What You Should Know About Dog Ear Infections

You should learn as much as you can about dog ear infections -- otitis externs -- before it becomes necessary. In short, learn beforehand how to recognize the signs and symptoms of dog ear infections so you'll be ready to help your dog cope with the problem if it ever becomes necessary.

There are three parts to an ear: outer, middle, and inner ear. Otitis externa is the infection of the outer part of the ear, the part you can see. Because of the way that a dog's ears are formed, they are hard to drain. Water and other detritus can become trapped inside the ear, leading to inflammation and infections.

Here are some of the signs to watch for if you think your dog may have an ear infection:

She may shake her head often, seeking to clear debris from her ear;
Drainage from her ear may be a yellowish-brown fluid;
That drainage may smell somewhat like years;
Depending on the severity of the problem, there may be redness and swelling (inflammation) in the area.

There are a number of reasons for ear infections occur, including:

Allergies, which affect some dogs -- and some breeds -- more than others. If your dog is among those especially susceptible to allergic problems, infection of one ear can spread to another; and you will have to keep an on-going watch to catch ear infection problems early in their development.
If your dog swims, she'll be more likely to develop ear infections. The anatomy of a dog's ear makes it difficult for the water to drain out; this lack of draining leads to multiplication of yeast and bacteria in the ear. Whenever your dog has been in the water, dry her ears as thoroughly as possible in an effort to prevent problems.

Once an ear infection has been diagnosed, you begin taking the steps necessary for treatment. First of all, clean your dog's ears. Try dripping in a few drop of ear cleaner and then massaging the area well. This should help to loosen anything stuck in there. Wipe away any dirt or other matter -- including excess ear wax -- that doesn't belong there.

Once the area is cleaned, you should apply whatever medication(s) you've received from your vet. Carefully follow the vet's instructions, which may include having you apply medications to both ears even if only one ear appears to be affected.

Just as not all people receive identical treatment at the doctor's office, so it is with dogs. Not all dogs receive the same treatment for an ear infection. In fact, your dog may receive different treatments at different times, depending upon what the vet diagnoses as the underlying problem.

If the underlying problem appears to be yeast-related, your dog will probably receive an anti-fungal medication. If the problem seems to be bacterial in nature, she'll probably get an anti-bacterial treatment. Alternatively, if she has advanced symptoms -- a bigger problem -- she may receive some form of oral medication to provide systemic treatment.

Your vet may also remove some of the hair around the ear, thus increasing airflow around the ear and reducing the time it takes to heal. In rare cases, surgery may be called for to reconstruct the ear canal for more efficient drainage.

Once you know the signs and symptoms, you're in a much better position to protect your dog in the first place, and to care for her if an infection does occur. You'll know that treatment is available and you'll know you've done your best to care for your beloved pet.

What You Should Know About Dog Ear Infections

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