from the ear canal to allow the ointment to work more effectively.

Prevention

The best way to avoid ear infections is to clean your dog’s ears on a regular basis, on average about once a month. Your dog’s ears should always be cleaned anytime the ears have come into contact with water, such as after bathing, swimming or playing in the snow. Water in the ear canal creates a moist environment that is ideal for yeast and bacteria to grow. Certain breeds of dogs are more prone to ear infections based on the conformation of their ears and the amount of hair in the ear canal. Some will require regular hair plucking inside the ears to ensure that the canal can breathe to help reduce the chance of infection. Ear infections can also be caused by other factors such as allergies. It is important to always follow up with your veterinarian to allow them to track the frequency and severity of reoccurring ear infections and ensure your pet gets the proper treatment.