Otitis Externa (ear infection)

  
Ear infections are one of the more common reasons for dogs to visit the vet.  Cats however are not as prone to ear infections. Ear infections in dogs and cats are generally different than ear infections in humans but no less painful.  There are many factors that lead to dogs having ear infections and if there is any question about a possible infection your dog should visit the vet as soon as possible.  Some ear infections may heal quickly, but others can be chronic and painful for your dog.
Some of the causes of an ear infection include:

• Bacteria
• Yeast 
• Ear mites
• Allergies
• Anatomical issues
• Conformation of the ear
• Breed disposition

Often times, multiple causes are present and need to be controlled before resolution can be achieved. Since ear infections can be quite painful for your pet, it is a good idea to be aware of what signs to look for.  Some of the common signs of an ear infection may include:

• Hot or painful to touch
• Odorous 
• Head shaking
• Scratching at ears
• Inflammation of the ear ? occasionally you can also see wax at the canal
• Ear discharge

When a pet has an ear infection the vet may recommend different tests to diagnose.  Things such as an ear swab, culture or even blood tests may need to be done.  Depending on the diagnosis, medication may be prescribed to heal the ears.  Typically a recheck of the ears is recommended due to reoccurrence being a possibility. It is very important to get ear infections treated as soon as possible. Not only are they painful, but the longer an infection is present the harder it is to resolve and the pet is more likely to have chronic changes in the ear which could result in the need for surgery or even make complete resolution impossible.


If you find your dog seems to continuously get ear infections there may be an underlying cause that needs some investigating by the vet to help heal or control the infections.