Recognize the Symptoms

One of the most common reasons for a pet visit, besides the very important yearly examination, involves the ears of our furry friends. In both dogs and cats, ear infections often go undetected by owners but can be a major source of discomfort, pain and underlying disease.

In cats, ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are often the culprit and create quite an itchy, infected and sometimes painful situation. Although dogs are susceptible to mites, their infections usually result from yeast or bacterial organisms and are almost always secondary to abrasions, moisture and allergies. Some breeds have poor ear designs and are not set up for good auditory health. Consider the Standard Poodle with its hairy, narrow, and long ear canals, or the Basset Hound with its long and heavy pinnae (flaps). Golden and Labrador Retrievers don't really help the situation with their “swimming” habits. Sometimes just bathing any furry breed can spark an ear infection! Allergies create underlying problems with the skin that affect ears tremendously and may be a source of recurring issues.

Obvious signs of an ear infection include red skin on one or both sides of the ear, black or cream colored discharge, and very unpleasant “dirty sock” smell (oolala!). The pet will often flap, shake or paw at its problem ear(s) in a way that indicates discomfort. Sometimes, however, less detectable signs such as thickening of the ear pinna or a subtle head tilt may occur. When seeing any of the above, a veterinary visit becomes a critical step: only the scope knows for sure! The ophthalmoscope tells the real story of the ear canal and the eardrum.

Treatment goals exist to take care of the immediate problem and to determine any possible underlying causes. First, one must relieve the intense pain by dampening inflammation of the pinnae and canals. This often involves topical and/or oral medication. The second step is to kill the offending organism whether it is mite, bacteria or yeast. Medications work best when the ear is clean; debris, wax and crusts interfere with most topical medicine. It is not uncommon for a veterinarian to suggest an intensive flushing, suction and cleaning. Anti-pain and anxiety injections are often essential to get the job done because sometimes the ears can be full of cement-like wax and exudate from the infection.

Rarely do ear infections strike only once, but if they do consider yourself lucky. Allergies tend to be responsible for over 80 percent of these painful conditions in dogs. Should this be the case, pet owners may need to consult with a doctor to formulate a long-term plan of management. This is never a quick fix but can be controlled with a combination of medications and lifestyle changes – perhaps including specialty foods.

The Google era in which most humans live allows pet owners to become knowledgeable and effective when it comes to basic pet care. However, over-the-counter cleaners and mite killers are not only ineffective, some can actually make the ear more inflamed! Consulting the family veterinary doctor is usually less painful, more efficient and most effective for suspected ear problems.

#homeessentials