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Last Updated on June 24, 2023 by Thee Puppypreneur
WHAT CAUSES EAR INFECTIONS IN DOGS
Is your dog constantly scratching their ears? Ear infections in dogs could be caused by a number of reasons, but below are the most common;
- Ear mites (can’t see with naked eye)
- Yeast Infection
- Foreign Object
- Abnormal Growths
- Allergies
- Fleas
- Ticks
There are external, middle and internal dog ear infections.1Anatomy and physiology of the canine ear – Cole – 2009 – Veterinary Dermatology – Wiley Online Library Called otitis externa, otitis media or otitis interna.2Otitis Externa – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov) 3Otitis media and otitis interna. Etiology, diagnosis, and medical management – PubMed (nih.gov) Scratching and head shaking could result in injury to the ear drum which could cause tympanic ear perforations or rupture that could result in further damage or even deafness.4Anatomy, Head and Neck, Ear Tympanic Membrane – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
The most common sign of tympanic membrane (TM) rupture is pain but if left alone studies have shown it can heal on its own in 3-4 weeks if uncomplicated and has a 90% closure rate at 6 weeks.5Tympanic Membrane Perforations – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov) The only way to know for sure is to take your furbaby to the veterinarian so they can check.
The reason I mention this is certain antibiotics and even ingredients in ear flushes and cleaners can be ototoxic and damage the ear further, especially if there are (TM) issues.6Ototoxicity – Vestibular Disorders Association
In fact, “most cleaners (with the exception of tris-EDTA, acetic acid, boric acid and squalene) are contraindicated if there is rupture of the tympanic membrane.”7Jackson, H., & Forsythe, P. J. (2021). Management of Otitis. In R. Marsella (Ed.), BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Dermatology (4th ed., pp. 151–151). essay, British Small Animal Veterinary Association.
DOG EAR INFECTION SYMPTOMS
There are a wide variety of symptoms that can range based on the underlying cause of the dog ear infection and the length of time the infection has been allowed to progress. There could be other symptoms not mentioned below but the most common and ones I have encountered are;
- Scratching
- Head Shaking
- Redness
- Wax
- Blood (from scratching)
- Skin Peeling
- Scabs
- Other discharge
- Smell
- Balance Issues
- Crying
- Inflammation
- Tenderness
HOW ARE DOG EAR INFECTIONS DIAGNOSED
Usually, veterinarians will want to take an otoscope to look inside the ear, then swab to check for infection, culture to determine best antibiotic, possible x-rays, CT, or MRI if a neurological issue is suspected.8Garosi, L. S., Lowrie, M. L., & Swinbourne, N. F. (2012). Neurological manifestations of ear disease in dogs and cats. The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice, 42(6), 1143–1160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2012.08.006 9Bajwa J. Canine otitis externa – Treatment and complications. Can Vet J. 2019 Jan;60(1):97-99. PMID: 30651659; PMCID: PMC6294027.Canine otitis externa — Treatment and complications – PMC (nih.gov)
If the ear is difficult to touch or unable to be flushed or cleaned properly or depending on if there are foreign bodies, your vet may have to anesthetize your furbaby to treat the issue.
DOG EAR INFECTIONS TREATMENT
A dog ear infection treatment will depend on the severity of your situation and the type of infection but some or all of the below could be used;10Bajwa J. Canine otitis externa – Treatment and complications. Can Vet J. 2019 Jan;60(1):97-99. PMID: 30651659; PMCID: PMC6294027.Canine otitis externa — Treatment and complications – PMC (nih.gov)
- Ear flush solution
- Antibiotics
- Glucocorticoids
WHAT ALTERNATIVE, NATURAL OR DOG EAR INFECTION HOME REMEDIES ARE THERE?
Depending on your situation, dog ear infection home remedies could vary. Your dog’s ear infection could be yeast or mites or something completely different. I have compiled a list of cleaners I use as I used a lot and had recurring ear infections because of the prolonged undiscovered food allergen.
The ones listed below you should talk to your vet first to make sure there are no TM issues and to choose the best cleaner for your situation as some of these contain herbs or antifungals that could interfere with other medication or medical conditions your fur kid might have.
My absolute favorite and I have bottles of it and you can also probably find this at your vet if you ask is
Amazon.com : Dechra TrizULTRA Plus Keto Flush for Cats and Dogs 4 oz : Pet Supplies
this is solution with tris-EDTA and ketoconazole so it is cleansing and antifungal and I used this 2 times a day for 14 days alone but they say you can use this as a pre-treatment about 30 minutes before you apply your ear drops or topicals the vet gives you.
If you suspect that your dog has ear mites then another alternative is this ear mite cleaner that also kills ticks and contains aloe as well.
Amazon.com : PetArmor Ear Mite and Tick Treatment for Dogs, 3 oz : Pet Supplies
If you are looking for a more natural approach this herbal solution is for your furbaby;
which contains different herbs such as wild yam, nettle, red clover and peppermint oil to name a few as well as glycerin, propylene glycol, and salicylic acid which will help with wax buildup and act as an astringent also. This is not the full ingredients list.
I have personally used this ear cleaner which has rave reviews and it contains tea tree as an anti-microbial, boric acid as an astringents and vegetable glycerin to help dissolve wax just to name a few ingredients.
Another ear cleaner, which is the one I have listed below; there was actually a study done on 45 dogs with otitis externa and after 2 weeks of using this product being the sole treatment and applied 2 times a day there was over a 60% improvement in the dogs with pain, head shaking, scratching and microbial overgrowth.11Rème, C. A., Pin, D., Collinot, C., Cadiergues, M. C., Joyce, J. A., & Fontaine, J. (2006). The efficacy of an antiseptic and microbial anti-adhesive ear cleanser in dogs with otitis externa. Veterinary therapeutics : research in applied veterinary medicine, 7(1), 15–26. The efficacy of an antiseptic and microbial anti-adhesive ear cleanser in dogs with otitis externa – PubMed (nih.gov)
Amazon.com : Virbac Epi-Otic Advanced Ear Cleanser for Dogs & Cats, 8 oz : Pet Supplies
Regardless of your situation you should always take your furbaby to the vet to determine if it is an ear infection or a foreign object. What type of ear infection is it and what medication or ear flush is the best for your situation.
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