Ear Infections- Cause and Treatments

What is Otitis Externa?


Symptoms
1. An excessive shaking of the head or pawing at the ear.
2. Discharge or “wax” from the ear.
3. Odor from the ear.
4. Holding the head at a tilt.
5. Change in color of the ear from a normal light pink or skin tone to an inflamed darker shade.
If your dog or cat has any of the above symptoms, they may have an ear infection.

Causes
Ear infections are divided into 4 main categories:
a.) Fungal
b.) Bacterial
c.) Parasitic
d.) Allergic
It is also common to have a mixture of more than one of the above to complicate the situation.

Diagnosis
It is important to understand the cause of the infection so the veterinarian can prescribe the appropriate therapy and provide the pet owner with information that will help to not only eliminate the problem now, but to help prevent future infections. The veterinarian will determine by examination which type of infection is present. He or she may also use cultures to determine what type of infection is present, or may use allergy testing, or take a sample of the discharge to examine under the microscope. This is very beneficial and can prevent the owner from treating a fungal infection with ear mite medicine, for instance.
Once the cause of the infection is determined, therapy can begin. Each type of infection has its own specific medicine and therapy. What works in one infection may not work in another. Proper diagnosis and follow -through are important.




Fungal infections
The most common type of infection in long eared dogs is the fungal (or yeast) infection. As the dog’s ear gets wet from bathing, swimming, or playing in water, moisture collects and is held in the dog’s ear canal. The ear canal is shaped so that moisture is difficult for the dog to remove on its own. As this type of dog (especially the Cocker or other Spaniels) has long heavy ears, air is prohibited from drying the ear naturally. (This type of infection is similar to an athlete’s foot infection in people.) With moisture present in the ear, and lack of air circulation, the environment for a yeast infection is ideal. This type of infection is very stubborn to eliminate and often requires a minimum of 3-4 weeks of therapy followed by an examination by a veterinarian to make sure the ear is responding. This type of infection is one of the most frustrating problems for the pet owner because they will typically stop treating the ears when they think the infection is under control - only to have the infection return a few weeks or even months later. Most of these frustrations can simply be eliminated by having the veterinarian re-examine the ears with an otoscope every few weeks and continuing the medication until the veterinarian declares the ear to be free from infection.
Bacterial infections
There are many different types of bacteria that can be involved in the infected ear. Your veterinarian will probably take a sample of the discharge from the ear to grow the bacteria in the lab and then determine which type of antibiotic is appropriate to use. Modern lab techniques can not only identify the bacteria, but provide the doctor with a list of medications that will (or won’t) work. If you think that your dog has an infection, do not put any medication into the ear for at least 7 days, as this can interfere with accurate lab results.

Parasitic infections
Ear mites dominate this category and make up the majority of ear problems in the cat. This type of problem is characterized by an intense itching and a very dark brown to black discharge from the ear. Diagnosis can usually be made by examination of a sample of the ear discharge under the microscope and identifying the ear mite or its eggs.

Allergic
Dogs and cats that have allergies often have inflamed ears also. Many times, if the pet’s allergies are managed properly, the ear problems will respond as well. Check with your veterinarian for details on keeping your pet’s allergies under control.

Treatment
Once the veterinarian has determined which of the above categories (or combination of categories) is involved in your pet, a diagnosis is made and therapy is prescribed. Therapy usually consists of cleaning the ear canal from the debris and the mites or infection before applying the medication. The proper medication is then given. It may be a combination of oral, injectable, or topical. Most Otitis cases will not respond properly unless the ear is treated with a topical medication (drops or ointment) twice daily for a minimum of 3 weeks. The treatment should be customized to your pet’s particular problem.

Follow - through exam
A very important (and often neglected) part of the therapy for an ear infection is the follow up exam. Many infections will appear to be resolved to the owner when in fact the infection is still present deep within the ear canal. The canal is deep in the dog and cat and does not lend itself to an easy cure. Many ear infections that we see in practice are the same infection from a prior occurrence that in fact was never completely resolved! Every pet with an ear infection, should be re-examined in about 3-4 weeks to determine if the infection is cleared. Failure to do so only invites chronic and more serious infections. As ear infections become more chronic, the pet will suffer hearing loss, and surgery may be necessary to control the problem.

Summary
1. Recognize the early signs of ear infections.
2. Have the ear examined to make sure a proper diagnosis is made. This will insure that the proper medication is used for the correct amount of time .
3. Use the appropriate medication properly.
4. Schedule follow up exams with your veterinarian to know if the ears are responding and when it is safe to stop medicating.
5. Ask your veterinarian for tips on how to prevent future infections.