Mary Allen
Ear infection (otitis) is very common in dogs and is also very uncomfortable and often painful for the animals. Here you will find important information about causes and treatment.
The Dog’s Ear
The dog ear is divided into the outer, middle, and inner ear. The external auditory canal first runs vertically downwards, then it bends and runs horizontally to the eardrum. Therefore, during an examination, the ear is always gently pulled up and to the side in order to be able to look up to the eardrum. The middle ear begins with the eardrum: It contains the so-called tympanic cavity, a kind of bladder with a thin bony wall, and the auditory ossicles (hammer, anvil, stirrup), which transmit the sound into the inner ear. The senses of hearing and balance are located in the inner ear.
What Is An Ear Infection?
An ear infection (otitis) refers to the inflammation of part or all of the ear. This leads to classic signs of inflammation such as pain, swelling, redness, heat, and impaired function (e.g. balance disorders).
Depending on the affected part, otitis is named as follows:
- Otitis externa: Inflammation of the external auditory canal
- Otitis media: Inflammation of the middle ear
- Otitis interna: Inflammation of the inner ear
Otitis externa is often accompanied by otitis media. Especially if it persists for a longer period of time, the risk of a middle ear infection increases.
How Does Otitis Develop In Dogs?
There are many possible causes of otitis externa in dogs:
- Allergies (hypersensitivity reactions such as food, environmental, contact allergies, and drug reactions)
- Infections with parasites, yeast, or bacteria
tumors (cancer) - Foreign bodies (awns, earwax plugs)
- Autoimmune diseases, cornification disorders (rare)
So-called predisposing factors for otitis are those that promote its development: If the dog has lop ears, this increases e.g. B. his risk of contracting an ear infection, since the ventilation is poorer. The same applies to dogs that go swimming frequently and whose ears do not dry properly. The warm humidity provides a good breeding ground for pathogens. A narrow ear canal, which is common in cockers, also makes it easier for an ear infection to develop. Some dog breeds also have particularly watery or particularly greasy ear secretions, which also promote otitis. Last but not least, the dog owners also play a role: If the ear is cleaned frequently with aggressive agents, an ear infection can develop more quickly.
Perpetuating factors are conditions that promote the maintenance of otitis externa: An existing middle ear infection promotes the outer ear infection. If the outer auditory canal has already changed as a result of the otitis, is narrowed, has a higher moisture content, etc., this disrupts the healing of the inflammation enormously.
A middle ear infection usually develops from otitis externa. But you can z. B. can also be triggered by a sore throat, but this is rather rare.
The inner ear infection usually develops from the middle ear infection. Very rarely, germs are carried into the inner ear via the blood.
Symptoms Of Otitis In The Dog
Otitis externa is usually noticeable through dirty ears, head shaking, scratching of the ears, and possibly a tilted head position. Increased and changed ear secretion and a strong odor from the ears are also characteristic. The dog does not want to be touched on the ears and will make defensive movements if you try. If you do manage to look into your ears, you can see the swollen auditory canal and you often get an unpleasant smell.
If otitis media has developed, there is also – or alone – pain when touching and opening the jaw, a tilted head position, and paralysis of the facial nerves, which can be caused by e.g. B. a hanging eyelid or corner of the mouth. The eyes also sink into their sockets and the pupil narrows.
Otitis interna can lead to a loss of hearing and balance disorders, which manifest themselves in movement disorders, walking in circles, falling over to one side, or similar. to express. Vomiting, squinting, and trembling of the eyes (nystagmus) also occur.
Otitis In The Dog: Diagnosis
If you notice one or more of the symptoms mentioned in your four-legged friend, please contact your veterinarian. Rapid treatment e.g. B. an external ear infection prevents a middle ear infection from developing at all or an acute problem from becoming a chronic, permanent problem. Also, otitis is very uncomfortable and painful for dogs.
The veterinarian will examine your darling thoroughly and examine not only the ears but also the rest of the body. This is where information about the cause of the disease can be found, which in turn is important for the treatment, e.g. B. Evidence of a food allergy. After the external assessment, the ears are also examined with the otoscope (ear mirror), a magnifying glass with lighting, and a funnel attached that allows you to see up to the eardrum. Do not be alarmed by any violent reactions from your dog: as with humans, an ear examination is also rather uncomfortable for them, even if they are healthy. Therefore, the reaction can of course be even stronger in the case of painful ears. Sometimes a short sedation with tranquilizers is necessary to be able to examine the ears really well.
Swab samples can also be taken from the ear for testing e.g. B. parasites, yeast fungi (Malassezia), and bacteria, which are often responsible for an ear infection alone or in various combinations.
Further examination options exist with the video otoscope and imaging procedures such as X-ray, CT, or MRT.
Treatment Of Ear Infection
It is important to treat otitis in dogs as quickly and fundamentally as possible so that no negative consequential damage occurs or the problem occurs again and again. It is Z. For example, it is not very helpful to treat the ear infection if the underlying food allergy persists, because then the ears will keep getting infected or will not heal completely. Research into the causes is therefore of great importance so that it can be treated sustainably.
The veterinarian will clean the ears thoroughly if necessary rinse them under a short anesthetic. The latter is often necessary in the case of long-standing inflammation, one-sided problems (only one ear affected), or e.g. B. very solid, hard earwax. Medication can also be used at the same time to relieve the ear infection. Most contain a combination of antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal (fungus-killing) agents. Even if the cause z. B. is due to an allergy, an additional bacterial infection can worsen the ear infection and must be treated. Dogs that suffer from very painful ear infections or in which the disease lasts for a long time are also given painkillers. If parasites are involved in otitis, they are killed by appropriate means.
However, some dogs also require surgical intervention, for example, if there is a tumor in the ear canal or if the otitis cannot be cured even with long-term treatment. Surgery can improve the ventilation of the ear, which prevents or significantly reduces the development of otitis.
Be patient! Treating an ear infection in dogs can take time. It is also necessary to check the success of the treatment. At the end of the therapy, the veterinarian will take a deep look into the ear and take a swab sample to ensure that the ear infection is really over.
For some dogs, a lifetime of ear care is required afterward. The veterinarian will explain to you how to use the ear cleaner correctly. should not be used directly from the refrigerator (otherwise, your darling will react increasingly angrily and at some point will no longer let himself be touched).
Can I Prevent Ear Infection In My Dog?
Follow these tips for dog ear care:
- Never (!) clean yourself with cotton swabs. These push dirt and earwax deeper into the ear and tend to make the problem worse.
- No hair plucking. This is not necessary in healthy ears and can actually make the problems worse in the case of an ear infection.
- After swimming or bathing, make sure your ears dry well and completely.
- If you have minor injuries or similar see, you can disinfect them. Carefully remove awns in the auricle quickly with your fingers or take them to the vet immediately, as they move deeper and deeper and then get stuck in the eardrum.
- Don’t put irrigation fluids or oil in the ear without talking to the vet about it. If the eardrum is damaged, these can get into the middle ear and do more harm than good.
If your dog already has an ear infection, feel free to ask your vet what you can do at home. Some dogs find a hot water bottle or warm compress comfortable. It relieves pain and allows secretions to drain better.
Otitis In The Dog: Conclusion
Otitis in dogs is a very common disease that must be treated promptly and causally. This avoids a lengthy process and consequential damage. In addition, it is very unpleasant for the dogs and usually painful.