Ear infections are very common in dogs and less so in cats. Two types are most often seen: otitis externa, infection of the external ear canal, and otitis media, infection of the middle ear. Although any dog or cat can get an ear infection, some breeds are more prone than others. Cocker Spaniels and Basset Hounds, or dogs with hairy inner ear flaps, like Poodles, Llasa Apsos and Wheaton Terriers tend to have a higher occurrence of ear infections. In cats, the Persian breed seems to be more prone to such infections.
Most ear infections are easily and successfully treated. But if left untreated, they could result in serious damage.
Causes
Bacteria or yeast are most often the culprits of otitis externa. Other causes include an accumulation of wax, thick or matted hair in the ear canal, debris, a foreign body, a tumor or impaired drainage of the ear. Sometimes, infections of the external ear canal are a secondary result of some other bodily infection or ear mite infestation.
Otitis media usually results from the spread of infection from the external ear canal to the middle ear. Also, foreign bodies, debris, or improper ear cleaning can rupture the eardrum and cause infection to the middle ear.
Symptoms
Ear infections are very uncomfortable for your pet. Your dog or cat will show his discomfort by shaking his head or scratching at his ears. Often, the ears will become red and inflamed with an offensive odor and perhaps a black or yellowish discharge. If your pet tilts his head constantly, it could be a sign of a middle ear infection.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Because many different culprits can be the cause of your pet’s ear infection, it is important to have your cat or dog examined by a veterinarian, who can then determine the proper medication or treatment. Your veterinarian will also make sure the eardrum is intact, as some medications can result in hearing loss if administered to a pet with a ruptured eardrum.
What is involved in an ear exam? Your veterinarian will use an otoscope, an instrument that provides light and magnification to view the ear canal. He or she will determine whether or not the eardrum is intact and if any foreign material is present. If this is very painful to the pet, sedation or anesthesia may be necessary to complete the exam.
Next, your veterinarian will take a sample of the material in the canal and examine it under a microscope. This is called cytology, and allows the doctor to determine the organism causing the infection. If more than one organism is the culprit, multiple medications or a broad-spectrum medication may be necessary.
If your veterinarian finds a foreign body, a tick or a very heavy buildup of debris, sedation may be required to remove the irritant or to allow a thorough cleansing.
A middle ear infection can be more difficult to clear up. Diagnosis and treatment may include lab tests, X-rays and even surgery. Four to six weeks may pass before the infection disappears, and often during this time you will be told to restrict the activity of your pet.
For both types of infection, you should keep water from entering your pet’s ears. Follow-up visits to your veterinarian are very important to make sure the treatment is working and the infection has disappeared.
Remember, the longer infection is present, the harder it is to get rid of it. If an ear infection goes untreated, your pet will continue to be in pain. Your pet’s head shaking and scratching can cause further problems, such as broken blood vessels that require surgery to correct. Chronic infections can harm the eardrum and close the ear canal. Surgery of the ear canal may then become necessary.
Medicating
Treatment prescribed by the veterinarian usually includes cleaning the ears daily for one to two weeks and administering medication. Remember, your pet’s ears are painful, and Fluffy might not appreciate what you are about to do, so use caution. Ask your veterinarian or groomer for a demonstration on how to treat the ears properly.
Prognosis
Most often, with proper diagnosis and treatment, your pet’s ear infection will be cured. However, if ear infections are chronic or recurrent, an underlying problem, such as allergies or thyroid disease, may be the cause.
Because cats are normally resistant to ear infections, other problems should be explored. Your cat may have an unusually shaped ear canal, or its immune system could be suppressed. Have your veterinarian test your cat for the feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), both of which affect the immune system. Also, diabetic cats tend to be prone to ear infections, so testing for diabetes may be indicated.
Prevention
Pet owners can help their pets avoid ear infections by practicing preventative care at home. This is especially important for those animals that have pendulous ears, have lots of hair in their ears, or have allergies or other medical problems that make them prone to ear infections. A weekly ear cleaning with a really good ear cleaner can minimize or prevent infections. Such a cleaning provides other benefits, as well. We recommend Life’s Abundance Ear Care Formula which safely deodorizes and eliminates the accumulation of dirt and wax in the ear canal. Keeping your pet’s ears clean is a necessary part of keeping your pet healthy. Life’s Abundance Ear Care Formula really works!
Weekly ear cleanings get the pet owner to really see the ear on a regular basis, allowing him or her to notice any early warning signs of infection. It also allows the pet to be handled regularly, making future exams, cleansing and medicating easier when necessary.
In addition to ear cleanings, pets with lots of hair on the inside ear flap should have those hairs plucked periodically by their groomer or veterinarian.
Pet owners with animals that have chronic ear problems must realize that life-long preventative care and maintenance will be necessary to ensure their pet’s good health.