Small Dog Carriers News-
Ear Infections
CITE
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Ear infections are very common in dogs,
although 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 appear
to be more prone than others. Dogs with pendulous ears,
like Cocker Spaniels and Basset Hounds, or dogs with hairy
inner ear flaps, like Miniature Poodles and Schnauzers,
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, ulceration or improper ear cleaning can
rupture the eardrum and allow infection to reach 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
are culprits, multiple medications or a broad-spectrum medication
is necessary.
If your veterinarian finds a foreign
body, a tick or a very heavy buildup of debris, sedation
will likely 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 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. Surgical reconstruction of the ear canal may then
become necessary.
Medicating
Treatment prescribed by the doctor usually includes administering
medication to and cleaning the ears daily for one to two
weeks. Remember, your pet's ears are painful, and Fluffy
or Fido might not appreciate what you are about to do, so
use caution. Ask your veterinarian 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 veterinarian-recommended ear cleansing solution can
minimize or prevent infections. Such a cleaning provides
other benefits, as well.
"Weekly ear cleanings get the pet
owner to really see the ear on a routine basis, allowing
him or her to notice any early warning signs of infection,"
says AAHA veterinarian Dr. LeeAnn Dumars. "And they
get the pet used to having its ears handled, making exams
and medication administration 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," says Dr. Dumars.
