Pet Ear Problems

Food allergies can often be the cause of yeast build-up and chronic ear infections. Flint River Ranch Recipes can often help - see Lamb/Millet/Rice, Trout and Sweet Potato and our newest recipe Duck and Oatmeal.

 

EAR INFECTIONS

Otitis externa (disease of the external ear canal) is one of the most common reasons that owners bring their pets to see the veterinarian. Some acute cases of otitis externa can be extremely painful for the pet. Chronic ear infections can not only be painful for the pet, but also frustrating for both the veterinarian and the owner.

 

What causes ear infections in pets?

Infections are caused by parasites (ear mites), bacteria, and/or yeast. The ear is a ‘natural incubator’, it is dark, warm and moist with very little air flow. While most infections involve the external ear canal, many also involve the internal ear canal and can be quite difficult to clear up.

 

Ear mites are tiny, microscopic, spider-like creatures that are invisible to the naked eye, but are recognizable by the brownish-black "coffee ground" discharge that they leave behind. This material is actually the dried blood and ear mite feces produced from the numerous mites biting and sucking blood from your pet’s ears. Ear mites are transmissible to dogs, cats, ferrets and rabbits. When a single pet is found to have ear mites, ALL susceptible pets in the household need to be treated at the same time. Length of treatment can be prolonged and also depends upon the number of household pets.

 

Contrary to popular belief, most ear infections are not due to ear mites. Many ear infections are secondary to other problems such as allergies, skin conditions, trauma, tumors and foreign bodies. Ear conformation, the shape of the ear, also plays a big role in susceptibility to ear infection.

 

The earlier the infection is detected, the less pain and discomfort your pet will have to endure and the easier the problem will be to solve. If the ear infection is secondary to allergies, a quick fix does not exist and you are looking at long term ear maintenance for control. The two allergic diseases most commonly associated with otitis externa are inhalant allergic dermatitis and food allergic dermatitis.

 

What are the physical signs my pet might experience?

Your pet may show one or more of these physical signs when an ear infection is present:

 

How can I prevent ear infections in my pet?

Some ear infections are difficult to prevent. However, one way you can minimize them is to avoid prolonged wetness in your pet’s ears. If you give your pet a bath or allow your dog to swim, be sure to pat the insides of the ears dry with a towel so as not to allow bacteria or yeast to grow in the dampness; then apply a commercial ear cleaning product, such as Epiotic, that is safe and gentle on the ears. Some owners are able to use a combination of vinegar and alcohol to dry their pets ears. However, alcohol may be irritating to some pets. Commercial veterinary ear cleaning products (such as Epiotic) are both safe and gentle on the ears. We recommend that you use an ear cleaning product two to three times weekly to help with ear maintenance and cleaning. Besides drying the ear, these products also help to break up wax.

 

 

IF LEFT UNTREATED AN EAR INFECTION CAN CAUSE SO MUCH SCARRING THAT THE EAR CANAL BECOMES CLOSED. CHRONIC EAR INFECTIONS CAN ALSO CAUSE CLOSURE OF THE EAR CANAL. IN THESE SITUATIONS, YOUR PET WILL NEED SURGERY TO ALLEVIATE DISCOMFORT AND PAIN.


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