If your pet has an ear infection, they are probably feeling pretty miserable. Similar to humans, pet ear infections can cause symptoms such as pain, swelling, oozing, and itching. Thankfully, relief can come quickly, since most ear infections can easily be treated by your veterinarian. Learning how to identify and address an ear infection is essential to keeping your pet happy and healthy!
If you suspect your pet has an ear infection, this blog has you covered on the causes and symptoms, as well as tips on how to prevent one from developing.
What Causes Ear Infections?
In pets, ear infections can be broken into three different categories: bacterial, parasitic, and fungal. Causes of these infections can vary from pet to pet—however, prolonged cases can lead to serious side effects.
Your pet’s ear canal is shaped like the letter L, which is unfortunately great for holding moisture and creating an environment which allows bacteria and yeast overgrowth. So when mixed with other factors, it makes your furry friend more vulnerable to ear infections.
Factors that may predispose your pet to ear infections include:
- Breed
- Lifestyle
- Water in the ear canal
- Food or environmental allergies
- Endocrine or autoimmunes disorders
- Wax buildup
- Foreign bodies
- Injury to the ear canal
- Mites
Symptoms of Ear Infections
Some pets do not show symptoms of ear infection aside from a buildup of wax and discharge in the ear canal. But ear infections often cause significant discomfort and affected pets may show signs such as:
- Head shaking
- Scratching at the affected ear
- Dark discharge
- Odor
- Redness and swelling of the ear canal
- Pain
- Crusting or scabs in the ears
Middle and inner ear infections can cause more serious symptoms such as:
- A one-sided head tilt
- Vomiting or nausea
- Loss of balance
- Deafness
Diagnosing Ear Infections
If your pet is showing any of the common signs of an ear infection, it’s important to consult with your veterinarian as soon as possible. Quick treatment is necessary not only for your pet’s comfort, but also to prevent the spread of infection to the middle and inner ear. During your appointment, be prepared to provide the vet with a thorough history of the problem. This is especially important for recurring infections, or if you are seeing a new veterinarian for the first time.
After gathering all relevant health history, your vet will do a thorough examination of the external and internal structures of the ear. To do so, they use a tool called an otoscope; this instrument allows them to see deep into your pet’s ear canals. During the exam they will be looking for redness, discharge, scabs, masses, foreign bodies, and damage to the eardrum. Your veterinarian may also swab the ear canal and examine the material collected under a microscope. From the swab they can determine what the infection is caused by, allowing them to choose which treatment will work best.
How to Prevent Ear Infections
To help keep your pet’s ears healthy, there are things you can do to prevent ear infections from developing. Here are three easy tips to follow:
- Inspect their Ears Regularly – Look at the skin on the ear flap and within the visible portion of the ear canal. Things to note include evidence of pain (such as whining or reluctance towards being touched), evidence of scratching, redness, odor or discharge, or an increase in debris within the ears. Any changes indicate it’s time for a checkup.
- Keep Your Pet’s Ears Clean – Paired with regularly inspecting your pet’s ears, cleaning them will help you stay on top of any changes that may be occurring. Ear cleanings also help remove any dirt, debris, or wax build up that could contribute to worsening issues. Do this by gently massaging the base of your pet’s ears where they connect to the head to loosen debris, then gently wipe the outer ear clean using a cottonballs soaked in pet ear cleaning solution. Be careful to clean any folds in the ear, and never insert the cottonballs into the ear canal.
- Keep their Ears Dry – Keeping your furry friend’s ear canals dry will prevent the overgrowth of bacteria and yeast. Two helpful tools to accomplish this are drying solutions and cottonballs. Drying agents are great for water-loving dogs, while a simple cotton ball placed at the opening of the ears during bath time can help keep the ears dry.
Your Pets are our Priority!
At the National Animal Supplement Council, our top priority is to promote the health and well-being of your pets. That’s why we created the NASC Audit Program and the Quality Seal: to help you identify animal health and nutritional supplements from responsible suppliers committed to producing the highest quality, most consistent products on the market. Visit our website to learn more and see a list of companies and brands awarded the NASC Quality Seal.
