Ear infections in dogs are a very common reason for a visit to the vet. They can cause quite a bit of discomfort for your pooch and if left untreated, can even cause permanent damage to their hearing.
What causes ear infections in dogs?
Ear infections can occur for a number of reasons, including:
- Bacterial infections
- Overgrowth of yeast
- Mites
- Fungus
- Allergies
- Foreign objects in the ear
Dogs with longer, floppy ears – such as cocker spaniels and labradoodles – are typically more prone to infections.
What are the signs of an ear infection?
The most common sign of ear infections in dogs is scratching at their ears. Many pet owners think itchy ears mean their dog has ear mites, but the cause is usually an infection.
Some of the more common symptoms include:
- Head shaking
- Scratching or pawing at the ear
- Tilting of the head
- Red, irritated or crusting skin inside the ears
- Discharge that can be brown, yellow, white or green in colour
- Strong smell coming from the ears
How we diagnose an ear infection
If you suspect your dog may have an ear infection, it’s important that you take them to the vet to get a physical examination as soon as possible. In most cases, an ear infection won’t go away on its own.
Your vet will give your pup a thorough check-up and will examine their ears to see if the ear canal is inflamed, and if there is any evidence of mites or foreign objects that could be causing them discomfort.
Following the physical examination, your vet may take a swab of the ear for further diagnostic testing if required.
How ear infections in dogs are treated
Depending on the cause of the ear infection, your vet may prescribe antibiotics or an anti-fungal treatment to be applied to the ears. Within a day or two of commencing treatment, your dog will start to feel some relief. If the infection is allergy-related, your vet will discuss additional testing and longer-term treatment options to prevent further ear infections.
If symptoms persist, it’s important that your vet rechecks your dog’s ears to check if a change and medication are required and to ensure they haven’t ruptured an ear drum.
Preventing ear infections
There are a few things you can do to try and lessen the chances of your dog developing ear infections.
- Try and keep your dog’s ears as dry as possible – infections love a moist environment, so after swimming, gently dry the entrance to their ear
- Get your dog groomed regularly, and get them to keep the hair in their ears short
- Chat with your vet about using a dog-specific ear-cleaning solution
- Know what is “normal” for your dog’s ears, so that if anything changes, you can get it checked out by your vet
Need to see a vet?
If your dog is displaying signs of an ear infection, or you have any questions about how to prevent recurrent ear infections, our vets are here to help. Call our friendly team on 07 3801 1744 or visit our vet clinic at 141 Bryants Road Loganholme.
