Earache Dog: What Are The Causes?

There are several causes of earache in dogs. Here we clarify the most important questions on this topic.

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.

Earache Dog: Symptoms

Dogs with earaches are more likely to shake their heads, rub their paws, scratch their ears, and are very reluctant to be touched. As a pet owner, if you are able to look inside the ear, you may be able to see earwax, smell a sweet, sour, or putrid odor, or find the skin red.

But also tilting the head, pain when opening the mouth, or staggering can indicate an ear problem, in this case, the middle and inner ear.

If you observe such behavior in your dog, please take your animal to a veterinarian!

Earache Dog: What Are The Causes?

There are several medical conditions that cause ear pain in dogs. Here are some important ones:

• A very common cause of earache in dogs is inflammation of the external auditory canal, and otitis externa. It is caused by e.g. yeast fungi, bacteria, or parasites, but also foreign bodies such as awns or an allergic reaction with subsequent scratching. Excessive sebum formation, too much hair growth in the ear, and frequent swimming/bathing (water in the ear) also promote it. It is not uncommon for ear infections to be caused by an underlying disease that affects the entire body. Left untreated, it can result in middle ear and even inner ear infections.
• These two diseases can also arise in other ways, but this is rather rare. Read more about otitis here.
• The eardrum may be inflamed or perforated. Above all, the veterinarian can see what is happening behind the eardrum: if there is liquid, pus, or blood in the middle ear (tympanic effusion), you can sometimes see this quite well through the quite transparent eardrum.
• Growths in the ear canal can be benign or malignant (cancerous) and can also lead to earache in dogs. If possible, they will be removed.
• A hematoma is an accumulation of blood between the cartilage layer and the skin of the auricle. This usually occurs through blunt injuries or violent shaking, the latter often as a result of an ear infection or foreign objects.
• Ear edge seborrhea is a common, presumably genetically caused keratinization disorder of the skin. There are firmly adhering scales, missing hair, and sometimes inflammation on the edge of the ears, some dogs suffer from itching. Breeds more often affected are e.g. B. Dachshund and Doberman Pinscher.

By the way: dogs with lop ears are more likely to have problems with inflammation, as are dogs that like to go swimming. Dogs with prick ears, on the other hand, run the risk of a foreign object penetrating. Brachycephalic (short-headed) breeds such as Pugs, French bulldogs, and boxers, for example, are more prone to ear infections and therefore earache than dogs of other breeds.

Earache Dog: Diagnosis

The vet will examine your dog thoroughly to find the cause of the problem. The ears are examined with an ear mirror, the otoscope. This funnel-shaped instrument with a light source allows you to look inside the ear canal. The dog’s head has to be firmly fixed for this, which most animals, even with healthy ears, find rather uncomfortable. If the ear is very painful and/or the dog is very anxious, medication or a brief anesthetic may be necessary to examine the ear properly. Both ears are always examined, even if you only noticed changes in one. A detailed skin and general examination is also part of the investigation into the causes of earache in dogs, as this can provide information on the cause of the disease (parasite infestation, allergy).

When examining the ear, the vet will look for changes in the skin, injuries, redness, etc. If necessary, he will take a smear, i.e. remove secretions, and examine it under the microscope for inflammatory cells, parasites, fungi, and bacteria. It can also make sense to send a swab sample to an external laboratory, where it will be examined for other germs. If bacteria are found, the laboratory also carries out a sensitivity test so that the right antibiotic can be selected. These tests take a few days because the germs first have to grow on a culture medium.

Sometimes the vet has to clean the ears thoroughly before examining them. This is because large amounts of earwax, cellular debris, and products of inflammation block the view. If the auditory canal is also swollen, it is impossible to get through and examine it. Either cleaning with appropriate solvents is sufficient, or the dog must be put under anesthesia for thorough rinsing. Depending on the disease, further diagnostic measures (e.g. an allergy test) may be necessary.

Video Otoscopy:

A special otoscope is the video otoscope. If necessary, the examination can be carried out under anesthesia. You can follow the screen and understand what’s going on in your dog’s ear. The image quality is better than with normal otoscopy, but the procedure is also more complex.

Earache Dog: Therapy

The treatment of earache in dogs depends on the underlying disease. Especially in the case of severe inflammation, the ears must first be thoroughly cleaned so that the agents can develop their full effect. Then antiparasitic agents, antibiotics against bacteria, antifungal agents against fungi, anti-inflammatory drugs, and painkillers are used, as needed.

The treatment is not necessarily limited to the ears: in the event of severe pain, an allergy, or a parasite infestation, the entire animal is of course treated.

If the dog suffers from an othematoma, there are various treatment options. If therapy with medication and draining the blood is not successful, the problem can also be treated surgically.

Ear edge seborrhea has no cure, but can be relieved with dandruff-dissolving shampoos and medications.

For many ear diseases, you as the owner sometimes need a lot of staying power until they are completely healed. As a rule, and especially if you react early, the prognosis for a positive healing process is good.

Earache Dog: Home Remedies

Does your dog have an earache? Many pet owners wonder if home remedies help against earache in dogs. If you suspect your dog is suffering from ear problems, here are some things you can do yourself:

Carefully try to examine the ears. If you e.g. If you find a foreign body such as an awn that you can remove yourself with tweezers, do so. You can disinfect small injuries on the edge of the ear and in the auricle and, if necessary, treat them with a mild healing ointment (e.g. dexpanthenol ointment).

If you see larger injuries, amounts of earwax, or other changes, please go to a vet as soon as possible! The same applies if your dog suddenly shakes itself violently during the walk.

Never try to clean your ears with a cotton swab! The dirt is only pushed in further and forms solid plugs that are difficult to get out. If the dog has an earache, do not use any home remedies to rinse it out: If the eardrum is injured, this can have far-reaching consequences if the liquid gets into the middle ear!

While waiting for a vet visit, some dogs find a hot-water bottle in their basket or a warm compress on the diseased ear comfortable. The heat relieves the pain and allows secretions to drain better.

A few drops of warm oil are sometimes recommended as a home remedy for dogs with ear infections. It is best to remember: Anything that should go into the ear should only be used after the diagnosis has been made by the veterinarian, who may otherwise see a distorted picture. Then feel free to talk to him about what you can do to help at home!

Earache Dog: Conclusion

Earaches in dogs can have many causes. In order to avert possible consequential damage, have a veterinarian look at it promptly if you suspect it.