What Are The Three Types Of Canine Ear Infections
According to the AKC, There are three kinds of ear infectionsotitis externa, media, and internalaffecting different parts of the canine ear. Otitis externa means that the inflammation affects the layer of cells lining the outer or external portion of the ear canal. Otitis media and interna refer to infections of the middle and inner ear canal, and they are most often are a result of the spread of infection from the external ear. These more advanced cases can be very serious, and could lead to deafness, facial paralysis, or signs of vestibular disease, such as head tilting, circling, and lack of coordination. That’s why it is important to prevent and seek early treatment for ear problems.
Besides the potential danger, you want your pup to feel better! Ear infections hurt. You know there are different types of ear infections and you know they’re usually caused by bacteria, so let’s look at the details.
How Much Does It Cost To Take A Dog To The Vet For Ear Infection
Sometimes, even the most fastidious owner will find themselves faced with a dog who has an ear infection.
When that happens, its important to have it treated by the vet sooner rather than later. The more advanced the infection, the harder it is to clean.
The cost varies from vet to vet, but youll have to pay for an exam, a culture to determine whats causing the infection, and medications to treat the infection.
Your vet will thoroughly examine your dog from top to bottom to ensure that outside of his ear infection hes doing well.
Then, the vet will take a culture of the infection with a swab to determine the type of bacteria causing your dogs infection.
Finally, your vet will prescribe medication to resolve the infection.
When added together, the average cost to treat an ear infection, including the exam and medications is between $100 and $250.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Dog Ear Infection
Ear infections are one of the most common conditions that dogs may have. Dog breeds with floppy earssuch as Basset Hounds, Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, Labradoodles, Golden Retrievers, and Shar Peisare especially prone to ear infections. Estimates are that a full one-fifth of dogs suffer from some kind of ear infection in one or both ears.
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What Are The Signs Of Ear Infections In Dogs
Our Davidson County vets see a lot of ear infections in dogs, particularly in dogs with cute floppy ears. Fortunately, most ear infections are easy to treat if caught early. Below are some of the most common signs of dog ear infections, and what you should do if your dog’s ears aren’t as healthy as they should be.
Ear Mites In Dogs Faqs
Can humans get ear mites from dogs?
Yes, humans can get ear mites from an infected dog. Its not common, but its possible. More frequently, other pets in the home get infected with the ear mites from a contagious dog.
What home remedy kills ear mites in dogs?
No research has been done to examine the effectiveness of home remedies for dog ear mites. Since there are effective medications readily available, you should always see your veterinarian to prescribe a medication for treatment.
Will tea tree oil kill ear mites in dogs?
Do not use tea tree oil on your dog or put it in their ear.
Although tea tree oil is thought to have some antibacterial and antifungal properties, it can cause burning and stinging in an inflamed ear, and your dogs eardrum may also be damaged.4
Tea tree oil should also not be taken internally.
Since there are safe, proven products available to treat ear mites in dogs, you should have your veterinarian prescribe one of those instead.
Does hydrogen peroxide kill ear mites in dogs?
Hydrogen peroxide can be very painful when used in inflamed ears. It can also slow healing.5
Since there is no animal research on hydrogen peroxides disinfectant properties, do not use it to treat dog ear mites.
What medication kills ear mites in dogs?
There are many products known to kill ear mites in dogs, including Milbemite, Acarex, Tresaderm, Frontline, Ivermectin, Selamectin, Advantage Multi, Simparica, and Bravecto.2
References
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Are Dog Ear Infections Contagious
It depends on the cause, but the majority of dog ear infections are not contagious. If the cause is ear mites, though, these parasites are extremely contagious.
With ear mites, all pets in the home must be treated simultaneously. Ear mites are relatively common in puppies and kittens and may not be noticed initially when adopting a new pet. But shortly after bringing your new pet home, multiple pets in the house will be scratching and shaking.
Rarely, a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or possible other contagious infection can be cultured from an infected ear.
It is recommended to practice good handwashing when interacting with a pet with an ear infection and to limit other pets licking the infected pets ears. Good handwashing is also recommended after cleaning or medicating the ear to limit any topical absorption of medication.
Possible Impacts Of Ear Infections In Dogs If Not Treated
Ear infections in dogs are very painful and can be harmful to your dogs health if they remain untreated. A deep ear infection can damage or rupture the eardrum, causing an internal ear infection, and in severe cases, permanent hearing loss. It is essential that you see your veterinarian as soon as you see signs of an ear infection.
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How Do Dogs Get Ear Infections
There are many causes of ear infections in dogs, but theyre commonly due to bacteria and yeast. These organisms typically live on the surface of normal skin in the ear canal without causing a problem. However, a change in the environment of the ear canal or ongoing inflammation can allow these organisms to overgrow, leading to infection.
Allergies are the most common underlying cause of ear infections in dogs. They often lead to excess wax production in the ear, creating a moist environment that is perfect for bacteria and yeast overgrowth. Excess moisture can also occur due to residual water in the canals after swimming or bathing. Foreign material, ear mites, and excess hair growth in the ear canal are less common causes of infection in dogs.
Ear infections are much more common in dogs than in humans due to the unique shape of the canine ear canal. No matter what the outside of the ear looks like, all dogs have a vertical and horizontal ear canal. These two canals form a J shape, making it harder for wax, water, and debris to exit the canal, resulting in increased moisture and irritation. Because this condition is caused by an overgrowth of the normal bacteria and yeast in your dogs ear canal, ear infections are not contagious between dogs or other pets.
What Can I Give My Dog For Yeast Infection
To manage a yeast infection in dogs ears, you can use home remedies, over-the-counter cleaning products, and prescription meds . Here are some popular treatments for yeast infections in dogs.
Home Remedies for Yeast Infections. There are different home remedies that can be used to manage a yeast infection in dogs ears. Common examples would be coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, and essential oils. Usually, you should dab a cotton ball in them and use it to clean the outer part of the ear flap and canal.
Vets Preferred Ear Cleaner for Dogs. Vets Preferred dog ear cleaning solution is both gentle and effective, so you can be sure you are providing your beloved pet with the best irritation relief for dogs. The product has been formulated with safety and efficacy in mind, so your dog is always in optimal health.
Ear wax build-up can cause a host of issues in dog ears which end up affecting other parts of your dogs health. With this product, it only takes a few minutes to guarantee a clean and healthy set of puppy ears.
This ear wash solution for dogs is produced in a GMP-Certified facility under strict supervision to ensure maximum quality control, optimal efficacy, and safety. Pet owners give this product 4.4 out of 5 stars.
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Medicated Ear Drops. This Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Ear Therapy is medically formulated to help relieve ear infections in dogs and cats.
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Is There A Home Remedy For Dog Ear Infections
Once an infection has developed, there is not a good at-home treatment option, though you may find many suggestions if you search online. While there are suggested home remedies and over-the-counter ear flushes and ear mite treatments available at pet stores, these products will rarely clear a true ear infection.
Additionally, there is no way for you to know if your dogs eardrum has ruptured because of the infection. Home remedies and OTC products can cause more harm if they enter the middle ear through a ruptured eardrum. The best thing you can do if you think your dog has an ear infection is schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.
What Does A Dog Ear Infection Look Like
In most cases, dog ear infections are easy to recognize and they may occur in one or both ears simultaneously. The most common signs of an ear infection in dogs include:
- Redness of the ear flap
- Discharge that can range from dry to moist and vary in color from black to yellow or white
- Crusting on the ear flap
- Excessive scratching at one or both ears
- Pain, resulting in dogs being reluctant to have their ears handled
If you notice any of these dog ear infection symptoms, consult your veterinarian. In some cases, excessive head shaking can result in a hematoma. This forms when the blood vessels between the cartilage and skin of the ear flap rupture. You may notice that all or part of your dogs ear flap appears swollen if this occurs. While this can be very dramatic in appearance, most pets have more discomfort from the ear infection itself than a hematoma.
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How To Prevent Future Ear Infections In Dogs
If your dog has allergies, getting those under control are key to preventing future ear infections. For dogs who dont have allergies, your best strategy is to keep your dogs ears clean and dry. Too much moisture and ear wax can lead to both dog ear yeast infections as well as bacterial ear infections.
Ask your vet for recommendations on how often to clean your dogs ears. Many dogs will need once-a-month cleanings, and some dogs will need once-a-week cleanings if theyre a floppy-eared breed or tend to get a lot of earwax. The most important thing is to use an ear cleaner thats gentle and fast-acting and wont create excess moisture in your dogs ear.
Culture And Sensitivity Of The Discharge
This is done by taking a sample of the discharge from your dog’s ear canals which will be sent off to a veterinary laboratory where they will use a culture medium to determine which bacteria and yeast are present in the ear canal. This test is very important for this diagnosis of chronic ear infections because it can also identify if your dog has a resistant bacterial infection such as Pseudomonas spp. This test is especially useful as the lab will report back which medications will target the specific bacteria that were isolated.
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Tips For Applying Ear Medication
Singing A Spoonful of Sugar might calm your nerves, but its probably not going to help your doggies eardrops go down their ear canal any more efficiently. Make sure you ask your veterinarian for a demonstration. You can also try these helpful hints:
What You Should Do
If your dog shows any of the above signs of an ear canal infection, inner ear infection, or both contact your vet immediately.
Dont let it get to the point where youre saying, my dog has had an ear infection for months.
Your vet can verify the infection, test the infected ear for the particular bacteria or yeast causing the infection, and conduct an ear exam to rule out any foreign body in the ear canal or inner ear.
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What Are Ear Infections
An ear infection, which in medical terms is called acute otitis media, is an infection of the middle ear, the air-filled space behind the eardrum that contains the tiny vibrating bones of the ear. It occurs when a bacterium or a virus gets into the middle ear. This then leads to several other illnesses like cold, flu, or allergy, causing congestion and swelling of nasal passages and throat.
Strong Odor From The Ear
Strong odors coming from your dogs ear can also be a symptom of an ear infection. If your dogs ears are infected, they are likely to develop an odd or foul smell from the presence of the bacteria causing the infection. This may be more noticeable in dogs with long or floppy ears.
Odors in the ear can also be a sign of other problems, such as tumors or ear mites. Like the other symptoms on this list, its important to take your dog to the vet if you notice this problem.
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How To Prevent Ear Yeast Infections
The best way to prevent your dog from developing an ear yeast infection is to keep its ears clean and dry. An ear cleaner with a drying agent should be used after baths and swimming to help dry the ear canal. If your dog has allergies, your veterinarian may recommend certain foods and supplements to help support the skin and decrease inflammation.
What Are The Symptoms Of An Ear Infection
Ear infections are painful. Many dogs will shake their head and scratch their ears trying to relieve the discomfort. The ears often become red and inflamed and develop an offensive odor. A black or yellowish discharge commonly occurs. In chronic cases the ears may appear crusty or thickened and the ear canals often become narrowed due to the chronic inflammation.
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Vets Preferred Dogs Ear Wash Solution
- Our Vets Preferred dog ear cleaning solution is both gentle and effective, so you can be sure you’re providing your beloved pet with the best irritation relief for dogs.
- With our Vets Preferred Dog ear cleaning solution, you’re their savior! Provide irritation relief for dogs immediately by following the simple dog care instructions.
- We formulate everything with safety and efficacy in mind, so your dog is always in optimal health.
What Is The Cost Of Treating Ear Infections In Dogs
The cost of treating ear infections will depend on both the severity of the infection and the underlying cause. Simple cases may only require a cleaning and a round of antibiotics in addition to the cost of the office visits, which are comparatively inexpensive, while serious infections may involve surgery or lifelong treatment of the underlying condition.
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Increased Environmental Temperature And Humidity
When the temperature of the ears is increased there is a global increase in metabolic activity resulting in an overgrowth of yeast and bacteria which will lead to chronic infections. Humdity will also result in swelling of the ear canals, therefore reducing the amount of oxygen entering which promotes the overgrowth of yeast.
Bacteria And Yeast Build
Some breeds, such as , are more prone to a build-up of wax inside their ear canals. This can then lead to an increase in bacteria, which, if left untreated, can cause an infection. Dog ear yeast infections are also extremely common, often due to the overgrowth of a yeast called Malassezia in the ear canal. It is this yeast that gives dogs the wet dog smell. This type of infection may be accompanied by a greasy, smelly discharge.
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What Is An Ear Yeast Infection
An ear yeast infection occurs when yeast species overpopulate the ear of a dog. Malassezia pachydermatis is the species of yeast that is typically seen in dog ears. This type of yeast is different than the yeast that is used to bake bread or that is found in probiotics. It is naturally found on the skin and ears of dogs in very small amounts but if the right conditions are present to cause inflammation, the result will be a noncontagious infection.
Talk To A Vet If Your Dog Has An Ear Infection
Did you find out everything you needed to know about signs of ear infections in dogs? If you suspect your dog might have an ear infection, it is important to take him to the vet right away. Ear infections usually dont clear up without some form of medication, so you should work with your vet to ensure your dog is receiving the right treatment plan to help him.
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