Why Does My Pet Get Ear Infections?

Oneof the top 5 reasons for an exam at our hospital is an ear infection. Why are ear infections so common, what causes it and why does it seem to happen so often or never seem to go away? Many wonder if there is anything that can be done for prevention of an ear infection and if there are easier treatment options. Ear infections are multifactorial and can be one of the most frustrating conditions to treat and manage.

Structural Issues

The first problem for the dog's ear is structural. The dog's ear canal has both a vertical and a horizontal component, unlike the human ear canal which goes straight in. This "J" shape of the dog's ear creates a predisposition to ear infections as debris must work its way upward rather than straight out. Accumulation of ear wax, skin oil, and other debris feed the bacteria and fungi that live in the normal ear canal leading them to proliferate. Allergic skin disease (including both environmental allergy and food allergy) affecting the ears is the most common cause for recurring ear infections. Other causes include ear mites, foreign bodies in the ear, or tumors in the ear. The excessive wax along with the moisture from inflammation promotes bacterial growth and/or yeast proliferation and infection ensues.

Signs of An Ear Infection & Treatment

Signs of an ear infection include: scratching at the ears, shaking the head, holding one ear slightly dropped along with ear discharge and odor. Otitis externa can be diagnosed with a good otoscopic exam by your veterinarian and looking at the ear discharge under the microscope to see what type of infection is present. Your veterinarian will then recommend the appropriate medication to be used in the ear. Most infections can be cleared up within 2-4 weeks. We have lots of options for ear treatments now including some leave in treatments that require nothing to do at home. It is important that you understand that the treatment will resolve the current infection but does not prevent future infections that may occur. Since most ear infections are caused by allergies, if the allergen is still present, the ear infection may quickly return once the treatment is complete.

Chronic Problems

Some dogs have chronic ear problems (the infection is not controlled by general medication or returns when general medication is discontinued). In these cases, the ear discharge should be cultured so that the precise organism can be pinpointed and treated specifically. Regular treatment at home with disinfecting ear washes should become part of the pet's grooming routine.

Ongoing Care

Further testing may be in order to determine why the infection continues to recur. Some ear infections simply cannot be controlled with the above steps. These cases have gone beyond medical management and must proceed to surgical management. A deep ear flush under anesthesia with a better examination of the ear drum to evaluate for an inner ear infection, along with advanced imaging may be necessary to get to the heart of the problem. Sometimes, when the ear canal is thickened and very narrow, the only fix is to surgically remove the ear canal to completely resolve the problem.

Ear infections are common and can be challenging. Fortunately, most cases are simple and easily cleared up. Be sure to have your pet’s ear rechecked as your veterinarian recommends to be sure that the infection is resolved. Also keep in mind that chronic use of medication can lead to a resistant infection, so if your pet is not getting better with the standard treatment, a recheck with your veterinarian is imperative. Hang in there and communicate with your veterinarian what can be done to take the best care of your pet’s ears long term.