The Symptoms, Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Canine Ear Infections

All ear infections, regardless of the cause, may have the same symptoms. Some symptoms to watch for at home that might mean your dog has an ear infection are:

Continous Shaking of the Head

Scratching at the head or ears

Continuous rubbing of the head and ears on the ground or floor

A prominent redness or irritation in the ear canal

Liquid leaking from the ears

Brown or Yellowish discharge present in the ears

Foul smell emanating from the ear

Pan when ears are petted or touched

Visiting the Veterinarian – Dog Ear Infection Diagnosis

When you first notice symptoms of an ear infection, it is important to take your dog to see your veterinarian. You should be careful about putting anything into your dogs ears before a veterinary examination. If your dog has a ruptured eardrum, putting anything in its ears could lead to more severe symptoms including a head tilt, walking in circles, or other neurologic symptoms.

For those dogs that experience frequent ear infections or ear infections resistant to treatment, it is highly imperative to seek out the underlying cause. In most cases, a physical examination can deliver this information. Upon examination, small ear canals, excessive hair in the ear and floppy pinnae can easily be seen. In addition, foreign objects or tumors are also easily visualized with a physical exam.

Food allergies are usually ruled out with a food trial. During a food trial, a special hypoallergenic food is fed for a period of 8-12 weeks. The dog is monitored during this time to see if its symptoms improve.

Atopy can be ruled out with either blood tests or with skin testing, similar to allergy testing in people. These tests will usually tell specifically what things a dog is allergic to.

One or two blood tests may be given to determine if a certain endocrine organ is functioning properly. Usually, other symptoms present themselves besides ear infections to indicate there may be an endocrine problem.

Treatment of Ear Infections

Discovering the root cause of the ear infection is first and foremost, followed by treatment. In dogs with a food allergy, those foods should be avoided; those with Atopy will be required to take medications in order to control their symptoms and will most likely be on these medications for the rest of their lives. These medications commonly consist of corticosteroids, antihistamines, omega-3 fatty acid supplements and cyclosporine.

Periodic treatment of skin and ear infections with antibiotics, antifungals, shampoos and topical rinses is usually necessary. The course of treatment varies for each dog and depends on how severely allergic they are and how well they respond to therapy.

In general, an ear infection can be cleared up with a combination of oral medication and medication inserted in the ear. However, it is imperative that you clean your dogs ears once or twice a week to remove excess buildup of medication which can retain debris and impede the healing process. An ear infection is usually treated for two weeks, although some cases may take longer. If the infection does not clear up, a swab or ear culture may be needed for further testing.

Preventing Ear Infections

Treat all underlying diseases present in your dog

Dry your dogs ears out after a bath.

Dry your dogs ears completely after swimming

Do not use water or cleanser in your dogs ears unless absolutely necessary and always make sure to dry them completely when you do.

Remember: Keeping the ears dry is an important part of treating and preventing ear infections.

Heather Fox is an established writer and veterinarian who loves to share her knowledge. You can find her class about Dog Ear Infections Treatment and other lessons like Dog Kennel Cough Symptoms on Clivir – the Free learning Community Site.