Oct 22, 2024
The ears are important parts of a dog’s anatomy. Their super powerful hearing helps them navigate around their surroundings and explore more of the world. When these ears get infected, dogs will experience a lot of stress and discomfort that can interrupt their everyday routine.
When a dog gets an ear infection, important to catch it early. Infections can quickly escalate. Luckily, most ear infections can be resolved fairly quickly with the right treatment and preventive care. But first, let’s talk about what ear infections are.
What are Dog Ear Infections?
Ear infection in dogs is a condition in which a dog’s ears get inflamed and irritated by either bacteria, yeast, or other foreign factors. If the infection is left untreated, it gets worse and can spread to other areas of your dog’s body.
Types of Dog Ear Infections
Ear infections in dogs are classified depending on the part or section of the ear infected. Here are the main types of dog ear infections:
Otitis Externa
Otitis externa, or an outer ear infection, is the most common type of ear infection in dogs, affecting the outer ear canal. Bacteria and yeast thrive in moist environments, and if moisture gets trapped in the ear, it can lead to infection. Symptoms include scratching, head shaking, redness, and a foul odor from the ear. Most cases of otitis externa can be treated with medicated ear drops or ointments.
Otitis Media
If an outer ear infection goes untreated, it can spread deeper, affecting the middle ear. Otitis media is a more severe and can cause balance problems or hearing issues. This means that your dog will have trouble balancing and hearing once this type of ear infection is involved. Oral antibiotics are often needed to treat this type of infection.
Otitis Interna
The most serious type of ear infection is otitis interna, which affects the inner ear. This part of the ear controls balance and hearing, so infections here can cause severe symptoms like loss of coordination, rapid eye movements, and even deafness. When dogs experience this type of ear infection, they might need more intensive treatment options, such as more powerful medications and surgery.
Symptoms of Dog Ear Infections
Ear infections in dogs can often be highlighted by several signs that relate to discomfort. Early detection of these signs is important to helping your dog get the care it needs right away. These are the common signs and symptoms of dog ear infections:
Head-Shaking
Along with scratching, frequent head shaking is another common sign of an ear infection. The irritation in the ear canal causes dogs to try and shake off the discomfort. If your dog is shaking their head more than usual or seems to be tilting their head to one side, it could be due to an infection.
Scratching and Itchiness
One of the most obvious signs of an ear infection in dogs is persistent scratching at the ears. Ear infections typically cause a lot of itchiness, which leads dogs to scratch at the affected ear with their paws or rub their head against furniture or the floor. They might even use the floor or grass. If you notice this behavior, they might be experiencing an itchy situation.
Redness and Swelling
Inflammation in the ear canal is another key indicator of an ear infection. A clean and healthy set of dog ears should be pink and free from inflammation and rashes. However, when the ears become infected, they might look red and swollen, with a surface that correlates to an itch. When this happens, the swelling can bring a lot of additional problems because of its size.
Color and Odor
Dogs have earwax, which can be clear, light brown or pale yellow in color. However, when dogs have an ear infection, the color can change according to the condition. Dark green ear wax can be found when dogs experience a bacterial infection, while a dark brown color would entail a yeast infection. Red ear wax can mean bleeding, which can come from ruptures and infections.
In addition to the colors, a dog’s ears can smell bad and give off a foul odor that is normally not there. This change could immediately mean an underlying issue, such as an infection.
Pain and Sensitivity
As the infection progresses, the ear may become painful to the touch. Your dog may yelp, pull away, or become agitated if you try to examine or touch their ears. This pain can be caused by inflammation, fluid buildup, or secondary infections in more severe cases.
Balance Issues or Hearing Loss
In advanced cases, the infection may affect the inner ear, leading to balance problems or hearing loss. You may see your dog having difficulty walking straight, stumbling, or losing coordination. Hearing loss can also develop if the infection isn’t treated in time.
What Causes Dog Ear Infections?
Ear infections in dogs can come from a number of factors, many of which involve the buildup of moisture, debris, or irritation inside the ear canal. Below are the most common causes of dog ear infections:
Bacterial Infections
Bacteria are one of the primary reasons why your dogs get ear infections. When moisture stays in the ears of a dog, it creates an ideal space for bacteria to grow and multiply. This is common in dogs who often take a swim or get their ears wet. As time goes by, the bacterial growth will start to irritation and infect the ears, causing redness, swelling, and irritation.
Yeast Infections
Just like bacteria, yeast can also take advantage of the moist environment for their growth. Some dogs are naturally prone to yeast infections in their ears, especially those with floppy ears that can trap moisture. Yeast infections often cause a distinct, musty odor and a thick, dark discharge from the ear.
Ear Mites
Ear mites are small parasites that love to stay in a dog’s ear canal, leading to irritation and inflammation. These parasites are highly contagious, meaning they can easily spread between animals, especially in multi-pet households. Dogs with ear mites typically scratch their ears vigorously and may have a dark, crumbly discharge that resembles coffee grounds.
Allergies
Many dogs suffer from allergies, whether environmental or food-related. These allergies can trigger ear infections. Allergic reactions cause the ear canals to become inflamed, making it easier for bacteria and yeast to grow. If your dog frequently experiences ear infections, especially during allergy seasons, it may be a sign of an underlying allergy.
Injuries
Injuries, either from excessive scratching, accidents, or animal fights, can open up the skin around the ears and cause infection. The open wounds and weakened skin can become susceptible to bacterial and yeast infections, as well as parasites. Additionally, foreign objects like dust, dirt, and pollen will cause infection and irritation if the wound is not treated.
How to Treat Dog Ear Infections?
Once our veterinarians have diagnosed your dog with an ear infection, treatment can begin to relieve the discomfort and address the underlying cause. The treatment plan we will use will depend on the cause of the infection and whether it affects the outer, middle, or inner ear. In the meantime, below are the most common treatments for dog ear infections:
Cleaning
As a great first step, treatment for your dog’s ear infection starts with cleaning its ears with a sterile solution and a gentle cloth. It’s essential to remove debris, wax, and, in some cases, discharge. We’ll also help you know the right way to gently clean your dog’s ears so you can do this at home, as well as give you the right products to use.
As an added bonus, we can also help groom your dogs to make sure every area of its body is clean and free from allergens. This helps keep its coat clean and its ears protected.
Topical Ear Drops
The most common types of treatment are in the forms of topical medications and ointments. Ear drops are super useful when it comes to targeting the cause of your dog’s ear infection. Antibiotic ear drops can target bacterial infections while antifungal ear drops help remove the yeast infection.
When it comes to ear mites, topical treatments can also be used to remove the parasites and prevent them from coming back. Additional ear drops and topical treatments can also be added to make sure your dog’s ears are relieved of the symptoms of swelling, redness, and irritation.
Oral Medications
Aside from topical treatments, oral medications can also be prescribed for your dog’s ear infection. This is useful when dealing with inner ear infections that are hard to reach for with topical treatments and ear drops. These oral medications are in the form of antibiotics, antifungals, and anti-parasitic medicines.
Surgery
For severe cases, surgical intervention is an option we provide for dogs in need. Surgery allows us to remove foreign bodies and debris that have made their way into your dog’s ears, causing the painful infection.
Conclusion
Ear infections in dogs are common, but our vets are always available to provide treatment options to help your dogs. With our compassionate care, extensive veterinary knowledge, and a fully-stocked vet pharmacy, your dog’s ear infection will be healed in no time.