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CONTRIBUTOR(S): Gert ter Haar,

Ear disease in your dog

Ear disease in your dog

Ear disease, sometimes called otitis externa by your veterinarian, is very common in dogs. In some dogs ear disease can become an almost permanent problem and surgery may be needed in some severe cases to help reduce the symptoms.


Ear canal: foreign body ©Flemming Kristensen

Why does a dog get ear disease?

A dog's ear is quite a different shape to ours. Humans simply have a horizontal tube that runs straight from the side of the head towards the ear drum. In the dog however, the outside opening of the ear canal is high on the side of the head. The canal runs vertically down the side of the head and makes a sharp right angle into a horizontal canal that ends at the ear drum. This long ear canal, which is made of cartilage, is covered with a thin layer of skin. On top of this long and torturous ear canal, some dogs have large pendulous ear flaps which can partially cover the canal opening. As a result, once a problem arises in the ear canal, it can become very hot and sweaty and it may be difficult to eradicate the inflammation and infection. There are a variety of things which may irritate your dog's ear. In most dogs, inflammation of the ear canal is part of a more general skin problem, such as an intolerance to food or an allergy. But foreign bodies (usually grass seeds) can get stuck in the ear canal as well and infections may develop. There is even a type of mite which can live inside the ear canal. In some animals polyps or even tumors may form in the ear canal. The result of all these causes is the same though, the ear becomes inflamed and cause a pain and itch.

How do I know that my dog has ear disease?

Ear disease rarely goes unnoticed when it is severe. Your dog will probably shake his head from side to side, and may be forever stopping to sit down and scratch his ears or rub the side of his head on the ground. Sometimes a dog will shake their head so much that they burst a blood vessel and develop a swelling in their ear flap – a hematoma. If this happens your dog will probably need an operation to drain the swelling. In many types of infection there is a smelly discharge or the ear canal may be full of black wax. Sometimes, dogs with sore ears will just sit with their head tilted to one side. In severe cases, the middle or inner ear may become involved in which case pain will be more obvious, especially when eating, chewing, yawning or upon opening the mouth. A severe head tilt or problems with walking and loss of balance can occur as well.

Why can’t my veterinarian just prescribe some treatment over the phone?

Even if your dog has repeated problems with his ears there is no guarantee that each episode is caused by the same thing. It is very important that your veterinarian looks inside your dog's ear with an instrument called an otoscope, to check for damage deep within the ear, and to look for foreign bodies such as grass seeds. The inside of the ear is very sensitive and many dogs will not let your veterinarian do this unless they have been sedated or even anaesthetised. Failure to remove a foreign body can result in permanent damage to the ear.

How is ear disease treated?

Once ear disease starts your dog will need some treatment to stop the irritation. Treatment will vary depending on the cause of the problem. Obviously a foreign body will have to be removed, and specific treatment may be required for mites or nasty infections. Your veterinarian may need to take samples from your dog to decide which is the best treatment to give. Your veterinarian will probably prescribe ear drops or ointments and possibly also some tablets. However, unless the ear is clean the ear drops cannot work. It may be necessary for your veterinarian to admit your dog to the hospital and flush out its ear canals before treatment starts. In less severe cases, your veterinarian will show you how to use an ear cleaner on your dog. Always make sure you follow your veterinarian's instructions carefully. You must complete the treatment course even if the ears seem to be much better within one or two days.

I already have some ear drops – can I use those?

NO! Never put anything into your dogs ear without first consulting your veterinarian. Even if the drops were prescribed for your dog in the past they may do more harm than good on this occasion. Many types of ear drop 'go off' once they have been opened, or it may be that the ear problem is caused by something different this time. Remember that ear disease is very itchy and can be very painful – you must always seek veterinary treatment sooner rather than later for the sake of your pet.

What happens if I don’t get treatment for my dog?

It is unlikely that the ear disease will get better on its own. The longer you leave it before starting treatment the harder it becomes to clear up the irritation. Each time ear disease develops, more damage is done and eventually the walls of the ear canal may become thickened. This makes further infections even more likely. When ear disease keeps coming back, and irreversible damage has occurred in the ear canals or if the middle ear becomes involved, surgery may be needed to remove the affected ear canal.

Why does my dog keep getting ear problems?

Unfortunately some animals are just more prone to ear problems than others. Dogs with long dangly ears like spaniels seem to have particular problems. This is probably the result of a combination of factors, including an increased number of ear wax glands, and a difficulty for air to circulate in the ear canal. The ear becomes hot and sweaty, providing the ideal breeding ground for bugs. These types of dogs often have a lot of hair growing up the ear canal and this can become matted with wax and ear drops making the problem worse. Dogs which spend a lot of time in water may also get regular ear infections. The water in the ear canal allows some bugs to grow more readily than normal. Also, dogs with skin allergies frequently have recurring ear problems. The lining of the ear is like the skin on the rest of the body and can become itchy and inflamed in an allergic dog.

How can I stop my dog getting ear disease?

Unfortunately it is impossible to prevent ear disease coming back in some dogs. In fact if your dog has had one ear infection, it is highly likely that they will have repeated bouts. You should check your dog's ears regularly and contact your veterinarian if the ears become red or sore looking. Regular ear cleaning can be helpful in removing debris and wax within the ear, but excessive cleaning may damage the inside of the ear and make infection more likely. Unless advised otherwise by your veterinarian, do NOT clean your dog's ears yourself (especially not with cotton buds) but treat the ear canals regularly with the products prescribed by your veterinarian.

Conclusion

In most cases of ear disease the symptoms will clear up within a few days of treatment starting. Unfortunately this is not the end of the problem. It is highly likely that the problem will come back at some stage in the future and you should be on your guard for it. If the problem recurs, seek advice from your veterinarian as soon as possible because if the disease is allowed to go untreated for any length of time, permanent damage may result.

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