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Ear Care

by Dr. Kelly Brodnik

Otitis externa (inflammation of the external ear canal) is the most frequently seen ear problem in dogs. It occurs more commonly in dogs with heavy, drooping ears and also in Poodles and Terriers that have heavy growth in the ear canal.

Signs of otitis externa include moist, reddened ear canals, with increased amounts of waxy debris and/or pus-like discharge. A foul odor might be present. In long standing cases the skin inside the ear may become scaly and thickened. Your dog may shake its head and paw at its ears.

The causes of otitis are numerous and include foreign bodies such as grass seeds, ear mites, excessive moisture or hair in the ear canal and bacterial or yeast infections. Ear problems may also be a part of generalized skin disease such as seborrhea, skin infection, allergic conditions, or metabolic problems such as hypothyroidism or diseases of the adrenal gland.

In most cases of otitis your dog's ears will need to be cleaned prior to treatment. Often the ear canal is filled with waxy debris and discharge and cannot be medicated effectively until this is removed. Some mild sedation or general anesthesia may be necessary in order to thoroughly clean and flush the ear canals. Following initial cleaning, medications containing antibiotics, corticosteroids, insecticides and wax dissolving agents may be used. Oral antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatory agents may be prescribed. Most cases of otitis require a few weeks of home treatment to produce a noticeable change, especially if it has been a chronic problem. Periodic rechecks may be scheduled to evaluate your pet's progress.

Acute (sudden onset) otitis usually responds well to treatment. However, most cases of chronic (long-standing) otitis may recur even with treatment and it may be necessary to do further tests, take x-rays or perform surgery on the ears. Other chronic cases can be kept under control without surgery, but cannot be fully cured.

To prevent ear problems the ears should be regularly cleaned out if dirt accumulates in them. Wrap a cloth around your finger or use a cotton ball and a ph-balanced ear cleaning medication and clean the ear canal. Don't worry about damaging the ear drum because you cannot get your finger down that far. Do not put any cotton swabs down into the canal to avoid pushing wax and dirt further into the ear. If the ear appears dirty further down, cleansing/dissolving agents may be instilled in the ear canal and after 15-20 minutes wipe out and gently remove wax. Do not use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide as these are not ph-balanced for the ear. If your dog has excessive hair in the ear canal and is prone to ear infections, the hair should be plucked from the ear canal on a regular basis. Before bathing your pet it is advisable to put cotton in the ears to prevent moisture from getting in.