The common ear infection in dogs is a very painful and uncomfortable condition. Dogs with lop ears in particular are often affected. If the first signs of an ear infection appear in the dog, the cause should be clarified by a veterinarian. Without proper treatment, ear infections in dogs can lead to complete hearing loss. In this article, you will learn everything about this important topic.
What is an ear infection in dogs and what types are there?
An ear infection is also known as otitis. Depending on the inflamed area of the ear, one speaks of otitis externa, otitis media, or otitis interna.
The otitis externa
In otitis externa, the external auditory canal is affected by inflammation. The inflammation extends from the pinna to the eardrum. This ear infection in dogs is immediately recognizable by the recurring contamination of the ear canal. 90 percent of ear infections in dogs are caused by inflammation of the external auditory canal.
The otitis media
If the inflammation spreads further via the eardrum or the Eustachian tube, a connection to the pharynx, you have a middle ear infection. The dog’s balance organ is often affected by inflammatory processes.
The otitis interna
Otitis interna is the rarest form of ear infection in dogs. The inflammation has spread to the point where the inner ear is affected. The dog has vestibular syndrome or facial paralysis (paralysis of the facial nerves).
What helps with an ear infection in dogs?
Depending on the cause, the ear is treated with medications or over-the-counter remedies. Thorough cleaning of the ear canal is always important.
Typical symptoms and signs of an ear infection in dogs
The symptoms depend on the cause and the spread of the inflammation.
Otitis externa
The external auditory canal is swollen and red. Dirty masses and inflammatory secretions accumulate in the ear canal. If bacteria get on the damaged mucous membrane, a purulent, yellowish discharge can be seen. When infected with parasites or yeast, the ear canal is filled with brown, dry, crumbly masses.
The inflamed ear is itchy and painful. The dog keeps shaking its head, scratching its paw, or rubbing its ear on the ground. Touching is hardly tolerated. The frequent shaking of the head causes vessels in the auricle to burst. Blood accumulates between the outer layers of skin (blood ear, othematoma).
Otitis media
If the germs have spread to the middle ear, the dog’s balance is disturbed. He tilts his head to the affected side and staggers when he walks. The four-legged friend suffers from fever. He eats less. The pain can lead to aggressive behavior.
Internal otitis
The inflammation has spread to the nerves in the area. The dog tilts its head completely. The lymph nodes at the base of the ear are very swollen. When observing the eyes, rapid movements of the pupil can be seen to the side or from top to bottom. The dog’s vision is limited.
When the facial nerve is paralyzed, the upper eyelid droops. The field of view is severely restricted. The dog sways a lot when walking and keeps falling over. Sometimes getting up is no longer possible. He’s not eating anymore. If left untreated, the dog can die from nerve damage and the spread of bacteria throughout the body.
How can you identify an ear infection in a dog?
- The dog keeps shaking his head
- The dog scratches its ear
- Touching the ears is painful
- The dog’s behavior has changed
- The ear canal is dirty
How do I recognize an ear infection in dogs?
The dog shakes its head and scratches its ears. Touching the head is painful.
Causes of ear infections in dogs
Ear infection in dogs caused by parasites and foreign bodies
The most common cause of ear infections in dogs is parasites. Ear mites are transmitted through direct contact with another dog. The mother bitch infects her puppies particularly often. Transmission via objects soiled with crusts is possible.
Foreign objects are another cause of ear infections in dogs. Especially in summer and autumn, a Schliafhansl (dry awn of mouse barley) can penetrate the auditory canal and move further in the direction of the eardrum. If the foreign body is not removed, it will pierce through the eardrum. The bacteria spread to the inner ear.
Ear infections caused by bacteria and yeast
In dogs with floppy ears, hardly any air can get into the external auditory canal. If bacteria (staphylococci, streptococci) settle in the ear and multiply, they cause a purulent inflammation. Ear infections caused by yeast (Malassezia) are particularly common in dogs. The fungi damage the mucous membrane, the ear canal is filled with brown crumbly masses and earwax.
Ear infections in dogs due to allergies
An allergy causes the immune system to overreact. Inflammation flares up all over the body. The hypersensitivity reaction can be a food allergy, a contact allergy to a harsh ear cleaner, or a reaction to a medication.
What causes an ear infection in dogs?
Ear infections in dogs are caused by a variety of reasons. These include parasites, bacteria, fungi, foreign bodies, or tumors. In some dog breeds, ear infections are common due to a genetic predisposition.
Ear infections in dogs caused by autoimmune diseases
Rarely, a thick keratinized layer forms in the outer ear canal due to an autoimmune disease. The self-cleaning no longer works. The shed keratinized cells combine with the earwax to form a solid mass that closes the ear canal.
Ear infections from tumors
If a tumor forms in the external auditory canal, it mechanically irritates the mucous membrane through friction. The tumors are mostly malignant squamous cell carcinomas or melanosarcomas.
What factors promote ear infections in dogs?
The ventilation of the external auditory canal is worse in lop ears than in prick ears. Bacteria can settle more easily. If the dog goes swimming often, water gets into the external auditory canal. This dries slowly. Bacteria can settle and multiply more easily in the moist and warm environment.
Frequent cleaning with an aggressive ear cleaner that dries out the mucous membrane promotes the development of ear infections in dogs. Poor quality feed that is low in nutrients affects the bacterial balance in the gut. The mucous membrane becomes more permeable to allergens and bacteria. Immune system reactions lead to ear infections.
In some dog breeds, such as the Cocker Spaniel or the Boxer, the ear secretion contains large amounts of sebum. The ear canal is clogged by the buildup of earwax. Bacteria can settle more easily.
Professional treatment by a veterinarian
Professional therapy by a veterinarian should be carried out to ensure that no consequential damage is caused by the spread of ear infection in the dog. Before the vet cleans the ear, they will take a swab sample from the ear canal. With this, bacteria that cause the ear infection can be determined and an antibiogram can be made for the treatment. Ear mites can be seen directly under the light microscope after a smear test. Foreign bodies are carefully removed with special pliers.
For bacterial infections, the dog is given antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve itching. Painkillers improve the dog’s subjective well-being. Antibiotics are not only administered under the skin, but also dropped directly into the ear by the veterinarian. Before doing this, the veterinarian makes sure that the eardrum has not yet been damaged by the inflammation. If the ear infection in the dog was caused by ear mites, the ears are thoroughly cleaned. An ointment is then applied that reliably kills the mites and the development stages.
In the case of an infection with Malassezia, the dog is given ear drops for a longer period of time. In the case of tumors, the therapy is more complicated. If the cancer in the ear canal has not spread too far, the vet will try to remove the tumor. Since many tumors are malignant, a new tumor can appear after some time.
Surgery to prevent ear infections from coming back
If a dog keeps having painful ear infections, the veterinarian can open the ear canal during an operation. After cutting out a strip of skin, the mucous membrane of the ear canal is sutured to the outer skin. The eardrum remains completely intact during the operation and continues to protect the middle and inner ear.
After the surgical wound has healed, the upper part of the external auditory canal is exposed and can be easily cleaned and rinsed by the dog owner. The dog’s hearing is not affected by the operation.
When is an ear infection in dogs cured?
The ear infection in dogs is cured when the ear canal is no longer red and dirty with secretions. The dog no longer scratches and behaves normally.
Tips for dog owners: emergency aid & household funds
To avoid ear infections in dogs, the external auditory canal should be cleaned regularly. Non-prescription ear cleaners with a moisturizing effect are well suited for cleaning. The ear cleaners loosen the dirt in the ear after instillation. The dog can shake out the dirt residue. The ear is dried only with a cloth in the upper area.
Do not use cotton swabs to clean your ears
Cotton swabs only push the dirt down towards the eardrum. A thick, dried-up layer forms on the eardrum, which the vet has to loosen with an ear irrigation device. If the entire eardrum is covered with dirt, the dog cannot hear.
Natural ear cleaning products
So that the dog does not get an ear infection, the external auditory canal is cleaned with non-prescription natural means. Herbal rinses such as lavender hydrolate or rose hydrolate clean and care for the mucous membrane.
Natural remedies for dog ear infections
If the external auditory canal is only slightly irritated, the mucous membrane can be soothed with a mixture of grapeseed oil and apple cider vinegar.
John’s wort oil has a disinfecting effect. If there are inflamed scratches in the area of the auricle, they are treated with an ointment of calendula or arnica. The ointment must never be poured into the ear canal as it blocks it. This encourages the growth of bacteria.
Caring for the ears when grooming
Some dog breeds also grow a lot of hair in the external auditory canal. To prevent the earwax from collecting between the hairs, these should be partially removed. the groomer pulls out the excess hair with tweezers.
Change of feed
In order for the ears to stay healthy, the dog needs animal-friendly, high-quality food that provides it with all the nutrients. To prevent ear infections, the feed should contain sufficient omega-3 fatty acids. These reduce the risk of developing inflammation.
With high-quality feed, the microbiome of the digestive tract is in balance. There are no excessive reactions of the immune system in allergies.
The healing process after an ear infection in dogs
Ear infections in dogs require lengthy treatment that can last a few weeks. After removing the cause, the mucous membrane slowly heals. Cleaning the auricle and the entrance to the ear with lukewarm water and coconut oil supports healing.
Hygiene as a preventive measure
To prevent ear infections in dogs, the auditory canal must be cleaned regularly with a mild and moisturizing ear cleaner. Toys and blankets soiled with crusts that have fallen out of the ears are washed in the washing machine. Always dry your ears with a soft cloth after swimming.
