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Ear Infections in Dogs and Cats
Ear infections are one of the most common maladies experienced by dogs and cats. Both the anatomical location and underlying cause are helpful in treatment and long-term control. Without proper understanding of a pet’s ear infection it can become a chronic problem that can be difficult to manage. One of the most important aspects of treating these cases involves proper follow-up to monitor progress and watch for recurrence.
How can I tell if my pet has an ear infection?
The most common sign that your pet has an ear infection is head shaking and ear scratching. Sometimes you may notice a head tilt, redness, swelling, debris, or an odor coming from the ear. If an infection is severe enough there may be pain or sensitivity associated with touching or manipulating the ear. An aural hematoma may form, which is an accumulation of blood between the skin and cartilage of the ear flap. This occurs as a result of trauma from head shaking and ear scratching. If an ear infection has migrated deeper into the middle and inner ear, there may be neurologic side effects present.
What testing might my veterinarian perform?
The first step is a thorough ear examination, which involves using an otoscope to look deep in the ear canal to check for redness, discharge, and swelling. Your veterinarian will also check the eardrum to see if it is healthy and intact.
Every ear infection should be evaluated with cytology. This typically involves using a cotton-tipped applicator to get a sample of debris from the ear canal to examine on a glass slide under the microscope. With this method your veterinarian can see inflammatory cells, yeast, bacteria, and parasites like mites to guide treatment.
Chronic ear infections that do not respond to therapy as expected may require further testing. A culture of the ear debris from deep within the canal can be sent to a laboratory to determine what kind of bacteria is present and which antibiotic should be used. Referral to a specialist if the infection is not responding to treatment after an ear culture. There, advanced imaging like computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be helpful to get to the bottom of the issue.
Recurrent ear infections may have an underlying cause like a food or environmental allergy, an underactive thyroid gland, ear mites, other less common disorders. Testing for these and subsequent management is key to manage especially chronic ear infections.
How will my veterinarian treat the ear infection?
Topical therapy is considered first line therapy for ear infections in dogs and cats. There are drops or ointments to be applied at home or long-acting leave-in treatments that are typically administered at the veterinary clinic. The vast majority of these medications are a combination of an antifungal, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory like a steroid. Ear cleaning can improve response to medications so there is no debris to get in the way.
Often ear infections are treated only with topical medications, but stubborn, severe, or chronic ear infections may also be treated with oral antibiotic and antifungal medications. Topical and oral medication may last 4-6 weeks in persistent cases. Steroids may be given orally as well if there is significant inflammation.
In severe or chronic cases, a deep cleaning under anesthesia may be necessary.
How do I prevent future ear infections?
Treatment of any underlying causes is critical - without managing an allergy, supplementing an underactive thyroid gland, or removing a polyp the infection will return.
One of the most important aspects of preventing ear infections is routine ear flushing or cleaning. Ear cleaning should be done with a veterinary ear-flushing product. Follow the recommendations of your veterinarian as to how frequently and with what product to perform ear cleaning. There is a wide variety of ear flushing products available ranging from basic, mild ear cleaning solutions to medicated cleaners to flushes with special ceruminolytic properties to clear excessive wax. Ear flushes are made to keep the ear clean and dry, which can help prevent infections. Some maintenance treatments have a low dose of a steroid to control inflammation that can cause itchiness and subsequent ear infections.
Some dogs and cats require surgery to remove ear canal tissue in cases that cannot be salvaged due to chronic infections or a cancerous process.
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