Otitis in dogs is quite common and symptoms can be easily noticed, so you will know exactly when to intervene and take measures. Otitis, which can occur at any age, but old dogs are more prone to it, is a chronic inflammation of the ear channel, and this can cause discomfort and even pain to your pet.
In the following, I will tell you what otitis really means for dogs, what are the symptoms, what are the causes of this disease, and how it can be treated.
As I said, otitis is a chronic inflammation of the ear canal and can be of two types: External and medium.
In the first case, the external ear canal gets inflamed. The external otitis manifests itself in pain, redness, and itching and, untreated, affects the medium ear which, over time, can cause rupture of the eardrum.
In the second type, the inflammation is located in the middle ear.
Yes, even if the otitis can appear in all dogs, regardless of race, size, or age, there are some breeds that are prone to ear inflammation. These are:
Long-ear breeds such as Bass Hound, Spanish Cocker, Golden Retriever, or Labrador Retriever.
Breeds with a lot of hair on the ear canal: Poodle or all kinds of Terriers.
Otitis can affect all dogs, but certain breeds are more prone to this condition, especially breeds with long ears or with a lot of hair on the ear canal like Golden Retriever, Labrador, Spanish Cocker, or Terrier.
External and internal otitis can be caused by a long list of factors. The main causes are parasites, food allergies, drug reactions, foreign bodies, hair accumulation, dead skin, or an autoimmune disease.
Other factors that may contribute to the appearance of ear inflammations are Bacterial infections, mixed infections caused by bacteria and fungi, excessive humidity caused by swimming, or inadequate hygiene.
Otitis is rather a common condition in dogs, favored by the anatomical conformation of the ear because the hearing canal is long, “L”-shaped, which facilitates eventual infections.
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In addition, dogs sweat a lot in the ear area, and the humidity held by the hair is a good environment for the appearance and development of the micro-organisms, causing infection. For this reason, the breeds of dogs with long ears have a higher risk of having otitis, because their ears are practically always wet. This is why constant ear care is required.
If you notice an unpleasant smell during grooming, the secretions have changed their color and the ear is painful, then it is time to worry and call a veterinarian to advise you of treatment.
The setting up of an appropriate treatment is a priority in order to avoid chronic disease.
The most common symptoms of external and medium otitis you need to be aware of are:
During the examination, you could notice:
A dog who has otitis feels pain and will hardly allow you to touch its ears. This is just a first sign that should alert you. The dog with otitis will tend to over-scratch its ears, will often shake its head, and the ear secretions will change their color and have an unpleasant smell. In rare situations and if the infection has spread, the dog will lose its appetite and it will even vomit.
If you notice one or more of these symptoms, analyze your pet’s ear and if you see that it is inflamed and reddish, go to the veterinarian, who will recommend treatment depending on the stage of the otitis.
Otitis can only be diagnosed by the veterinarian, and in some cases, an X-ray or ear secretion test will be necessary to determine the exact severity of the condition, and depending on these the treatment will be determined.
The treatment of otitis is usually carried out in an outpatient regimen unless the infection has moved into the inner ear.
In most cases, a locally applied treatment, after a complete cleaning of the external ear, is the solution to the problem.
The local treatment may consist of antibacterial, corticosteroids, and antiseptic droplets.
In more severe cases where the presence of infectious organisms has been confirmed, antibiotics and antifungals may be prescribed.
Otitis follow-up treatments involve repeated ear secretion tests and frequent check-ups at the veterinarian.
In any case, it is better to prevent a potential affection than having to treat it. Otitis in dogs can only be prevented by careful and constant hygiene of the ears, taking into account that they have a predisposition to this condition. The hygiene of the ears should be done weekly, but special medications should be used and it is recommended to avoid the usage of ear cleaning sticks. It is also very important to pay attention to symptoms, because, left untreated, the external or medium otitis may lead to deafness or internal otitis.
It is obviously better to prevent than treat; groom your dog regularly and maintain an adequate hygiene at the ear level.
Sometimes pulling or trimming the hair tufts inside or around the ears helps with good ventilation and reduces the humidity.
It is recommended to ask the veterinarian for advice before putting this method into practice, because sometimes excessive hair pulling from these sensitive areas may encourage inflammation. The veterinarian can show you how to perform a correct and adapted hygiene of your pet’s ears, according to their special features.